Holders Season, Holders Hill, St James, Barbados

Founded in 1993, the Holders Season is established as the premier cultural event in the Caribbean. Acclaimed nationally and internationally, the season is a celebration of opera, music and theatre. The production always plays to capacity houses and it's high artistic standard draws audiences from around the world.

Holders House, St. James, again plays host to this musical and theatrical festival. This stately house has been in existence for over 300 years and is an interesting mixture of English and Barbadian vernacular. The grounds are extensive and lovely with mature tropical trees and shrubs, the perfect setting for the open-air theatre that comes alive every year during the Holders Season.

One of the Caribbean’s most exclusive and most glamorous events returns for a series of performances featuring an enormous variety of music and theatre..

Holders Season 2009 runs from March 14th - April 4th.

Holders Estate is a traditional Plantation House from the 17th century. The beautiful five acre garden is the backdrop for the open-air theatre that comes alive every year during the Holders Season.

'The Holders Season just keeps getting better' - that was the response to the 2008 Season, and once again, Wendy Kidd and her team are proud to announce the latest programme of events which opens on 14 March 2009 and runs until 4 April 2009. Another fabulous mix of music from around the world, great comedy, outstanding theatrical performances and many many surprises awaits person visiting the Holders Season.

You will laugh 'til it hurts with Olé, you will be touched by the vibrant and beautiful sounds from Africa of Bassekou Kouyaté, amazed by the virtuosic violin of Canadian superstar Natalie McMaster, and you'll believe you've been in the presence of 'Ol Blue Eyes himself with Louis Hoover and the amazing Ronnie Scott's Allstars. Opera has always been at the heart of the Holders Season and again we welcome some fabulous voices and talents direct from New York, one of the greatest of all operatic centres of the world.

In short, there is something for everybody here, all of which will resound throughout the unbelievably beautiful and atmospheric grounds of Holders House. If you haven't been before, give it a go. You will not regret it!

We asked Holders what visitors can do to give back. The answer?
Visitor can give back throug:

1. Buying local products [music, arts, craft, items indigenous to Barbados]

2. Enjoy the traditional Barbadian life…most visitors come to the island and hardly ever venture outside of the hotel. So taking in what the island has to offer in the most natural and indigenous way.

3. If the experience was good share it with others, if it was negative let ‘us’ know so we can improve on where we fell short.

The 2009 Holders Season

March 14 – April 4

Saturday 14 March       

Comedy Night – Olé!
                With Paul Morocco, Guillermo De Endaya and Antonio Gomez

The 2009 Holders Season bursts into life with a riot of music, comedy and extraordinary antics with guitars, costumes and ping pong balls. Spanish, Cuban and South American guitar music as you will never hear it again…

“It was almost a relief to see these juggling, guitar-twirling, dancing nut cases finish their show, to give your smiling cheeks and throbbing hands a rest. Not only are these three amigos brilliant comedians and mind boggling tricksters, they are consummate musicians”
Evening Post (Edinburgh)

Monday 16 March       

Barbados Heart and Stroke Foundation Night
                Organized by BHSF - facilities donated by Holders
Featuring – VSOP – Dixieland Jazz Band and The Barbados Defense Force Band

Wednesday 18 March   

Bravissimo - The World of Italian Opera

Four sensational singers from New York’s Metropolitan and City Operas and the Myriad Singers of Barbados bring the world of Italian opera to life with arias, duets, ensembles and choruses by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Donizetti. With musical director Gints Berzins, the evening is produced and scripted by Stewart Collins who tells a story of high emotion, drama, huge triumphs and absolute disasters.

Friday 20 March       

When the Classics meet Jazz
with Alyson Cambridge (soprano), Amy Dickson (saxophone) Gints Berzins and Martin Cousin (piano)

The great George Gershwin bridged the gap between the classical and popular music with his opera Porgy and Bess and great pieces for piano and orchestra. Here in the intimate Little Theatre, top class musicians from the USA, Australia, Latvia and the UK perform jazz infused music by Gershwin, Ravel, Milhaud and others. Great melodies that swing…(Little Theatre)

Saturday 21 March       

The Sounds of Africa
                With Bassekou Kouyaté and Ngoni Ba (Mali)

Malian world music superstar and champion of the ngoni (West African lute) Bassekou Kouyaté and his band Ngoni Ba light up the Holders Season with their utterly addictive African blues. Known the world over, their album Segu Blue has been listed as one of the 1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die.

"A fantastic example of how music can lift your mind and soul at the same time. The perfect proof of how inspirational African music can be, how it can touch so many people
on so many levels." Damon Albarn (Blur)

Monday 23 March       

Celebrating ‘Youth’ with BEÒLACH

BEÒLACH is a Gaelic word meaning 'lively youth'. Beòlach is also one of Canada’s most exciting new young bands. The group performs an energetic mix of Cape Breton, Scottish, and Irish tunes featuring piano, pipes, whistles, guitar, and two fiddles.

Beòlach has thrilled audiences with energetic performances, witty presentation, and their versatility as stepdancers. Cape Breton tunes are removed from their usual fiddle/piano context and presented with the energy of a young six piece band. Although presenting these tunes in a contemporary style, Beòlach maintains a respect and understanding of Celtic music.

Wednesday 25 March   

A Tribute to Frank Sinatra
With Louis Hoover and The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars

An evening in the company of some of the greatest songs ever written, one of the finest latter day exponents of the great Frank Sinatra’s material, and a backing band to die for from London’s legendary Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. Songs you can’t hear too often brilliantly and stylishly delivered…. Louis Hoover is the original co-creator of the London West End hit musical The Rat Pack, in which he also received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Sinatra.

Thursday 26 March   

Mark Twain – The Traveler

The wit, wisdom, humor and hyperbole of one of America’s most celebrated authors comes to life… Mostly comic (although just occasionally serious), Traveling celebrates Twain’s decidedly irreverent thoughts on the people he met and the places he saw in a life time of world travel.

Performed by actor Cal Pritner who, as Mark Twain, has entertained audiences across the States and beyond.  Included this evening is a Buffet featuring cuisine from Mark Twain’s Mississippi travels. (The Gallery)

“Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more”. Mark Twain

 
Saturday 28 March       

Café Holders
                   
A brand new Holders evening… come drink, eat and relax in the Holders garden and sample a rich variety of international performances featuring the magic and mastery of Eric Walton’s Esoterica, jazz music from Ronnie Scott’s All Stars including a very special version of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, amazing feats of memory from American Scott Flansburg and other surprises yet to be revealed…

Tuesday 31 March      

  Classical Piano Recital featuring New York
                Virtuoso Greg Anderson
If you want to get a feel for this fine classical pianist, check out his website (andersonpiano.com). It will tell you as much about the man as his playing – which, of course, is absolutely from the top drawer. The zeal with which Greg pursues his musical mission have led him to develop a multi-faceted career in the arts. His exploits have garnered the attention of such media outlets as MTV’s Total Request Live, and the CBS Early Morning Show. Greg has been named the "Composer of the Year" by the Minnesota Music Educators Association and has twice been a winner in the Juilliard Composition Contests. (Little Theatre)

Thursday 2 April       

Seven Deadly Sins,  Four Deadly Sinners
An anthology evening of WICKED COMEDY, HEAVENLY DRAMA, DEVILISHLY TALL TALES, ENCHANTING POETRY and SEDUCTIVE STORIES starring FOUR DEADLY BEAUTIFUL TEMPTRESSES, who will enlighten you on how to survive, or even live by, the SEVEN DEADLY SINS!
Compiled from the works of nearly everyone with a sense of humour (sometimes unintentional!) - from Chaucer to Victoria Wood, from Woody Allen to Oscar Wilde via Flanders & Swann, Joyce Grenfell, Steven Berkoff and Noel Coward - by the award-winning scriptwriter and author of the first six of the CARRY ON films: NORMAN HUDIS

Saturday 4 April       

Gala Finale Evening

One of the highlights of Barbados’ cultural calendar – the closing night of the Holders Season complete with extended picnic break and a rich pageant of artists and performers. One of the headliners will be Jonathan Ansell, the sensational young tenor who shot to fame with pop opera group G4 on television’s The X Factor. Early booking for this hugely popular evening is advised.

For more information, please see:
http://holders.net/