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| The Hallé at Manchester Classical 2023 (Photo: Alex Burns/The Hallé ) |
The award-winning celebration of Manchester’s rich classical scene, Manchester Classical, is returning to the city from 27 to 29 June 2025. The festival includes performances and collaborations from the Hallé, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera, Manchester Collective, Riot Ensemble and Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) at the Bridgewater Hall.
Things kick off on Friday 27 June with a concert from the Hallé spotlighting the music of Steve Reich including Clapping Music and Variations for Vibes, Piano and Strings, plus Radiohead’s guitarist Jonny Greenwood taking the solo spot in Pulse, scored for winds, strings, piano and electric bass.
Saturday and Sunday feature events throughout the day.
Saturday starts with the Hallé Children’s Choir in songs from stage and screen, then the RNCM Symphony Orchestra and Chorus perform Mahler’s Second Symphony. The early evening slot features the Riot Ensemble, directed by Aaron Holloway-Nahum in Alex Paxton and Kristine Tjøgersen. Then in the evening, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Anja Bihlmaier with piano soloist Hayato Sumino present aa diverse programme, R. Strauss Death and Transfiguration, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances.
Fringe events during the day, in the Barbirolli Room, include the Hallé Youth Training Choir, BVG: The Indian Choir of England and The Hallé Ancoats Community Choir.
Sunday starts with BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Stefano Cabrero’s score for Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures, with the film shown on the big screen. The chorus of ENO joins the Hallé for Opera Favourites, and in the afternoon the Manchester Collective with violinist Rakhi Singh and cellist Zoë Martlew performing The Body Electric with music by Bach, Missy Mazzoli, and Julia Wolfe’s epic LAD
The weekend draws to a conclusion at with a joint concert featuring members of the main stage ensembles performing Respighi’s The Pines of Rome and John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine. Conducted by Alpesh Chauhan, the concert will also feature a new commission by Iain Farrington.
Fringe events on Sunday include a free singing workshop and the AMC Gospel Choir.
Full details from the festival’s website.
