When you took over the festival what did you want to achieve? I wanted to broaden the festival's appeal without 'dumbing down', to use the festival to celebrate the spirit of the region and to bring the world's best artists to Norfolk and to take Norfolk to the rest of the world. There seems to be a much wider celebration of 'the arts' in general this year. I hope so. The joy of a festival is that we can present work anywhere, as we're not tied to a venue, for any and all audiences, using any artists. It must be special, like a holiday without having to leave your home county. There is less of a hard focus on jazz and classical material this year. Have there been rumblings from the festival faithful?
 | | Joanna MacGregor: One of Jonathan's tips |
There haven't, largely because both the classical and jazz programmes have, I hope, the same quality and quantity as in previous years. The shift in focus has been through increasing the other work, not reducing existing programmes. It's very much connected with Norfolk's communities this year, for example, through Bigger Sky and Marine Machines. The festival has always had a connection with the people of Norfolk through the Festival Chorus, and yes, my aim is to strengthen that connection. The idea that work created by 10 Great Yarmouth schools will open an international festival is exciting. With Bigger Sky, the possibility of inviting a great jazz composer to create a new work for our singers was irresistible. Why did you want to build in the left-field programming? I've had the privilege and pleasure of travelling to festivals all around the world, and the elements which make the best festivals memorable are the unusual, surprising or uplifting ones. We have to catch the imagination of the public, become exponents of the art of the unexpected. I want audiences in our region to have those memories from their festival, to try to describe the indescribable, to talk about the Luminarium or the Art Music piece this year. For our loyal audiences some of these memories come from seeing the world premiere of a new Elgar piece or the first appearance in the region of Willard White. For others, it could be Sarruga or Clare Ducreux. Where do you find these performers? At some very strange festivals and in some odd places! When I was programming outdoor work for the National Theatre, I always reckoned I saw 30 bad shows for every one I'd book. I think tenacity is probably the key: the willingness to stand in dusty fields in the hope of being thrilled, even when experience tells you that you're just going to get dusty. It's very much about a family experience this year, not just stuffy classical recitals. The word recital makes you think of someone rather seriously giving their art to a passive audience. The passion, commitment, skill and musical charisma of John Williams, the Budapest Symphony Orchestra or Alex Balanescu ensure that their work is anything but stuffy! But yes, for those who don't want concerts there are French stage magic spectaculars by Company Aristobulle, Spanish visual beauty with the bubbles of Pep Bou and a brilliant Belgian circus from Circus Ronaldo in a tent in Chapelfield Gardens. Oh, and a huge amount of free family work on the opening and closing days. You've bagged some big names in terms of world music.
 | | It's a return visit for Tord Gustavsen |
We're thrilled to have Susana Baca performing with us this year direct from Peru, Sdasa Chorale from Soweto with I Fagiolini - think Ladysmith Black Mambazo meets a great British consort - and Tord Gustavsen. I love this job! In your opinion, what are the three unmissable events? 1. Les Grooms' The Threepenny Ring Cycle is the greatest and certainly the longest opera ever written distilled to just 79 minutes. Its plot and length rivals Tolkein, with music to thrill and fully staged in the old Barclays bank. 2. Britten Sinfonia with Joanna MacGregor and Andy Sheppard, who is one of the festival's featured artists, for a new take on Bach's brilliant Art of Fugue, alongside interpretations of the extraordinary Moondog. 3. Tenebrae with Joby Talbot's Path Of Miracles. The work was described by critics as, "nothing short of a miracle itself", and comes from one of the most exciting composers in the UK today, who is one of our featured artists. 4. Circus Ronaldo for one of the best circus show I've ever seen. Three you say? Ah, sorry! What do you hope people will take away from this year's festival? That the reality of life is better than reality television. Are there any clues yet on what we can expect in 2007? Well, eight seasons played on one violin! We're commissioning a major work which is inspired by an instrument that can be found in over 200 Norfolk venues; there's a building in Norfolk that celebrates a 900th anniversary in 2007 and some major world names in music - so no surprise there! | 
