12.00noon Lichfield Garrick 60mins 
Kew at 250

To mark Kew Garden's 250th anniversary Professor Angela McFarlane, Director of Content and Learning at the Royal Botanic Gardens, explains how this mecca of natural heritage interacts with the digital age.

www.kew.org

£5 unreserved   Book Tickets   Booking Code: 10A

Elin Manahan Thomas soprano
Alfie Boe tenor
David Kempster bass
Orchestra of Welsh National Opera
Martin Yates conductor 

Three exciting young soloists are set to open the 2009 Festival’s Cathedral programme in spectacular style. Elin Manahan Thomas is Universal Classics’ latest star and is following in the footsteps of her friend Katherine Jenkins. British tenor Alfie Boe regularly tops the classical charts and is a stellar talent. Together with the honeyed baritone of David Kempster, they will sing a selection of beautiful arias from the world’s best loved operas, including excerpts from Marriage of Figaro, The Pearl Fishers, Carmen and La Bohème. Joining them on stage will be the renowned Orchestra of Welsh National Opera under the baton of Martin Yates.

“Elin has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard”
Howard Goodall, BBC Radio 2

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£37.50, £31, £26, £19.50, £10  Book tickets  Booking Code: 10B

See Seating information for sight restrictions 

In conversation: David Kempster and Martin Yates join Festival Director Richard Hawley at 6.30pm in the Ladt Chapel. Free entry to Event 10 B ticket holders.

As Sandi herself says: “I love meeting my audiences, whether they’re through radio, TV, writing or theatre. This is my chance for a chat – just me and a room full of people to share the joys of the strangeness of the English language, why a religious convent in Africa gave me the idea for a novel and the strange connection between a Welsh Literary Festival andan iconic French landmark. The audience can ask me questions, we go through the local paper, we have a drink in the middle – what’s not to like?”Currently occupying the chair of Radio 4’s The News Quiz, Sandi is one of radio’s most popular voices, a prolific author and a first-time opera librettist.

£19.50, £17.50  Book tickets  Booking code: 10C

Johnny’s been kidnapped, the Black Camel of Takrilakastan has shown up and a mysterious pair of goggles has opened a portal to another world. Midnight is fast approaching and the chase is on to rescue Johnny.

Written and composed by Pete M Wyer and performed by Matthew Sharp, this is a mind-bending explosion of storytelling, singing, virtuoso cello-playing and sonic wizardry – Tim Burton meets John Adams, Arnold Schwarzenegger meets Edith Piaf, Philip Pullman meets Paganini. Witty, nail-biting and entrancing music theatre with goggles on!

“The Holy Grail of the Brighton Festival…magical, theatrical genius”
Brighton Magazine

Supported by the Foyle Foundation

Also on Thursday 9 July
Click here to watch an extract from Johnny's Midnight Goggles.

£10 unreserved, £8 students  Book tickets  Booking code: 10D