The Bath International Music Festival was founded by classical music impresario Ian Hunter, who began his career as an assistant to Rudolf Bing, the co-founder and artistic director of the Edinburgh International Festival. The inaugural festival, held in 1948, was originally named the Bath Assembly. After the first edition, the city of Bath tried to run the festival independently, but after a few years, they asked Hunter to return.
In 1959, Hunter asked the renowned violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin to succeed him as artistic director of the festival. Menuhin accepted and held the post until 1968. Other notable artistic directors of the Bath Music Festival have included English composer Michael Tippett, English conductor Colin Davis, English music critic and administrator William Glock, English arts administrator Amelia Freedman, and English conductor, composer, and pianist Joanna MacGregor.
In November 2016, the Bath International Music Festival merged with the Bath Literature Festival to form the new multi-arts festival, the Bath Festival. However, in 2026, the Bath International Music Festival and the Bath Literature Festival were held as separate events for the first time in nearly a decade. Though held at different times, both festivals are still run under the Bath Festivals umbrella.
The Bath International Music Festival takes place in late May – early June, featuring a wide range of musical genres, from classical and orchestral to jazz, world, folk, and electronica, Performances are held in historic venues throughout the city. In addition to concerts, the festival program includes multimedia events, film screenings, talks, musical theater performances, dance, and exhibitions. The Bath International Music Festival has a long history of presenting established and emerging artists, as well as local musicians and students from conservatories, colleges, and universities.
Photo: bathfestivals.org.uk
