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

This autumn, London is set to become the epicenter of classical and contemporary music, with a series of remarkable events celebrating the genius of Charles Ives and other visionary composers. From the Philharmonia's debut at Bold Tendencies in Peckham, featuring Oliver Leith's innovative compositions and Charles Ives' 'The Housatonic at Stockbridge,' to the grand finale at the Royal Albert Hall with the Last Night of the Proms, and the Britten Sinfonia's electrifying performances with the Will Gregory Moog Ensemble at the Barbican Centre, there's something for every music lover.

London's Classical Music Extravaganza: Celebrating Charles Ives and More

Britten Sinfonia's 2025 concert series is a celebration of orchestral and choral music, featuring an array of enchanting performances across iconic venues. From Beethoven's vibrant symphony to Tavener's spiritual masterpiece, the series showcases a blend of classical brilliance and modern innovation. With celebrated artists like Imogen Whitehead and Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, audiences will be treated to a rich musical tapestry. Each event offers something unique, making it a must-attend for classical music enthusiasts.

A Symphony of Events: Britten Sinfonia's 2025 Musical Journey

This year, the Britten Sinfonia embarks on an extraordinary musical odyssey across the United Kingdom, enchanting audiences from historic churches to renowned music festivals. From the innovative works of contemporary composers to the timeless masterpieces of classical legends, the ensemble showcases an impressive repertoire. With events such as Britten Sinfonia at Peasmarsh Festival, Cheltenham Music Festival, and the iconic BBC Proms in Bristol, this season promises a rich tapestry of soundscapes. Join us as we delve into the remarkable performances and the artists who breathe life into these compositions.

Exploring the Britten Sinfonia's Masterful Musical Journey Across UK Festivals

Join us on a journey through the Britten Sinfonia's remarkable series of performances taking place from August 2025 to January 2026. This orchestral odyssey, featuring a mélange of creative works and esteemed performers, is set to redefine the musical landscape. From the pandemic-inspired 'Rough Voices' by Gavin Higgins to Nico Muhly's collaborative genius, and the evocative narrations by Robert Macfarlane, these events promise an exploration of sound and silence, past and present, and the very essence of our shared cultural heritage.

Britten Sinfonia's Diverse Symphony: A Cultural Tapestry of Music and Collaboration

Muhly is an American composer and sought-after collaborator whose work includes commissions from The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Westminster Abbey and the Royal Ballet. His collaborators range from musician James Blake to choreographers Benjamin Millepied and Mark Morris to The Tallis Scholars. His work for screen includes the BBC’s adaptation of Howards End (2017) and Pachinko for Apple TV+ (2022-2024).

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Marking Time: Nico Muhly / Sadler's Wells

Sadler's Wells

The evening's Magnum Opus concert sees us perform three new chamber concertos by composers whose careers are just taking off, written for Britten Sinfonia and soloists Patricia Auchterlonie (soprano), Clare Hammond (piano), and Collin Shay (countertenor). Composers George Stevenson, Leoni King and Michael Betteridge have received advice and mentoring across a full year from Programme Directors Huw Watkins and Cheryl Frances-Hoad.

Opus Horizons

Kings Place

Britten Sinfonia and Guy Johnston reprise their acclaimed performances of John Tavener’s intensely beautiful The Protecting Veil, this time taking the piece to St Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral, London, where John Tavener used to worship.

The Protecting Veil With Guy Johnston

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Divine Wisdom

Elena Kats-Chernin’s opener is a high-tempo whirl, and Robin Haigh’s superb Grin, commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and winner of an Ivor Novello Award, brilliantly conveys 'brutality through frivolity', as light and cheerful music, with echoes of Richard Strauss, is run through a filter of dark 'millennial haze'.

Britten Sinfonia and Jeneba Kanneh-Mason

Milton Court Concert Hall

Britten Sinfonia also perform Schubert’s most Mozart-like symphony, filled with grace and invention, Elena Kats-Chernin’s high-tempo opener, and Robin Haigh’s superb Grin, commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and winner of an Ivor Novello Award, which brilliantly conveys “brutality through frivolity”, its light and cheerful music with echoes of Richard Strauss run through a dark “millennial haze”.

Britten Sinfonia With Jeneba Kanneh-mason

St Peter Mancroft

University of Cambridge

Arvo Pärt’s cult concerto for two violins, Tabula rasa, redefines sound, silence and the relationship between them, while Gavin Higgins’ Rough Voices responds to the pandemic with a musical protest, giving voice to the most vulnerable.

Britten Sinfonia At Summer At Snape

Snape Maltings

Britten Sinfonia At Bbc Proms In Bristol

Bristol Beacon

One of the greatest symphonies in classical music, with a star roster of performers and soloists.

St. Albans International Organ Festival

St Albans Cathedral

A thrilling programme that weaves together two festival threads — Mealor @50 and La Belle Époque — while marking three major composer anniversaries: the 100th of Eric Satie’s death, Jonathan Dove’s 65th birthday and Paul Mealor’s 50th. Mealor’s Symphony No.2, written after a visit to the Canadian Rockies, reveals the composer at his creative best, extracting extraordinary colour from strings, piano, and percussion.

Jam On The Marsh

St Nicholas Church, New Romney

For this opening concert an all-star selection of players pair two groundbreaking pieces of chamber music. Mozart’s beloved quintet was written for the newly-invented clarinet, which captured the composer’s imagination with its unusual ability to mimic the human voice. Thirty-five years later, a 16-year-old Mendelssohn pioneered a new ‘symphony-like’ genre with his virtuosic string octet. Opening this year’s 80th anniversary Festival will be a new commission by Deborah Pritchard, winner of the British Composer Award, who has been hailed by Gramophone for her music which "will take your breath away".

Britten Sinfonia At Cheltenham Music Festival

Pittville Pump Room

Join us on a journey from CPE Bach’s perfectly formed 1751 cello concerto, to Steven Mackey’s 2009 work Four Iconoclastic Episodes for violin, electric guitar and orchestra, which was written for Steven and Anthony Marwood to perform together. On the way we take in Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony – an arrangement by Rudolf Barshai of his 8th string quartet, originally written in 1945 and dedicated “to the victims of fascism and war”. The programme concludes with Tchaikovsky’s iconic Serenade for Strings.

Britten Sinfonia At Peasmarsh Festival

Church of Saint Mary, Rye

Members of the Abbey Choir, soprano Ailish Tynan and mezzo soprano Katie Coventry sing the solo parts in this glorious missa solemnis.

Mozart Mass At Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey

You can hear the spirit of Haydn and Mozart in Beethoven’s bright and brilliant first symphony, but his restless individuality shines through in its sudden contrasts and exciting harmonic shifts.

Britten Sinfonia With Imogen Whitehead

Norwich Cathedral

Saffron Hall

Lisa will be performing new orchestrations of songs from her studio albums, Same cloth or not, Pothole in the Sky, Heard a long gone song and All of this is chance. She may even introduce the beginnings of some things new as we approach the end of another year. Recognising the significance of 11 December as being in the lunar phase known as the Cold Moon, or the Long Night Moon - the last full moon of the year and symbolic of a cycle of death and rebirth.

Lisa O’Neill with Britten Sinfonia: Symphony for the Cold Moon

Barbican Centre

Edmund Rubbra is a sadly neglected composer, but was highly rated in his time. Inscape (1964) is a beautiful melodic setting of four poems by Gerald Manley Hopkins.

Britten's Saint Nicolas (1948) tells stories of the life of St Nicolas, fourth century Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, including the miraculous bringing back to life of three "pickled boys". Nicholas Pritchard will be reprising his role as St Nicolas, which he performed alongside Britten Sinfonia at the Aldeburgh Festival this June.

Britten Saint Nicholas

Experience an extraordinary fusion of jazz and classical music as Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio collaborates with the Britten Sinfonia. This ambitious project, part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, showcases the innovative spirit of Garland, a luminary in the jazz improvisation world. The concert features the world premiere of "The Forever Seed," an orchestral piece that highlights the unique synergy between Britten Sinfonia’s leader Thomas Gould, pianist Gwilym Simcock, and drummer Asaf Sirkis, all under Garland’s direction.

The performance is enriched by the eclectic sounds of the Lighthouse Trio’s new album, "Moment of Departure," which blends free-flowing grooves, classical influences, and captivating Turkish rhythms. Adding to the evening’s allure, Yazz Ahmed joins as a special guest on flugelhorn, bringing her distinctive sound to the mix.

The program also includes a new work by Simcock, crafted specifically for this collaboration, and Jonathan Brigg’s "Monkish," a tribute to the legendary Thelonious Monk, performed by Britten Sinfonia’s strings. Visual artist Esra Kizir Gokcen enhances the experience with stunning artwork projections, creating a multi-sensory journey through the realms of jazz and classical music. This event promises a night of musical exploration and artistic innovation, celebrating the enduring relationship between these exceptional musicians.

Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio and Britten Sinfonia

Experience the mesmerizing fusion of classical and contemporary music with Max Richter's "The New Four Seasons: Vivaldi Recomposed," performed by the renowned Britten Sinfonia. This innovative reimagining of Vivaldi's timeless masterpiece offers a thrilling and hypnotic auditory journey, transforming the familiar into the extraordinary. Richter's composition elevates Vivaldi's genius, creating a soundscape that feels both celestial and intimate, as if viewing the world from a cosmic vantage point.

The Britten Sinfonia, celebrated for their profound connection to this piece, first brought it to life in concert in 2012. Their interpretation has since captivated audiences, most notably during a sold-out performance for 5,000 attendees at the 2023 BBC Proms, where it received a rapturous reception. Under the direction of violinist Thomas Gould, the ensemble's performance promises to deliver an unforgettable experience, blending technical mastery with emotional depth.

This event showcases the Britten Sinfonia's exceptional ability to breathe new life into classical works, making them accessible and exhilarating for contemporary audiences. Max Richter's "The New Four Seasons: Vivaldi Recomposed" stands as a testament to the enduring power of classical music, reinterpreted through a modern lens, and continues to enchant listeners with its innovative and evocative sound.

Max Richter's Vivaldi Recomposed

The Apex

Experience a unique fusion of mathematics and music with The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble and Britten Sinfonia. This concert brings together the innovative sounds of synths and classical music, featuring composer and keyboardist Will Gregory, known for his work with the electropop duo Goldfrapp. The 10-piece Moog Ensemble includes prominent figures from the pop and classical music scenes, such as Adrian Utley of Portishead, Hazel Mills from Florence and the Machine, and composer Graham Fitkin. 

The first half of the concert is a tribute to the pioneering women of electronic music, Delia Derbyshire and Wendy Carlos, with performances of synth-heavy, sci-fi movie soundtracks. Highlights include Wendy Carlos's Moog-overdubbed Bach arrangements and the score for Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. The program also features pieces like Bernard Herrmann's Fahrenheit 451 Suite, Charles Ives's The Unanswered Question, and themes from iconic films and TV shows such as John Carpenter's Escape from New York, Vangelis's Chariots of Fire, and the Doctor Who theme by Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire.

Adding a unique twist, the concert includes the London premiere of Will Gregory’s suite for synths and orchestra, Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project. This performance is enhanced by the presence of Matt Parker, a renowned stand-up mathematician, who blends comedy with mathematical insights, creating an engaging and educational experience. This event promises a captivating journey through the retro-futurist world of electronic music, celebrating its rich history and innovative future.

The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble and Britten Sinfonia

The Anvil

Each year we select eight Opus 1 composers, who receive the opportunity to write for a group of Britten Sinfonia musicians and to take part in workshops and a recording day, receiving advice and feedback from both our musicians and the Opus 1 programme directors, Cheryl Frances Hoad and Raymond Yiu.

Opus 1 Showcase

All Saints Church Cambridge

Bringing together extraordinary imagery and some of the greatest orchestral music ever written, Professor Cox examines astonishing cosmic ideas and creates the links between cosmology and music by Mahler, Strauss and Sibelius. Featuring Britten Sinfonia conducted by Daniel Harding, this show will remind us of what it means to be human, and what it means to live a small finite life in a spectacular infinite Universe.

Symphonic Horizons

Royal Opera House

Experience a unique musical collaboration as sarod virtuoso Amjad Ali Khan reconnects with the Britten Sinfonia, one of the UK's premier chamber orchestras. This event features the exceptional leadership of violinist Jacqueline Shave and the masterful conducting of David Murphy. The performance will explore the rich tapestry of Indian classical music, presenting 15th Century Ragas such as Raga Darbari and Raga Mia Ki Malhar, arranged by David Murphy. Additionally, the UK première of "Shringar: The Adornment," arranged for sarod and chamber ensemble, promises to be a highlight. This piece exemplifies the ongoing creative relationship between Amjad Ali Khan and the Britten Sinfonia, blending traditional Indian sounds with contemporary orchestral arrangements. The concert is a testament to the enduring and evolving dialogue between Eastern and Western musical traditions, offering a profound and immersive auditory experience.

Britten Sinfonia and Amjad Ali Khan

Wigmore Hall

Experience the enchanting tale of "The Robot and the Bluebird" brought to life by the Britten Sinfonia. This heartwarming story follows a robot with a broken heart who finds new purpose by saving the life of a little bird. The narrative, originally penned by David Lucas, is beautifully adapted into a musical performance featuring a jazz-influenced score by composer Raphael Clarkson. Presenter Sheena Masson guides the audience through this uplifting journey, accompanied by specially created animations by Victor Craven. The performance, designed to captivate audiences of all ages, particularly children aged 4 to 7, lasts approximately 50 minutes. Join us for a memorable experience that combines storytelling, music, and visual art in a unique and engaging way.

Family Concert: The Robot and the Bluebird

The Organ Reborn Norwich Cathedral Organ Festival marks the first anniversary of the organ’s return following an ambitious rebuild project, ensuring its music will be enjoyed for generations to come. This celebration features the Britten Sinfonia performing alongside the Norwich Cathedral Choir and organist David Dunnett. The program includes a selection of works by Fauré and Poulenc, culminating in the choral masterpiece, Duruflé's Requiem. The event promises a rich auditory experience, showcasing the harmonious blend of orchestral and choral music within the majestic setting of Norwich Cathedral. The festival not only highlights the technical and artistic achievements of the organ's restoration but also underscores the enduring legacy of classical music through these timeless compositions.

Organ Reborn! Britten Sinfonia At Norwich Cathedral Organ Festival

Britten Sinfonia returns to the Peasmarsh Festival with a captivating programme that traces the evolution of orchestral music from the classical elegance of Haydn to the romantic expressiveness of the late nineteenth century. The evening opens with Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante in Bb major, a delightful piece that showcases the interplay between violin, cello, oboe, and bassoon. Following this, the poignant Élégie for cello and orchestra by Fauré offers a moment of introspective beauty, highlighting the cello's lyrical capabilities. Dvořák's Romance for violin and orchestra in F minor continues the journey with its heartfelt melodies and rich orchestration. The concert culminates in Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 in C major, a work that heralds the composer's early mastery and hints at the revolutionary symphonic innovations to come. With performances by distinguished musicians including Anthony Marwood on violin, Richard Lester on cello, Peter Facer on oboe, and Sarah Burnett on bassoon, under the direction of Thomas Gould, this event promises a rich and varied exploration of orchestral repertoire.

Britten Sinfonia joins members of the Abbey Choir, celebrated soprano Carolyn Sampson, tenor Simon Wall and bass Jonathan Brown to bring to life this sacred oratorio, depicting and celebrating the creation of the world as narrated in the Book of Genesis.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey is renowned worldwide as one of the finest ensembles of its type, its repertoire extending from plainsong and Renaissance polyphony to twentieth-century masterpieces and new commissions.

Haydn's The Creation at Westminster Abbey

Britten Sinfonia is an orchestra with a difference. Rather than being led by a principal conductor, it’s made up of outstanding individual musicians who come together as equals and make the important artistic decisions themselves, collectively and democratically. The results are electrifying. Rooted in the East of England, where it is the only professional orchestra working throughout the region, Britten Sinfonia also has a national and international reputation as one of the best ensembles playing today.

Opera Unwrapped for Christmas

St Andrews Hall Norwich

JS Bach’s Christmas Oratorio is one of the choral masterpieces of the Baroque era. Originally intended to be performed over six days between Christmas and Epiphany, Parts one, two, three and six explore the Birth of Jesus, the annunciation to the shepherds, and the adoration of the shepherds.

Christmas Oratorio

The acclaimed writer Robert Macfarlane narrates his own texts interspersing movements of contemporary folk duo Stevens & Pound’s exhilarating re-imagining of Holst’s Planets for orchestra with melodeon and percussion soloists.

Earth And Other Planets, With Stevens & Pound And Robert Macfarlane

St Andrew's Hall

In the first half, Britten Sinfonia perform three sumptuously orchestrated pieces evoking different earthly places and landscapes, bridged by Stevens & Pound’s reworkings of the folk tunes used by Grainger and Britten.

Britten Sinfonia/Stevens & Pound: Earth and other planets

The homeland of the Kiribati people is facing the overwhelming and devastating effects of climate change, making their participation in this work both deeply meaningful and urgent. The piece contemplates the life of our collective body, exploring our profound connection with the world beyond humanity.

Sea Beneath The Skin / Song Of The Earth

Beethoven’s symphony features birdsong melodies he transcribed, while the great 20th-century Finnish composer Rautavaara’s work is a “Concerto for Birds and Orchestra”, with the recorded sounds of curlews, shore larks, whooper swans and others the soloists running throughout. Mayrhofer’s Recycling Concerto was written for the virtuosic percussionist Vivi Vassileva. Together they have collected and tuned an enormous battery of percussion from repurposed rubbish, which Vassileva makes full use of over the course of this powerful and thought-provoking work.

Recycling Concerto

Barber’s Adagio and Allegri’s Miserere prepare the way for James MacMillan’s great Passion meditation, in this emotionally-charged evening from Tenebrae and Britten Sinfonia.

Seven Last Words From The Cross

St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, London

After the toils of daytime, Schubert, Beethoven and Brahms would often visit Vienna’s famous Red Hedgehog tavern in Viena, Zum Roten Igel, to hear breathtakingly emotional and virtuosic folk music performed by gypsy bands.

Re-folking Viennese classics

After the toils of daytime, Schubert and Brahms would often visit Vienna’s Red Hedgehog Tavern in Viena, Zum Roten Igel to hear breathtakingly emotional and virtuosic folk music performed by gypsy bands. Enjoy an evening of “re-folked” music by composers who adored the traditional songs and instrumental music of central and eastern Europe, with arrangements of chamber works by Brahms, Schubert and Janáček for orchestra and a quintet of clarinet, cello, violin, accordion and hammer dulcimer.

Re-folking Viennese Classics

The Jette Parker Artists offer a rare opportunity to enjoy the work of three women composers in one production, directed by Talia Stern making her Royal Opera debut, and conducted by Peggy Wu. Haunting explorations of lost love feature in Elizabeth Maconchy’s The Departure (1961) and Charlotte Bray’s Making Arrangements (2012). In Elena Langer's Four Sisters, the three daughters of a deceased Manhattan business tycoon dream of spending his fortune, but their plans prove premature. This marks the world premiere of Langer’s chamber version of this comedy.

Roh Linbury Theatre: Three Chamber Operas

When Sir James MacMillan writes a new choral work, the world takes notice because few living composers write with more honesty and passion. With a span of around an hour, Angels Unawares is a major new statement from MacMillan coupled with a brilliant libretto written by Robert Willis, former Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, completed shortly before his untimely death in autumn 2024.

Britten Sinfonia

10 - 13 Dec, 2025

Christmas Oratorio

26 - 30 Jan, 2026

Earth And Other Planets, With Stevens & Pound And Robert Macfarlane

Jan 28, 2026

Britten Sinfonia/Stevens & Pound: Earth and other planets

Feb 2, 2026

Sea Beneath The Skin / Song Of The Earth

12 - 13 Mar, 2026

Recycling Concerto

20 - 22 Nov, 2025

Marking Time: Nico Muhly / Sadler's Wells

Nov 15, 2025

Opus Horizons

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