As winter envelops Bristol, St George's concert hall becomes the epicenter of a series of riveting events that celebrate the diverse tapestry of music and thought. From the soulful harmonies of Renewal Choir to the introspective musings of Julian Baggini, this season promises an eclectic blend of sounds and ideas. Revel in the spiritual journey with the Vocal Works Gospel Choir or explore ancient musical traditions with Faris Ishaq and BEJE. Join us as we dive into a world where music and philosophy collide, inspiring audiences of all backgrounds.

St George's Bristol: A Winter of Musical and Philosophical Revelations

Marking the 60-year anniversary of the recording of the album Gary and Denys will be joined by Andrew McCormack (piano), and Rod Youngs (drums).

Discussing the impact that Coltrane’s magnus opus had on him, Gary Crosby explains “Hearing A Love Supreme for the first time was a life-changing moment for me as a young musician. There were so many complexities in the compositions and the arrangements, but the groove and directness were real. It is musically as close to a spiritual moment as I have ever had – a message from the mountain top, mind-blowing but completely rooted in everything I believed music could be. Coltrane stands above all others as a musician. A jazz deity? Possibly. All I know is that with A Love Supreme, he preached, and we all listened!”


Gary Crosby & Denys Baptiste

St George's Bristol

Will Young celebrated 20 years since his momentous Pop Idol win with a greatest hits album and sell-out national tour in 2022, a glorious recap of a career thus far that has seen all eight of his studio albums hitting Top 3 in the UK – four of which were No 1.  Along the way, he picked up accolades across the entertainment spectrum including the two BRIT Awards, an Ivor Novello plus an Olivier nomination for Best Actor in A Musical for his role as Emcee in Cabaret.  It would also be remiss to ignore the 10 million albums he has sold worldwide, but as validating as these accomplishments are, they don’t drive or define him.


Will Young

The Vocal Works Gospel Choir, celebrated for their dynamic performances and powerful vocal harmonies, have performed alongside artists including Take That, Lulu & Reef.

With a repertoire that’s given the full ‘gospel choir’ treatment and spans soul classics, pop hits, and gospel anthems, this unforgettable performance is one you won’t want to miss.

Vocal Works Gospel Choir

Acclaimed nay reed-flute master Faris Ishaq is given punchy, characterful support by global-jazz ensemble BEJE/British European Jazz Ensemble on spine-tingling music ranging from meditative atmospherics to primal improvisation: by turns profoundly beautiful, frantically urgent, joyfully strange, and yieldingly delicate. This event is presented by Big Bromo Productions.

Faris Ishaq x BEJE: Siblings Not Fools Tour

The oldest flutes to still exist, dating back to 5,000 B.C. ancient Egypt, this end-blown hollow cane flute is a notoriously difficult instrument to master. Learning how to direct air onto the blowing edge to produce sound, move between registers, and alter the pitch of certain notes can take years.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Inspired by the timeless wisdom of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Renewal Choir is proud to present Amazing Love, an evening of contemporary gospel music that promises to stir the soul and uplift the spirit. Join us at the magnificent St George’s concert hall for a dynamic and heart-warming celebration that transcends age and background, bringing folk together in the spirit of love and connection.

Renewal Choir

Vishwa Mohan Bhatt descends from a 300-year-old lineage dedicated to Indian Classical Music. He is renowned for playing the Mohan Veena – a unique instrument born from the modification of a western guitar with the addition of several drone & sympathetic strings.

Created and led by GRAMMY award-winner Bhatt, Desert Slide stands out as one of the most accomplished and revered ensembles of Indian Classical & Rajasthani folk music. The group comprises five other exceptional musicians, including Rajasthani vocalist Anwar Khan, Pandit Salil Bhattplaying the Satvik veena, Himanshu Mahant on the tabla, Kutla Khan on khartal and vocals and Goram Khan playing the dholak. This captivating ensemble’s unique blend of instruments creates a harmonious fusion that beautifully intertwines Rajasthani Manganyar folk and Indian Classical music.

Vishwa Mohan Bhatt

Carmichael says: “I first met Jay at a jam session in my first week of music college in London (although I ended up moving back to Glasgow the next week!) and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. I’ve always been drawn to the energy and emotional commitment Jay brings to every musical situation and I’m really excited to perform duo with him at St George’s. Duo is one of my favourite scenarios because of the direct line of communication, freedom and intimacy it brings to the music. This improvised concert will be based on the music from my albums Marram, Where Will The River Flow as well as newer material.”

Matt Carmichael & Jay Verma

The trio’s grand mission is to bridge the gap between new listeners and serious classical music enthusiasts by welcoming everyone into their living room of musical discovery and shared love of chamber music.

Paddington Trio

The Clare Teal 7,  led by world-class pianist Jason Rebello and featuring the UK’s finest Jazz musicians as ever weave together popular songs spanning 100 years alongside a collection of Festive classics to get you in the mood for the Holiday season.

A magical world where the talents of Lewis Capaldi, Cole Porter, Van Morrison, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Radio Head, Blossom Dearie, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan are heralded by Clare and her band using their unique swing Jazz palette providing an evening of rich sounds and stories – Always engaging – Always uplifting.

The Clare Teal 7

Chopin’s genius changed the course of the piano – and music itself – yet it also bridged the gap between the connoisseur and the casual listener. The great Polish pianist Arthur Rubinstein, reflecting on his long career, noted how Chopin’s music transcends barriers, uniting people from all walks of life, saying,

James Lisney plays Chopin

Preludes Music, the education arm of the Bristol Ensemble, works in areas of Bristol that are experiencing high levels of economic disadvantage and aims to put music at the heart of every child’s education. By doing so we improve confidence, co-ordination, speech and language and benefit all other areas of their learning. It has been running successfully since 2009 in several areas of Bristol. It is the most extensive project of its type in the country.

High Sheriff Concert

Symphony of the World takes you on a musical a journey across the globe, a celebration of the wonderful diverse communities and musical traditions residing in our city of Bristol, culminating in two electrifying performances at Trinity Arts on 18th November 2024, and St George’s on 25th November 2024. The concert at St George’s also features performances by Bristol Reggae Orchestra, Troyka, and the Bristol Ensemble with Kora player Mamadou Cissokho.

Symphony of the World

We launched this groundbreaking project in spring 2024, working with a team of UWE researchers to see whether singing really can improve your mental wellbeing and mood. Working with local Bristol choir leaders, we ran a series of singing sessions followed by a final performance at Bristol Beacon, where participants learned to sing popular songs and took part in the research. Hundreds of you took part, including many who’d never sung before, or hadn’t sung since childhood – we were blown away by participants’ passion for getting involved with both the music and the cutting-edge research. We also partnered with several local charities to widen access to the project. This summer, Sing for Happiness made national news and went viral on social media! At the time of going to print, the research analysis is in progress – and we’re excited to say that Sing for Happiness will return in spring 2025 for its next phase…

Sing for Happiness Rehearsal Ticket

Imagine a swelling river of sound; a musical voyage that begins amid the tranquillity of nature and ends in a surge of triumph. That’s Sibelius’s Second Symphony, and there are few experiences in classical music more invigorating, or more stirring. Wagner’s evocative Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde is a stirring exploration of love and longing. Wagner’s intense and lyrical music sets the stage for an unforgettable journey through the complexities of passion and loss.

Before this, we present one of Bruckner’s early and rarely performed compositions to mark Bruckner’s 200th anniversary, as part of the international #AntonBruckner2024 celebrations. In 1862 Bruckner attended a performance of Wagner’s Tannhäuser that changed his life forever: from then on, he determined to devote more time to composition. With hardly any experience in orchestral scoring, Bruckner’s characteristics are clearly present in this overture which ends with a typically Brucknerian blazing G major conclusion.

Bristol Symphony Orchestra

Join the brilliant writer, thinker and St George’s resident philosopher, Julian Baggini, as he explores some of the big ideas that connect with and emerge from this week’s news stories.

Sit back and enjoy the live conversation or take part as much as you like – this is always a lively and inspiring discussion!

Philosophical Times with Julian Baggini

Internationally hailed as a beacon of relentless soul, Hannah Williams & The Affirmations were catapulted around the world when their song ‘Late Nights & Heartbreak’ was sampled by Jay-Z and became an instrumental part of his platinum selling, Grammy-nominated album ‘4:44’. The band has become a global success ever since, playing stages including Montreal Jazz Festival, Blue Note Milan and Blue Note Tokyo, and working with Tyler the Creator, Pete Rock and Guy Chambers.

The Jazz Defenders, having recently had two albums reach the top ten in the USA jazz charts and receiving worldwide acclaim, are a group that electrifies audiences with their mesmerising and virtuosic energy; uniquely defending the legacy of hard bop and soul jazz groove. They are led by one of the UK’s most formidable pianists and composers, George Cooper, who has worked and collaborated with Hans Zimmer, Nigel Kennedy, Omar, Slum Village, MF Doom, The Brand New Heavies, Lisa Stansfield, The Haggis Horns and Abstract Orchestra.

Hannah Williams & The Affirmations + The Jazz Defenders - An Evening with Strings

Tonight they present music from their debut duo album Touch of Time, released on ECM records – music revelling in fragile melodic lines and the unmistakably evocative sound of Arve’s trumpet. This promises to be a special evening of music perfect for the St George’s acoustic.

Arve Henriksen & Harmen Fraanje

In 2022 Jaren Ziegler won the BBC Young Musician Strings Final at age 16, becoming the first violist in the competition’s history to do so. This led to invitations to perform across the UK and Europe and suffice to say Ziegler is forging a reputation as an outstanding young musician.

Jaren Ziegler

Best known for his work with the Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Sinatra and his extensive Hollywood studio work, “Sweets” is somewhat of an unsung hero of Jazz Trumpet. Jonny is well known across the Bristol Jazz scene and nationally for his deep knowledge of Jazz trumpet from Louis Armstrong through to Freddie Hubbard, his extensive range and beautiful tone. He has performed across the UK as a band leader, with Moscow Drug Club and with countless big bands including The Dockside Latin Orchestra and the Bruce/Illet Big band.


Jonny Bruce + the Adam Stokes Trio: A Tribute to Harry “Sweets” Edison

Performing an array of her classic songs including Happy Ever After, Where Does The Time Go, Porcelain, Girlfriend, Love Moves (In Mysterious Ways) and Manhattan Skyline alongside songs from her forthcoming album.

Julia was recently seen as part of the all female group Woman to Woman featuring Judie Tzuke and Beverley Craven, releasing an acclaimed album and selling in excess of 50,000 tickets on their UK tour.

Julia Fordham

Will Young celebrated 20 years since his momentous Pop Idol win with a greatest hits album and sell-out national tour in 2022, a glorious recap of a career thus far that has seen all eight of his studio albums hitting Top 3 in the UK – four of which were No 1.  Along the way, he picked up accolades across the entertainment spectrum including the two BRIT Awards, an Ivor Novello plus an Olivier nomination for Best Actor in A Musical for his role as Emcee in Cabaret.  It would also be remiss to ignore the 10 million albums he has sold worldwide, but as validating as these accomplishments are, they don’t drive or define him. The secret to Will’s longevity and colourful career lies in his artistic instinct and connection with his audience.

Virtuosic music from England and Italy for choir and string orchestra with dazzling soloists from the Royal Opera House. Experience powerful choruses sung by the 100 strong City of Bristol Choir, vocal fireworks in brilliant solos and duets, and ravishing string playing in one of Vaughan Williams’ most famous works.


City of Bristol Choir

This culminates with a performance of Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, arguably one of the greatest achievements of the twentieth century. Bartók draws from a vast array of traditional musical inspirations, with orchestration that vividly captures diverse styles and colours. True to its title as a ‘concerto’ for orchestra rather than a ‘symphony,’ it offers a balanced distribution of melodies, presenting significant challenges for all.

Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra

Lindo is a Bristol-based singer-songwriter and multi-disciplinary artist – she has an extraordinary, ‘hauntingly flawless’ voice. Her sound world encompasses spiritual jazz, soul and spoken word and is influenced as much by classic artists such as Marvin Gaye, Carole King and Minnie Riperton, as contemporaries like Cleo Sol, Robert Glasper, Jordan Rakei and Kae Tempest.

Her recent album Ancestry, which explores dual heritage identity, intergenerational healing and climate justice through her family history, has been championed by Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum and Clash magazine.

Lightime Music: Samantha Lindo

Pianist Ignas Maknickas has been sweeping up prizes in the last couple of years. Born in California and raised in Lithuania, he is building a flourishing reputation appearing with orchestras such as the Aarhus Symphony and London Mozart Players, as well as a soloist all over Europe.

Ignas Maknickas

They have been featured on BBC Radio 3; their music combines world music energy with classical precision and characterful jazz improvisations. This is a Listening Room session so will feature some brand-new compositions alongside arrangements of pieces by Anouar Brahem and Astor Piazolla, as well as the artists talking about their creative process.

Daphna Sadeh-Neu is a top class double bassist and composer. She has released 4 CDs on major UK and US labels (including the Tzasik label by John Zorn) and has received commissions to compose for both small ensembles and full orchestra in a style that crosses genres including jazz, world music and Baroque. Daphna has performed internationally in Europe, Asia and the USA.

Listening Room: Eastern Strings

This will be a very special performance of The Planets arranged for chamber orchestra accompanied by wonderful visuals of each planet and the poems that inspired the music.

Alongside The Planets we perform the music for the film Interstellar composed by Hans Zimmer, NASA’s mission is to find a habitable planet beyond our solar system.

Bristol Ensemble

This filmic, atmospheric music, with its dreamscapes and themes of redemption, will be performed by 100 students from Bristol Grammar School and Wansdyke Primary School. This magical performance, in the second half, will be preceded by a slice of Bach Brandenburg and delicacies from the Jazz Collective and close harmony groups.

Bristol Grammar School

Geneticist Professor Turi King – co-presenter of the BBC Two series DNA Family Secrets – is famous for cracking one of the biggest forensic DNA cases in history: the identification of King Richard III.

Join her tonight as she discusses the case and uncovers how DNA has revolutionised genealogy and forensics, helping us trace long lost family members, catch criminals and make remarkable historical discoveries. She will reveal how your unique DNA identifies you and your family, how your surname can give you a glimpse into the lives of your ancestors and whether you really are who you think you are. With the huge rise in DNA testing, we are now able to ask questions previously impossible to answer about our families, ancestry and health

Professor Turi King

A little over five years after Piano Nights and more than eleven years after Dolores Bohren & Der Club of Gore published their eights studio album Patchouli Blue which has an unusual amount of tracks (eleven) for the band.

The playtime of these eleven tracks on the other hand is just over an hour, what implies that the specific Bohren-Vibe of savoring sublime slowness is able to be established within a very short time.

Bohren & der Club of Gore

The band explain; ‘We couldn’t ignore all the love we got for the first acoustic tour (in 2019) when we kept having to add more and more shows due to the demand. We ended up doing about 50 shows when we originally planned to do just one or two! So we decided to do it again and make it another very special and intimate performance. We honestly can’t wait’

Turin Brakes released their Mercury Prize nominated debut The Optimist Lp in March 2001 (achieving gold status in the UK) and followed it up in 2003 with their most commercially successful album – Ether Song – featuring the Top 5 hit single Pain Killer (Summer Rain). Since then the band have racked up seven top 40 singles, six top 40 albums and over a million record sales worldwide.


Turin Brakes Acoustic

Open to Benefactors, Patrons, and members of the Star Circle, this free event is an exclusive chance to enjoy refreshments ahead of the Fretwork: Take Five Viols concert at 7.30pm the same evening. There will also be a chance to hear Samir in conversation with Bristol-born viol-player Jonathan Rees, who will be performing with Fretwork.

Fretwork Supporters Reception

Fretwork are the world’s leading consort of viols. For almost 40 years they have been exploring the core repertory of great English consort music, from Taverner to Purcell, and making classic recordings against which others are judged. They are also pioneers of contemporary music for viols, having commissioned over 40 pieces from composers as varied as Michael Nyman, Elvis Costello, Sir John Tavener and Nico Muhly. Tonight, by way of an introduction to this remarkable consort who haven’t played at St George’s for 15 years, they present a glorious mix of old and somewhat less old, playing music by Byrd, Debussy, Purcell, Nyman, Bach and, of course, Dave Brubeck (well, actually, Dave Brubeck’s saxophonist Paul Desmond).

Fretwork: Take Five Viols

Sura Susso & Debasmita Bhattacharya present Melodies across Continents – This magical duo enthrals listeners with their traditional instruments (West African kora, Indian Sarod and vocals) and improvised melodies, as they lead audiences on a journey across continents, melding sounds from West Africa to Northern India and everywhere in between.

Debasmita Bhattacharya, a virtuoso sarod player, is heralded as one of India’s most celebrated performers in the world of Indian classical music, while Sura Susso attracts an equivalent accolade within West African music for his exquisite talent and memorising performances on the West African harp – the kora.

Sura Susso & Debasmita Bhattacharya

She has performed at venues across the world and her performance in Reykjavík’s Harpa Concert Hall of the six Bach Cello Suites was hailed as “an awe-inspiring experience” (Fréttablaðið, Iceland). She’ll be joined by Franco-Belgian pianist Antoine Préat, whose distinctive voice and strong musical convictions have been winning plaudits.

Geirþrúður Guðmundsdóttir & Antoine Préat

In 2018 St George’s held the first solo recital with that year’s winner, pianist Eric Lu, and it was a truly wonderful moment: musical history in the making. In 2021 we did the same, with Alim Beisembayev. In September this year, the 21st edition of the competition will welcome a diverse line-up of brilliant musicians to Leeds, and St George’s will then host one of the very first public recitals by its winner.

Leeds International Piano Competition: 2024 Winner Recital

In this informal salon, Cherry will be in conversation with philosopher Julian Baggini and Bristol University philosopher Joanna Burch-Brown, and there’ll be a chance to ask questions of your own.

Philosophy Salon: No Hard Feelings?

250 years ago this month, Edmund Burke delivered a speech to the electors of Bristol telling them “Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.” In other words, as their MP, his job was to decide what was in the citizen’s best interests, not necessarily to do what they wanted. Is this an ideal of democracy that is out of date or more urgent than ever? What do our politicians owe us in 2024?

Philosophy Salon: What Do Politicians Owe Us?

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is one of his most renowned works, synonymous with his name. The four concertos, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, have captivated audiences for three centuries.

In the 20th century, Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla created The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, breathing new life into tango. Piazzolla’s cycle contrasts baroque motifs with a blend of classical, jazz, and Afro-Spanish traditions. His compositions feature vibrant emotions, sparkling colours, hot Argentine rhythms, unusual harmonies, tango motifs, and incredible expression.

The Four Seasons: From Vivaldi to Piazzolla

✨Max Richter is the composer of music for dozens of feature films and documentaries. The European Film Academy voted him the best film composer in 2008.

He changed the music of Antonio Vivaldi in the spirit of minimalism and postmodernism. Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons is one of Richter’s most famous works. After its release in 2012, the recording topped the iTunes Classical Music charts in over 20 countries.

Tribute to Max Richter

She is a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and was nominated a Classic FM Rising Star of 2024. Today she performs a wonderful programme with pianist Jonathan Ware, whose playing has been described as “thrilling sorcery” (Stuttgarter Nachrichten).


Hana Chang & Jonathan Ware

Wild Words

In Doug’s words: “There are big days when animals behave spectacularly right in front of your lens. And other quieter times when a deeper understanding reveals itself, a new insight into the environment and what’s alive there. I’ll be talking about these moments of truth and how they’re the biggest privilege of a wildlife cameraperson.”

This show also offers Doug’s perspective on climate change and its impacts on the world’s wild places. What change of emphasis and direction should we now be incorporating in wildlife films? His topside and underwater filming – from the ice-covered polar seas to tropical coral reefs – combined with his scientific credentials as a marine biologist, have given Doug unparalleled first-hand experience and a unique long-term perspective on these issues which are now severely impacting our environment.

Doug Allan

Johns’ Boys Welsh Male Choir is one of the most decorated British male choirs in history. The choir have won numerous choral competitions and in 2019 became the first British Male Voice Choir to win the prestigious Pavarotti ‘Choir of the World’ prize at the Llangollen International music festival. They have made numerous TV appearances, including The Last Night of the Proms, Britain’s Got Talent,The Royal Variety Show and the Netflix blockbuster drama Stay Close.

Johns' Boys Welsh Male Choir

Put on your spookiest Halloween costume and join Presenter Laura Tanner, our fantastic MiniBeats pianists and two of the very grandest of grand pianos, for a fun and interactive introduction to the crazy world of the keyboard!

MiniBeats

Maddie Morris’s bold, insightful and refreshingly unique song writing weaves stories out of contemporary experience. Described by Jim Moray as “leading the next generation of socially conscious songwriters”, Maddie sings beautifully of the marginalised and the different. Whether turning a centuries-old ballad on its head or writing something new, this is infectiously, subversively vital music. Passionately political, yet gently understated, it deftly treads the path between art and activism.

Tarren + Maddie Morris

We’re delighted to welcome Rebecca, lecturer in social and political philosophy at the University of Bristol, to this autumn’s Philosophical Times, whilst Julian Baggini is away. Rebecca researches topics including citizenship, migration and exile; she also works on the history of women in philosophy and is co-editor of the book The Philosopher Queens. Sit back and enjoy the live conversation or take part as much as you like – this is always a lively and inspiring discussion!

Philosophical Times with Rebecca Buxton

Centred around a song called Ribbons, this collection of new works and arrangements celebrates the joy of musical partnership, friendship and collaboration. Built on a foundation of jazz, Ribbons bridges singer-songwriter elements with folk and classical music, and is rooted in influences including Laura Nyro, Quercus, Joni Mitchell, John Taylor, John Ireland and Debussy. This will be intimate, exquisite music performed by a trio at the top of their game.

Ribbons: Sara Colman, Rebecca Nash, Henrik Jensen

He is a highly regarded instrumentalist, renowned by many as “the finest English-style fingerpicking guitarist of his generation” (Jon Boden). This autumn, Carter returns with material from his fifth album Silver Horizon, infused with the ethereal textures and soundscapes of the slowcore and dream pop bands he was listening to at the time of writing it. “I’m still dealing with themes of love, loss, and change that have been a part of my earlier work, but at the moment, sketching events in an impressionistic way instead of documenting them in detail gives the songs more room to breathe.” It’s this seamless blend of the intimate and ethereal that makes Silver Horizon the most remarkable album of Carter’s career.

Sam Carter

Her winning performance at the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2015 was greeted with wide critical acclaim – “Not since Murray Perahia’s triumph in 1972 has Leeds had a winner of this musical poise and calibre,” raved the International Piano Magazine. Nine years later and she is without doubt one of the premier pianists of her generation, performing widely in major cities across the world and collaborating with some of the most prestigious conductors.

Tsybuleva grew up in a small village in the Caucasus mountains, where nature and the beauty of her surroundings proved a constant source of inspiration. These beginnings have fed directly into the development of her artistry, characterised by a captivating intimacy: drawing the listener into a private sphere of music-making in even the largest of concert halls. Her Complete Debussy Préludes: The Visual Album captures this beautifully.

Anna Tsybuleva

Drones can be found in many kinds of music across the world – bagpipe traditions, indigenous didgeridoo, classical Hindustani to name a few – and contemporary drone music traverses a host of genres including ambient, folk, electronic and contemporary classical. With performances from Scanner, the Spiralis Aurea Trio led by Stefano Pilia with Alessandra Novaga and Adrian Utley, and Bristol’s own JOW, featuring Pete Judge and James Gow, a tessellation of minimalist soundscapes and mediaeval composition will delve into sonic terrain built from the gradual, sustained evolution of sounds.

Adrian Utley's Drones for the Dark Months

The pairing resulted not only in the acclaimed album Carols & Capers and many more, but a concert experience like no other. To mark the fortieth anniversary of their artistic relationship, Maddy and The CB will tour the UK in what will be not only a celebration but also a farewell, the last time they will undertake such an outing. Together they will mix ancient and modern instruments and rich vocal harmony with a refreshing cavalier attitude and plenty of humour – putting their inimitable stamp on a range of familiar and not-so-familiar festive fare. This guarantees to be a Christmas Party to remember – a celebration of a unique partnership.

Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band

Rebecca Nash is one the UK’s top pianists and composers. Her latest record Redefining Element 78 was commissioned by Bristol Jazz Festival and released on Whirlwind Recordings; the work presents a new compositional voice of increasing clarity, distilling elements of her previous album and fusing them together with classical influences such as late Scriabin, Debussy, and Bartok along with free improvisation and post tonal approaches. Alongside her celebrated work as a band leader Rebecca works regularly with top UK musicians Sara Colman, Nick Walters, Iain Ballamy and Dee Byrne and has performed at the the EFG London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, We Out Here Festival, The World Economic Forum, Love Supreme Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, and Ronnie Scott’s amongst others. Rebecca recently gave a broadcast for BBC  Radio 3’s J to Z, as well as a solo performance at Turner Sims for International Women’s Day.

Rebecca Nash + the Adam Stokes Trio: A Tribute to Thelonious Monk

Sit back and enjoy the live conversation or take part as much as you like – this is always a lively and inspiring discussion!

For this orchestral celebration, Bristol Concert Orchestra is taking us on a musical journey to Spain and Bohemia.

Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol and de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain are both evocative and spectacular, conveying the sounds and emotions of Spain in a spellbinding way.

Star soloist and St George’s regular You Chiung Lin will join the orchestra, bringing the solo piano part to life and celebrating a long standing and deep musical friendship.

Bristol Concert Orchestra

This concert is supporting ‘The Brightwell’, a centre for neurological wellbeing and physical recovery in Bradley Stoke.

City Voices Bristol

The concert is part of fundraising for the Appeal which raises money throughout the year to help the city’s most disadvantaged children and young people at Christmas time.

The Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal – charity number 288262

Lord Mayor of Bristol Children’s Appeal Christmas Concert

Their chart-topping album TIME took the world by storm in 2020 and since then they have been selling out across the UK and Europe, playing to both classical and non-classical audiences. The 8-strong group of strings, bass, percussion and piano have an expansive, open-minded approach to their programmes, carefully identifying the emotional through lines that connect artists as diverse as Anna Meredith, Ryuichi Sakamoto, JS Bach and Björk. This will be an exhilarating paean to the Christmas season.

Jess Gillam Ensemble

Join Matt and Tommy to celebrate what has been an amazing 2024 season and look ahead to the excitement of 2025 on their end-of-the-year UK tour!

P1 With Matt & Tommy

Chris and Mary will talk about winter birdsong, identifying trees without leaves, what is hidden in the bark and under rocks, what is moving around in the grass and – excitingly – how to find the signs that spring is not far away. Join us for a wild wintry talk and take note: after the conversation there is the option to join Chris on Brandon Hill Park for an afternoon exploration of the wintry world of nature, ticketed separately.

Nature Salon: Winter Wonderland

The walk will last approximately 1 hour. Please note, if the weather is extremely windy or rainy, the walk will not happen. (We will let you know before the day of the walk if this is the case.)

Walk: Winter Wonderland

The combination of Choir and Brass is a perfect match, capable of an infinite variety of sounds and expressions. The repertoire will extend from the Venetian Renaissance to the present day, and in moods ranging from the contemplative to the utterly joyful. Both groups will also display their individual skills in pieces appropriate to the season and the many emotions it brings. There will be the usual opportunity for a little audience participation in carols.

Bristol Bach Choir: Spirit of Christmas

Vilk Collective is the creative duo Roxana and Peter Vilk, both musicians and award-winning filmmakers. They grew up listening to music from Iranian folk songs and Persian funk to Czech jazz and punk, and this magpie eclecticism informs their music today, interlacing captivating vocals with complex beats and lush guitar soundscapes. Children welcome.

Lightime Music: Vilk Collective

One hour of uplifting song from this hugely popular and highly regarded community choir. The 160 strong Gasworks Choir sing pop, folk, spirituals, world music and more with their trademark panache and passion.

Gasworks Choir

After sell-out performances of their popular Carols by Candlelight concerts last year, the Fitzhardinge Consort make a welcome return in a concert of seasonal music from across the ages. Come and enjoy the festive ambience, the beautiful voices and St George’s special acoustics with this wide-ranging programme which will include audience favourites alongside lesser-known festive works.

Carols by Candlelight

Award winning trio Lady Maisery (Hannah James, Rowan Rheingans and Hazel Askew) have for nearly a decade produced ‘some of the most exquisite, thrilling vocal harmony work in the English folk scene’ The Guardian.

The beguiling musical partnership of Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith complete the powerful line-up, bringing the outstanding vocals, sensitive instrumentation and powerful social conscience that has won them widespread critical acclaim. ‘Rousing stuff’ The Observer.

Awake Arise

“The best Christmas show ever. Great mix of music, fantastic conductor, audience participation and comedy. What more could you ask for – fantastic.” Audience member

“A pure delight – a joyful mix of carols, classical pieces, comedy and audience participation – Christmas has arrived!” Audience member

Christmas Spectacular

A firm favourite with audience members, this concert combines exquisite festive music with jollity and fun, under the direction of David Ogden and Roger Huckle.

Hilary Cronin joins the Bristol Ensemble for a magical Christmas concert of stunning baroque music. Hilary won the international Handel Singing Competition and was selected by BBC Music Magazine as a “Rising Star of 2022.” Praised by Classical Voice North America for her “shining, rounded timbre,” and singled out by The Times as “sensational” she has established her self as a leading UK Baroque soprano soloist.

A Baroque Christmas by Candlelight

Festive orchestral music and beautiful carols sung by the choir are interspersed with uplifting traditional Christmas carols for audience members to sing, directed by David Ogden and Roger Huckle.

Festive Fiesta

Bristol Ensemble bring their wholesome, interactive, and family-friendly Children’s Christmas Carnival to St George’s! Hosted by West End singer and actor Kat Kleve, the concert offers a fun introduction to all the instruments in the orchestra, showcasing their magic through a performance of Howard Blake’s The Snowman, narrated by renowned actor and radio voice John Telfer (The Archers), and conducted by Roger Huckle.

Children's Christmas Carnival

The Military Wives join the Bristol Ensemble for an uplifting programme of Christmas classics that will get you singing and clapping along. A perfect way to get into the Christmas mood.

Christmas Special by Candlelight

Soloists are drawn from the young choir, singing from different places around the auditorium, bringing freshness and vitality to the work’s virtuosic and lyrical arias.

Handel's Messiah by Candlelight

2.6 billion people are inhabitants of former British colonies. The Empire’s influence upon the quarter of the planet it occupied, and its gravitational influence upon the world outside it, has been profound: from the spread of Christianity by missionaries to nearly 1 in 3 driving on the left side of the road, and even shaping the origins of international law. Yet Britain’s idea of its imperial history and the world’s experience of it are two very different things.

Sathnam travelled the globe tracing the Empire’s international legacies – from Barbados and Mauritius to India and Nigeria and beyond. In this event, he’ll show us just how deeply British imperialism is baked into our world. And why it’s time Britain was finally honest with itself about Empire.

Sathnam Sanghera

For over 30 years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American Blues band.  The group’s distinctive and powerful sound manifested itself into a unique musical hybrid via such barnburners as Tuff Enuff and Wrap It Up. Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads the group.

Muddy Waters called Kim Wilson his favorite harmonica player and vocalist. “Muddy Waters was very good to me,” Wilson says. “He almost adopted me. I’ll never forget him.”

Kim Wilson was influenced by Little Walter, George “Harmonica” Smith, Lazy Lester and James Cotton, Bobby “Blue” Bland, B.B. King, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rodgers, and Muddy Waters. Jimmie Vaughan & Kim Wilson founded the Fabulous Thunderbirds in 1974.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Kolesnikov is one of the finest, and most imaginative, pianists of his generation. In 2012 he became a sensation at the Honens International Piano Competition when he took home the world’s largest piano prize. He is celebrated for his thought-provoking programming which offers the listener a fresh, often unexpected perspective on familiar pieces.

Pavel Kolesnikov

“ART OF ANDALUCIA” shifts the focus entirely to the art of flamenco dance, offering audiences an immersive experience where the dancers take centre stage, bringing the passion and energy of Andalucia to life. If that weren’t enough, Daniel will also perform new pieces from his highly anticipated third album.

One of the stars of this production is the world-renowned dancer Angel Reyes, a key member of Manuel Linan’s company and the second dancer in Jesus Carmona’s company for many years. Angel’s impeccable technique, skill, and fiery passion will captivate and mesmerise, elevating the performance to an unmissable cultural experience. His powerful presence and artistry bring an electric energy to the stage.

Art of Andalucia: Flamenco Dance

Oliver’s global bestseller was that rarest of creatures: a self-help book that inspired thousands of us to rethink careers, relationships, and big decisions. Building upon those ideas and those of his new book, Meditations for Mortals, Oliver will take us on a liberating and invigorating journey towards a more meaningful life.

Through fresh insights and practical wisdom, Oliver will tackle questions many of us face: How do we make better decisions when there’s always too much to do? How can we find fulfilment in the life we have, rather than chasing an elusive ideal? And what if real productivity is less about pushing ourselves and more about letting go?

Oliver Burkeman

Discovered while working as a publishing assistant at Mute Records, Nerina Pallot signed to Polydor Records and released her first album in 2001. The release of her critically acclaimed second album Fires in 2006 drew comparisons with Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple and Tori Amos, and spawned hit singles Everybody’s Gone To War and Sophia, plus Brit Award and Ivor Novello nominations.

Now two decades into her career, Pallot’s rich and varied back catalogue suggests an artist determined on carving her own path, and as a live performer she has built a reputation as a peerless musician who is as compelling solo as she is with a full band. After a sell-out show at the London Palladium in 2024, where she played the entirety of Fires, she is taking the same show to other UK cities. Featuring a full band and string section, it promises to be a magical night encompassing her most loved album and songs from across her career, including those from her latest album A Psalm For Emily Salvi. Born from an unexpected connection, the record is both a love letter to those who have supported her over the years and a tribute to the power of music in the face of adversity.

Nerina Pallot

Rather than leaning into the narrow, traditional understandings of ‘classical’, Alexis instead leans outward, expansive in his perspective, drawing on a multifarious mosaic of influences that takes the listener by the hand and leads them on a journey through a world of possibility. His accolades speak for themselves, as he nears a staggering 1 billion streams across his catalogue, with his record ‘Evolution’ surpassing 30,000 UK sales, and achieving Gold selling status in the USA for his single ‘Bluebird’.

Alexis Ffrench

Merlin has spent his life uncovering the profound ways fungi connect organisms; without fungi, the living world as we know it would not exist.
The first half of this event will feature a rare screening of the award-winning IMAX film Fungi: The Web of Life. Narrated by the iconic composer and singer Björk, this visually stunning film takes you on an exploration of fungi’s profound impact on our world. From the ancient Tarkine rainforest, to the farthest reaches of the Earth’s ecosystems, Merlin will show us some of the grandest and strangest organisms ever discovered, showcased through jaw-dropping time-lapse cinematography.

Merlin Sheldrake

Tommy Smith is a leading presence on the global jazz scene, a Blue Note artist and serial collaborator with myriad jazz greats, including Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius and Jack DeJohnette. Gwilym Simcock is one of the most dazzlingly gifted and imaginative pianist-composers of his generation, moving effortlessly between jazz and classical music with enthralling harmonic sophistication and melodic adventurousness. Together they represent two generations of jazz mastery. This will be, quite simply, an evening of intimate, breathtaking musical brilliance.

Tommy Smith & Gwilym Simcock Duo

This stunning concert, directed by and featuring the award-winning violinist Hyeyoon Park, takes us on an epic journey from the bustling piazzas of Florence, where Tchaikovsky composed his Souvenir de Florence, to the tranquil beauty of the river separating Wales and England, in Finzi’s Severn Rhapsody, to Fanny Mendelssohn’s impassioned and moving String Quartet.

Hyeyoon Park with Sinfonia Cymru

There are some duos which can seem as if they have been patched together. And there are others which come into being naturally and completely of their own accord. The pairing of pianist Bill Laurance and bassist/oud player Michael League is very much one of the latter; the two musicians have known each other since student days. During a chance meeting in Leeds, England, as sidemen on a one-off project, the two quickly formed a musical bond that would grow through the formation of Snarky Puppy in 2004 and its development over years of touring together, a number of solo al-bums and collaborations, and finally, in 2020, the birth of their duo.

Bill Laurance & Michael League

This incredible event will feature some of the finest female comedy talent, headlined by one of the UK’s most beloved comedians, Sara Pascoe, and Felicity Ward, the comedy powerhouse and star of Australia’s The Office.

They’ll be joined by local legend Dani Johns, named one of Bristol’s most influential women, along with other special guests.

All proceeds will support One25, a Bristol-based charity dedicated to helping women involved in street sex work.

Come for a night of laughs with an all-star, all-female lineup, and help support One25’s mission to make Bristol a safer place for women. And yes—men are absolutely welcome too

Sara Pascoe and Felicity Ward

Already prize-winners at the Carl Nielsen International Chamber Music Competition, they are quickly establishing themselves as an internationally-recognised quartet.

This is the first of three BBC New Generation Artist lunchtime concerts this season, and will be recorded for BBC Radio 3. The scheme helps to support young musicians on the threshold of an international career to reach the next stage of their development.

Kleio Quartet

A Sunday Times bestselling book, expect strong language and adult content, gift-wrapped in gorgeously crafted poetry as she reads from this collection plus a selection of firm favourites from Slug and Nobody Told Me.

Hollie McNish

This is the second of three BBC New Generation Artist lunchtime concerts this season, and will be recorded for BBC Radio 3. The scheme helps to support young musicians on the threshold of an international career to reach the next stage of their development. Programme to be announced soon.

Alim Beisembayev

The band’s driving country-folk sound, combined with their wonderful songwriting and joyous musicianship, has earned them a large live following around the country. Led by singer-songwriter James Studholme, the band move through husky ballads mourning lost loves, foot-stompers about the West Country, and full-throated, multi-harmony anthems. A good night out guaranteed!

Police Dog Hogan

This is the third of three BBC New Generation Artist lunchtime concerts this season, and will be recorded for BBC Radio 3. The scheme helps to support young musicians on the threshold of an international career to reach the next stage of their development. Programme to be announced soon.

Niamh O'Sullivan

In his most personal show to date, Adam will discuss the plants that have shaped his life and reflect on what’s brought him to where he is now. He’ll unearth the inspiration he’s found through a life in the garden, the people he’s met along the way, the music that’s steered his course and why he identifies as an ‘old romantic fool’.

Adam will share previously untold stories of how his passion for plants has taken him around the world and challenged him with unexpected experiences – from curating a garden in Japan during a monsoon to meeting heroes.

Adam Frost

Palestrina is the most consummate of renaissance composers; from his time to ours he has come to represent an entire epoch of music, and to influence some of the greatest names from later centuries – among them Handel and Beethoven. Tonight, the Tallis Scholars showcase an outstanding mass setting, including one or two of his greatest motets.

They also offer a fascinating and profound comparison with the music of Pärt, one of the most performed living composers in the world. Pärt is well known for his own sublime choral settings, and although he doesn’t write polyphony like Palestrina exemplified, the atmosphere he can create in his music sits well alongside that of the renaissance master.

The Tallis Scholars

Creedence Clearwater Revival are one of the most iconic rock groups of all time. Their all time classic hits such as Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Born on the Bayou, Fortunate Son, Down on the Corner, Up Around the Bend along with CCR and John Fogerty fan favourites are powerfully reprised by Clearwater Creedence Revival.

Clearwater Creedence Revival

The longest-serving judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing is the master of the Glitter Ball. After starting as a dancer, he worked on the nation’s biggest musicals and became a choreographer, director, and best-selling author. Craig’s also a remarkable singer, and to celebrate the release of his debut solo album, Revelations, he’ll reveal his own, hidden talent during a Fab-U-Lous night of big songs, tall tales, and glamour.

Craig Revel Horwood

Highly acclaimed American songwriter Joan As Police Woman returns to Europe performing key songs from throughout her career alongside new music from her forthcoming album.

Joan As Police Woman

Ben Youngs is a scrum-half so he’s spent most of his 127 games chatting away to teammates, opposition and referees. His mate Dan Cole is still in the England squad and has cult hero status thanks to his no-nonsense approach to most of life’s events.

They’ve spent 20 years together at Leicester Tigers, toured together for the British and Irish Lions, and now podcast together every week. They’ll bring you their ultimate guide to rugby’s biggest games, give you a behind the scenes tour of Twickenham, and tell you what really happens inside an England camp. If you’re a rugby fan, this is definitely one for you!

For The Love Of Rugby Live

Together they combine humour and musicianship at the very highest level, making old songs sound new and new songs feel like you’ve known them all your life. Both born in the proverbial trunk, their style has been fine-tuned from cradle to stage, and together they have the musical and theatrical chemistry of Dudley Moore and Julie Andrews, Barbara Cook and Wally Harper and all with just a sprinkling of Fred and Ginger!

Liza Pulman & Joe Stilgoe

With over 100 million views and more than 6 million followers on social media, Tony has introduced younger generations to neoclassical music through his “#playthatword” series. In partnership with Decca Records France (Universal Music Group), he released a trilogy of EPs—EMOTIONALLY BLUE, ORANGE, and RED—exploring diverse human emotions.

Tony Ann

History is now being contested as never before and David, a British-Nigerian historian and author, is an expert at examining what history reveals about contemporary society.

Following his previous talk The State of the British Union, Why Black History Matters he will now expand on these ever-changing subjects and the contemporary situations we all find ourselves in

David Olusoga

His recording of Walking in the Air, from the animated film The Snowman, firmly established him as a household name and he has become an integral part of the nation’s festivities. Equally at home on the classical stage, or starring in musical theatre productions in London West End, his credits include lead roles in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.

Aled Jones: Full Circle

Having played drums for Curved Air from 1975 to 1976, he went on to drive The Police to world domination between 1977 and 1986 before composing Hollywood soundtracks, writing books, forming a supergroup, making films, and composing for ballet, opera, and classical music. In this fascinating “Evening With”, Stewart will talk about his incredible life as a performer, musician, entertainer, and writer.

St George’s Bristol

Dec 4, 2024

Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band

Dec 4, 2024

Rebecca Nash + the Adam Stokes Trio: A Tribute to Thelonious Monk

Dec 7, 2024

Philosophical Times with Julian Baggini

Dec 7, 2024

Bristol Concert Orchestra

Dec 8, 2024

City Voices Bristol

Dec 3, 2024

Gary Crosby & Denys Baptiste

Dec 2, 2024

Will Young

Articles & News

St George’s Bristol