After several years of deterioration and unimaginative programming, Ian Hunter is brought back in 1955 to rescue the ailing festival, which he does - but with financially disastrous results. The festivals of 1956 and 1957 are dropped. Undeterred, Ian Hunter returns in 1958 with Yehudi Menuhin in tow. The following year Hunter installs Yehudi Menuhin as director and the tone is set for the sixties. Local composer and reactionary Michael Tippett takes the helm.
Black tie is out and a blues festival is in.
But Tippett refused to outstay his welcome and remains the only director to have left voluntarily. The festival became more cerebral, established its format of two weeks and three weekends, and the opening night was born. The chairman, Robin Buchanan felt that ten years was enough for William Glock and replaced him with The Times' music critic William Mann, who lived near Bath. Although William Mann knew his music, he was too disorganized and only lasted a year. NINE Amelia Freedman, director of the Nash Ensemble and one of the most respected names in the classical music business, was invite to take over and produced some exciting themes and concerts.