The latest news on performances of Classical Music in UK / West End.
Review: BBC PROMS: PROM 65: HANDEL'S MESSIAH, Royal Albert Hall
by Aliya Al-Hassan - September 09, 2024
The climax to the Proms' Choral Day could only be George Frideric Handel's majestic Messiah. This 1789 arrangement by Mozart was performed by The Academy of St Martin in the Fields, joined by an incredible six (yes six) choirs, conducted by an ebullient John Butt....
Review: BBC PROMS: PROM 62: RATTLE CONDUCTS MAHLER'S 6TH, Royal Albert Hall
by Louise Penn - September 08, 2024
There were no phone screens, no sotto voce conversations, no fidgeting, as a packed Hall watched the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in rapt appreciation. Each instrument had its moment. The dual harps added a cool clarity, the double basses a morose touch, the trombones a sweet elegance. This wa...
Review: BBC PROMS: PROM 54: BEETHOVEN FOR THREE, Royal Albert Hall
by Kat Mokrynski - September 02, 2024
With soloists Leonidas Kavakos, Emmanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma on violin, piano and cello respectively coming together to form a mighty trio of classical musicians, audiences are in for a treat, regardless of what is being played. Indeed, I found myself thinking that the musicians could have just performe...
Review: BBC PROMS: PROM 46: HOLST'S THE PLANETS, Royal Albert Hall
by Aliya Al-Hassan - August 26, 2024
If anyone were to worry about the future of classical music, Prom 46 would surely reassure them that we are in good hands. Students from the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir, Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra and the Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra came together for an incredibly pow...
Award Winning SLÄPSTICK: SCHËRZO To Perform In London For The First Time This Autumn
by A.A. Cristi - July 03, 2024
Award-winning group SLÄPSTICK brings their unique blend of music, comedy, and theater to London for the first time this autumn with their show SCHËRZO....
Video: Go Inside The Royal Opera's MADAMA BUTTERFLY
by Joshua Wright - April 09, 2024
Watch as The Royal Opera explores Puccini’s devastating tragedy about a young geisha who falls in love with an American naval officer....
Musicians' Union Members Reach Agreement with English National Opera
by Stephi Wild - February 20, 2024
The Musicians' Union (MU) has reached an agreement with English National Opera (ENO). As a result, all planned strike and action short of strike by MU members in the orchestra at ENO have been cancelled. Learn more about the agreement here!...
The Royal College of Music to Open Performance Laboratory This Month
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 25, 2024
Experience fully immersive and groundbreaking performance simulation facilities at the Royal College of Music....
Igor Levit Becomes The Youngest Ever Recipient Of The Wigmore Hall Medal
by Stephi Wild - January 22, 2024
36-year-old Russian-born German pianist Igor Levit has become the youngest ever recipient of The Wigmore Hall Medal. In recognition of his outstanding musical achievements and contribution to Wigmore Hall, Levit received the medal from Wigmore Hall director John Gilhooly following Levit's performa...
Southbank Sinfonia Announces Spring/Summer Season at St John's Smith Square
by Aliya Al-Hassan - January 08, 2024
Southbank Sinfonia at St John’s Smith Square have announced their Spring/Summer 2024 season, with highlights including one-off event concerts, as well as a series of exciting concerts by its own orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia....
Photos: West End Stars Join National Youth Music Theatre For A Christmas Celebration
by A.A. Cristi - December 22, 2023
A host of West End rising stars joined the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) A Christmas Celebration at the iconic St Johns Smith Square, all alumni of this leading youth organisation. See photos of the concert....
Andrew Lloyd Webber Appeals to UK Government for Funding for Music in Secondary Schools Trust
by Aliya Al-Hassan - November 30, 2023
Andrew Lloyd Webber has written to Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, calling for public funding for the foundation Music in Secondary Schools Trust, which helps students in disadvantaged schools to access to quality music education....
Helen Wallace Joins Barbican as New Head of Music
by Aliya Al-Hassan - November 07, 2023
Helen Wallace has been appointed the new Head of Music at the Barbican. Helen will take up her new role in February 2024. ...
British And International Soloists Announced For THE NUTCRACKER, SWAN LAKE & SLEEPING BEAUTY UK Tour
by A.A. Cristi - November 01, 2023
Raymond Gubbay Limited has announced the British and international soloists for Varna International Ballet and Orchestra who will be touring in early 2024, as part of their return to UK after a hugely successful debut in 2023. ...
BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Philharmonic Appoint New Directors
by Aliya Al-Hassan - October 25, 2023
Following a very competitive recruitment process, Bill Chandler has been appointed Director of the BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and Adam Szabo has been appointed Director of the BBC Philharmonic....
Review: LA TRAVIATA, London Coliseum
by Franco Milazzo - October 24, 2023
Much shorter than Richard Eyre’s three-hour plus version for the ROH, Peter Konwitschny’s La Traviata perhaps should be renamed La Trav or L’ Abbreviata. Its breathless sprint over 105 uninterrupted minutes takes more than it gives but there’s an admirable boldness to it all....
Eminent Conductors Warn Cuts Will Cause 'The Demise' of ENO
by Aliya Al-Hassan - October 17, 2023
Three of opera’s most eminent music directors have predicted “the demise” of the English National Opera if planned cuts go ahead in a letter published in The Times....
ENO's Musical Director Martyn Brabbins Resigns Over Cuts
by Aliya Al-Hassan - October 16, 2023
British conductor and the ENO's Musical Director Martyn Brabbins has resigned from the company in response to cuts to the orchestra. ...
Cellist Santiago Cañón-Valencia Debuts at Wigmore Hall, Plus a Live Broadcast With BBC Symphony
by Stephi Wild - October 09, 2023
Colombian cellist and 2022 BBC Next Generation Artist Santiago Cañón-Valencia embarks on a three-date series of performances in the United Kingdom this fall, including his Wigmore Hall debut recital with pianist Naoko Sonoda. Learn more about the upcoming performances here!...
National Theatre Wales Receives 100% Cut from Arts Council of Wales
by Aliya Al-Hassan - September 28, 2023
National Theatre Wales has had its funding completely cut in the latest Wales funding review....
BBC Young Composer 2023 Winners Announced
by Aliya Al-Hassan - September 20, 2023
In March, the BBC invited young music-makers of all technical abilities, musical backgrounds and styles from across the UK to enter a composition for the BBC Young Composer competition. Applicants were required to submit their entry online, using any instruments and method of composing that suited t...
New English Ballet Theatre Presents THE GENESIS DANCE PROJECT Tour In Essex and London
by A.A. Cristi - September 18, 2023
NEW ENGLISH BALLET THEATRE presents THE GENESIS DANCE PROJECT, featuring music by prog-rock legends GENESIS and new works by contemporary choreographers. Don't miss this dynamic ballet tour in Essex and London....
Anna Clyne Appointed Composer in Association of the BBC Philharmonic
by Aliya Al-Hassan - September 14, 2023
Anna Clyne will compose three new scores for the BBC Philharmonic in her new role as Composer in Association. Her first piece in the role is Glasslands, which she composed for celebrated saxophonist Jess Gillam, and will have its UK premiere with the BBC Philharmonic at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall...
Review: PROM 68 – MAX RICHTER - RECOMPOSED, Royal Albert Hall
by Debbie Gilpin - September 10, 2023
The Britten Sinfonia is unusual in the world of professional orchestras, in that they don’t have the now-traditional principal conductor as their figurehead, instead choosing to collaborate with leading exponents of the field. For this Prom, violinist Thomas Gould both played and acted as director...
Review: PROM 60: BERLIN RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, Royal Albert Hall
by Louise Penn - September 03, 2023
Marking the Proms debut of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin), their artistic director Vladimir Jurowski conducted a lively and varied programme of works by Weill, Adès and Rachmaninov to a Royal Albert Hall high in anticipation. ...
Hannah Waddingham Withdrew From BBC Prom in Support of SAG-AFTRA Strike
by Aliya Al-Hassan - August 29, 2023
Hannah Waddingham stepped down from presenting a special BBC Prom, in support of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike...
Review: PROM 56 – RATTLE CONDUCTS MAHLER'S NINTH, Royal Albert Hall
by Debbie Gilpin - August 28, 2023
Last night’s performance consisted of a rendition of Francis Poulenc’s Figure humaine by the BBC Singers, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra tackling Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. A fitting pairing for something of a bittersweet evening, as it brings together words from the French Resi...
Review: PROM 55 – GERSHWIN'S PIANO CONCERTO, Royal Albert Hall
by Debbie Gilpin - August 28, 2023
The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s second outing at this year’s Proms celebrated the magic of movement, with varying degrees of dance in pieces by Stravinsky, Ravel, Gershwin, and a European première from Carlos Simon. Their programme took the audience back in time, beginning in the 2020s and endi...
Hannah Waddingham to Present FANTASY, MYTHS AND LEGENDS PROM at the Royal Albert Hall
by Aliya Al-Hassan - August 25, 2023
Emmy Award-winning actress and singer Hannah Waddingham will present an evening of orchestral works from film, television and gaming, from titles including Harry Potter, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and World of Warcraft. The BBC Concert Orchestra led by their new Chief Conducto...
Review: BBC PROM 49: SCHUMANN'S DAS PARADIES UND DIE PERI, Royal Albert Hall
by Louise Penn - August 23, 2023
This is a piece of folk storytelling at its best. Das Paradies und die Peri is an exciting piece of music which has everything you might want in an evening: moments of battle evoked by complex orchestrations; true love brought to life by the emotional power of song; and eventual redemption....
Review: BBC PROMS AT SAGE GATESHEAD: SELF ESTEEM & ROYAL NORTHERN SINFONIA, Sage Gateshead
by Bryony Rae Taylor - July 24, 2023
I like my orchestral music organised around Northern talent. An evening of two halves, this BBC Proms event saw Nottingham (which is geographically more North than South, so let’s forget for a moment that it’s in the midlands) was repped by four-piece band Divorce. Then, Rotherham-born Self-Este...
Review: PROM 11: HORRIBLE HISTORIES - 'ORRIBLE OPERA, Royal Albert Hall
by Kat Mokrynski - July 24, 2023
Prom 11: Horrible Histories ‘Orrible Opera is a delightful show that will amuse audiences of all ages while making opera more approachable....
Review: PROM 7 – BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH SYMPHONY, Royal Albert Hall
by Debbie Gilpin - July 20, 2023
Works by “the old Ludwig van” – as A Clockwork Orange’s Alex would say – remain popular as part of the BBC Proms series, with this performance of his fifth symphony the second of eight Beethoven compositions on the programme this year – and this is probably the most famous of the lot. It...
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE 1936, Daniel Kitson's MAYBE A GHOST STORY, and More Set For Wilton's Music Hall Autumn Season
by Stephi Wild - July 05, 2023
Wilton's Music Hall has announced its stunning autumn season, which sees ground-breaking productions, and collaborations with forward-thinking theatre companies. Continuing what has been an incredible year of theatre for Britain's oldest Victorian music hall, this new season is set to be one of the ...
Anna-Maria Helsing Appointed Chief Conductor of BBC Concert Orchestra
by Aliya Al-Hassan - June 16, 2023
Anna-Maria Helsing has been appointed Chief Conductor of BBC Concert Orchestra. Officially starting in the role on October 1 2023, the appointment builds on Anna-Maria Helsing’s fruitful existing relationship with the orchestra which began in 2020 when she became Principal Guest Conductor....
SEGA Announces SONIC SYMPHONY World Tour Dates
by Blair Ingenthron - May 20, 2023
The music of Sonic the Hedgehog continues! Following the standalone Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Symphony and Brazil Game Show 2022 performances, SEGA has announced the Sonic Symphony World Tour will kick off this fall into 2024, bringing a medley of fan-favorite Sonic tracks to multiple citi...
BBC PROMS To Include Works From Rufus Wainwright, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Self Esteem
by A.A. Cristi - April 19, 2023
The BBC Proms 2023 launches with a programme bursting with opera, oratorio and large-scale choral work and the first ever weekend-long Proms festival rooted in the North-East at Sage Gateshead....
The Philharmonia Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen Release The Orchestra App for iPhone
by Stephi Wild - March 27, 2023
Wise Music Group, Classical Apps, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and the Philharmonia Orchestra have announced the release of The Orchestra for iPhone. The critically acclaimed and award-winning iPad app was originally launched in 2012, and the new launch will bring The Orchestra to a wider audience by making i...
Closure of BBC Singers Sends 'Bleak Message' say Freelance Choral Representatives
by Aliya Al-Hassan - March 17, 2023
Representatives of the UK’s freelance professional choral ensembles have said the decision to close the BBC Singers is “a huge false economy”....
The Musicians' Union in Urgent Talks with BBC Over Job Cuts
by Aliya Al-Hassan - March 09, 2023
The MU is in urgent talks with the BBC to save musicians’ jobs following the corporation’s proposals to cut employed posts across BBC Singers and three orchestras....