Name: Nicky Spence tenor; Dylan Perez piano
Start: 2024-12-29T19:30:00
Location: Wigmore Hall

London's most iconic venues, including Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, Barbican Centre, and Royal Festival Hall, are set to host a series of captivating concerts. From the celebrated Trio Chagall and Paddington Trio's chamber music to the grand orchestral pieces by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, each event pays tribute to the legendary composer Joseph Haydn. Highlights include performances of Haydn's Piano Trios, String Quartets, and Symphony No. 49, providing a rich tapestry of classical music for all to enjoy.

Musical Extravaganza in London: Celebrating Haydn Across Premier Venues

London's vibrant classical music scene is set to shine with a series of enthralling concerts featuring the works of Francis Poulenc. From the majestic Barbican Centre to the intimate Wigmore Hall, audiences can indulge in performances ranging from choral masterpieces to exquisite chamber music. Highlights include the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra & Chorus under Ludovic Morlot's direction, Malin Byström's soprano brilliance, and Quatuor Van Kuijk's string quartet renditions, all paying homage to Poulenc's timeless compositions.

Celebrating Poulenc: London Hosts a Series of Mesmerizing Concerts

London's iconic venues, including Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre, and Southbank Centre, are set to host a series of enthralling performances that celebrate the timeless works of Henry Purcell. From the dramatic opera 'King Arthur' by Vox Luminis to the innovative fusion of The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble, these events promise a vibrant musical journey. Highlights include Jordi Savall's exploration of Early Music, Vilde Frang's Baroque program, and festive performances by The English Concert.

Celebrate Henry Purcell: A Journey Through London's Rich Musical Landscape

Get ready, London! Wigmore Hall is set to host a series of captivating events celebrating the genius of Hugo Wolf. From tenor performances and literary launches to avian-themed recitals and contemplative evenings, there's something for every classical music enthusiast. Mark your calendars and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Hugo Wolf's compositions this fall.

Experience the Magic of Hugo Wolf: Upcoming Events at Wigmore Hall, London

This fall and winter, London becomes a hub of musical splendor with a series of enchanting performances dedicated to the works of William Byrd. From the meditative tones of 'Resounding Shores: Chamber and Chapel' at the Royal Academy of Music to the exhilarating 'James McVinnie: Fantasias' at the Southbank Centre, these events promise to captivate and inspire. Join us at Wigmore Hall for an array of soulful evenings, including performances by Stile Antico and The Gesualdo Six, culminating in a Shakespearean celebration by Nicky Spence and Dylan Perez. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience the timeless beauty of Byrd's compositions.

Celebrate the Musical Genius of William Byrd Across London's Iconic Venues

London is set to become the ultimate destination for classical music enthusiasts with a remarkable series of events celebrating the works of Michael Tippett. From the imaginative 'Fairy-Tale Dances' by Lawrence Power and Thomas Adès at Southbank Centre on September 27, 2024, to the evocative 'Songs for Ariel' performed by Nicky Spence and Dylan Perez at Wigmore Hall on December 29, 2024, there's something for everyone. Don't miss the London Symphony Orchestra's tribute to Tippett, Turnage, and Vaughan Williams at the Barbican on January 12, 2025, or the profound experience of Beethoven's 'Choral' Symphony, featuring Tippett's 'A Child of Our Time' on March 23, 2025.

Celebrate the Genius of Michael Tippett: Unmissable Classical Events in London

Nicky Spence

Wigmore Hall

Musical modernism in the 20th Century, contrary to views expressed by conservative critics, came in an arresting diversity of styles, as Hugo Ticciati and Pierre-Laurent Aimard confirm with their choice of recital repertoire. Messiaen’s yearning Theme and Variations raises the curtain on the rhapsodic intensity of Schoenberg’s last instrumental work and Janáček’s impassioned Sonata, before the programme turns to music by three gloriously individual American moderns.

Hugo Ticciati violin; Pierre-Laurent Aimard piano

Musician and broadcaster Jess Gillam has worked wonders to break down the barriers that so often prevent people from exploring unfamiliar music. Her recital crosses genres and centuries with ease to create a delectable lunchtime menu, complete with Nadia Boulanger’s gorgeous Cantique, the fizzing energy of Graham Fitkin’s Gate and the seductive charm of Sidney Bechet’s enduring hit Petite Fleur.

Jess Gillam saxophone; Sam Becker double bass; Zeynep Özsuca piano

Roman Borisov was First Prize-winner at both the Krainev Youth Competition 2019 and the Kissinger KlavierOlymp 2022. Now a seasoned concert performer living in Berlin, the young pianist presents a Wigmore Hall programme which includes a selection of Preludes from the 'ultramodernist' American composer and musicologist Ruth Crawford Seeger.

Roman Borisov

We are delighted to provide those who give at Benefactor Friends level and above the opportunity to attend two open rehearsals per season as selected by the Director. This open rehearsal allows an audience to see Lea Desandre, Thomas Dunford & the Jupiter Ensemble live in action as they prepare for their recital later that evening.

Members' Open Rehearsal: Lea Desandre, Thomas Dunford & the Jupiter Ensemble

Thomas Dunford’s Jupiter Ensemble and French-Italian soprano Lea Desandre step into the thick of Handel’s oratorios and other works for London to embrace some of the composer’s most expressive arias, none more affecting than 'With darkness deep, as is my woe' from Theodora and the sublime 'Guardian angels, oh, protect me', a ravishing number from the 1757 version of The Triumph of Time and Truth. They conclude with the vocal pyrotechnics of 'No, no! I'll take no less', the mortal Semele’s command to the god Jupiter!

Lea Desandre mezzo-soprano; Thomas Dunford director, lute; Jupiter Ensemble

Alina Ibragimova and Cédric Tiberghien complete their multi-season survey of Beethoven’s violin sonatas with three contrasting works. They set the high spirits of Op. 30 No. 3 ahead of the composer’s last essay in the genre. ‘Interpreters must be able to dream, to enthuse,’ noted the great violinist Carl Flesch about Beethoven’s Op. 96. ‘The flower must blossom in their souls.’ The same could be said for the ‘Kreutzer’ Sonata, with its heroic writing for both instruments.

Alina Ibragimova violin; Cédric Tiberghien fortepiano

Join musicians from the Royal Academy of Music for a concert experience created especially for parents or carers and babies under 1. Enjoy live music together in an interactive and welcoming environment – move and groove to the music or sit back and unwind. Parents-to-be are also warmly welcomed.

For Crying Out Loud!

Songs old and new occupy Andrè Schuen and Daniel Heide. They turn the clock back to the world of ancient Greek myth, as so vividly imagined by Schubert, and show its eternal relevance. The baritone from the South Tyrol, commended by Gramophone as the owner of a ‘free-ranging voice, used with taste and invariable sensitivity to the text’, is joined by his regular duo partner in Unerzählt, Thomas Larcher’s intimate cycle of songs to poetry by the great German writer WG Sebald.

Andrè Schuen baritone; Daniel Heide piano

An evening of orchestral music by South African composers highlighting Shane Woodborne’s Red Ink concerto for double bass and string orchestra (2019). Commissioned by the Matseer Diabelli Sommer festival Red Ink is dedicated to the bassist Leon Bosch and serves as a musical memorial to the Soweto Uprising of 1976 in South Africa, an event that marked a turning point in the fight against apartheid but which came at a devastating human cost.

The African Concert Series

The South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini has earned widespread acclaim for the genuinely spiritual transcendence of his music. A Zulu healer and educator, Makhathini has delved deeply into the histories and traditions of his ancestors' music. Born in the lush hills of uMgungundlovu, South Africa, Nduduzo Makhathini grew up in an environment where music and ritual were deeply intertwined. This region, historically significant as the site of Zulu King Dingane’s kingdom, profoundly influenced Makhathini’s musical vision. He was drawn to the powerful role of music in the Zulu warrior code for motivation and healing, shaping his unique sound.

The African Concert Series: Nduduzo Makhathini

A relaxed and interactive drum workshop with acclaimed percussionist Richard Olatunde Baker, an experienced workshop leader specialising in African percussion and the Yoruba talking drum. This free workshop is suitable for anyone aged 7+. Spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The African Concert Series: African Rhythms Drum Workshop

Mandela Tales is a production by composer Shirley J Thompson, inspired by the book Nelson Mandela's Favourite African Folktales (WW Norton & Company, 2002) with music by Thompson, designed to appeal to families and young people.

The Artist in Residence’s first programme of the Season invites us to look forward to the New Year in a Shakespearean manner.

Nicky Spence tenor; Dylan Perez piano

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