Gilbert and Sullivan, and the Peak District

Inside the Opera House

In the summer of every year in the town of Buxton in the Peak district, the Gilbert and Sullivan festival runs from the end of July to the middle of August.  It is set in the recently restored (and very beautiful) Buxton Opera House, in the heart of a town the history of which dates back to the Romans.  Now, with the recent trend on this blog towards useful articles, those of you opposed to classical music (proper music, but that's another discussion altogether!) will wonder in what way this is helpful.  If you don't care about comedy, opera or acting whatsoever - it isn't.   Returning to the topic in hand, Gilbert and Sullivan wrote highly amusing and (even over 100 years on) in some ways politically cutting comic opera (light opera, operetta, whatever you wish to call it) which is often referred to in all walks of culture.  For example, Tom Lehrer's "The Elements" (doubtless on Youtube) is set to the tune of "I am the very model of a Modern Major General" (probably also on YouTube) which is from the Pirates of Penzance.  In short, in matters vegetable, animal and mineral, G&S pervades culture to this day.  What's more, if you do go to the G&S Buxton Festival you will also find many attractions in the town.  Part of the opera house is a small greenhouse, which I think is Victorian.  This contains a few interesting specimins.  There are the Pavilion Gardens opposite and a small bandstand.  In Roman times, the town was famous for its thermal baths.  While there are no baths currently open at the moment, plans are, I believe afoot to build some.  A very short stroll down the road from the Opera House is St Ann's Spring, which is the source for Buxton Mineral Water, sold across the country.  It is free to drink
from and fill bottles from.

St Ann's Spring

Also the town is nestled in the Peak District National Park, a beautiful area for walking.  If you prefer cycling, however, prepare for some hills!  Or you could visit the town of Bakewell, the home of Bakewell Tarts.  From my visit there are about four or five shops all of which claim to have the "original" recipe.  Frankly, it shows how varied recipes can be.  The Peaks are a beautiful place to spend a week or even a weekend/long weekend, and while there it is a perfect oppurtunity to soak up some culture in the form of light opera.