The underlying theme in 2011 was sustainability, recycling and making unexpected and beautiful things from everyday objects and situations. On the opening day the Carnival Parade made up of 300 local school and community groups celebrated the environment with its theme of the four elements, while The World Famous's outdoor show All Hands required the audience to get the Festival off to a good start.  

At the Cathedral, very different ensembles brought the magnificent building to life: The Soweto Gospel Choir opened Festival proceedings with a feast of colours, joyful song and dance; Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and The Hilliard Ensemble joined forces exploring the Nave's acoustics with their atmospheric sound; while dynamic young chamber orchestra, the Trondheim Soloists, made a welcome return to share their sheer enjoyment of making music.

On the first Sunday, the world class Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra together with violinist Nikita Boriso-Glebsky dazzled a capacity audience in the newly opened Marlowe Theatre giving no less than three encores.

For the first time this year Science took centre stage at Canterbury Festival, led by a thought provoking talk by Robert Winston, and including a chemistry lesson that went with a bang, a guided guitar tour through the science of music making, an interactive event about genetics, Your Days are Numbered explained the statistics behind some headline grabbing health stories, and eventually we met someone who looked a lot like Albert Einstein introducing some of the universe's most minor mysteries.

Festival events at the Gulbenkian and the Theatre Royal Margate included performances based on Queen Elizabeth I's innermost thoughts, they ranged from opera - Puccini's heartbreaking Madam Butterfly and Britten's poignant Albert Herring - and dance to the incredibly moving production of 1 Beach Road. In the intimate setting of St Mary's Hall Studio Theatre The Boy with Tape on his Face, Joyce Grenfell tribute Turn Back the Clock, one woman comedy Sausage and Samosa and Vayu Naidu's Ramayana  on Diwali captivated the audience.  

Fabulous nightly gigs at the Festival Club included the harmonious Bevvy Sisters, the energetic KD Jazz and Dance Orchestra, American songwriter Andrew Duhon, newly crowned International Harmonica Player of the Year Brendan Power, all brought to a close by the infectious rhythms from Chimanimani.

It's been a great Festival in challenging times and we couldn't have done it without you - thanks for joining in!

We look forward to seeing you in 2012.

The Festival Team