Stephen Barlow, artistic director of the Buxton Festival which combines rarely-seen opera with live music and literature, talks about this year's event and about the history of the festival, which has been running in the small Derbyshire town in the Peak District since 1979.

For more information, see www.buxtonfestival.co.uk or ring the box office on 0845 127 2190 or 01298 72190.