Classical Music in Manchester and the North

Creative Tourist

Last Updated 27 June 2021

After a dormant year for live classical music, venues across Manchester and the north are beginning to welcome ensembles back to their stages, and audiences back to their seats. Here we round up the socially distanced concerts that we’re most looking forward in the coming weeks and months, including the Hallé’s Summer Season at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Collective’s Dark Days, Luminous Nights residency at The White Hotel.

Here are our picks

1. NQ Jazz Live

NQ Jazz Live at The Stoller Hall, Manchester and online, Until 4 October 2021 - Book now

A massive programme of live jazz music, spanning venues across Manchester, has been announced as part of a collaborative series by NQ Jazz, The Stoller Hall and The Yard.

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2. Björk Orkestral – Live From Reykjavík

Björk

Björk Orkestral – Live From Reykjavík, 29 August–19 September 2021, from £15 - Book now

Icelandic pop icon Björk is live-streaming a four-part series of concerts, showcasing new orchestral arrangements of songs spanning her entire career.

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3. The Bridgewater Hall

The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 3WS - Visit now

Home to the Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic orchestras, the Bridgewater Hall attracts some of the biggest names in classical music. Purpose-built to the tune of £42m, the hall was designed around its acoustic needs; it floats on 280 earthquake-proof isolations springs that mute all external noise, perfect for shielding around 250 performances a year from the trams outside.

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4. Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)

RNCM

Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 9RD - Visit now

The Royal Northern College of Music is both a music venue and an academic institution training up some of the country’s finest music students.

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5. The Stoller Hall

Image courtesy of the Stoller Hall

The Stoller Hall, Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3 1DA - Visit now

Manchester’s new kid on the concert hall block, the Stoller Hall, opened its doors in April 2017 to further enhance the city’s already enviable live music provision.

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6. Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hope Street , Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 9BP - Visit now

The 1930s Art Deco Philharmonic Hall, home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, gives no hint of the sensuous curves of the auditorium inside from its hard exterior.

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7. Hallé St Peter’s

Ben Williams

Hallé St Peter’s, 40 Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M4 6BF - Visit now

Hallé St Peter’s is a deconsecrated Grade-II listed church, once a theatre prop store, then a knitting factory, before being restored and becoming home to the Hallé orchestra.

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8. Albert Hall

Image courtesy the Albert Hall.

Albert Hall, 27 Peter Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 5QR - Visit now

Manchester’s Albert Hall is an astounding Wesleyan Chapel turned live music venue, regularly hosting classical concerts.

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9. Manchester Cathedral

Manchester Cathedral. Illustration by Simone Ridyard.

Manchester Cathedral, Victoria Street, Manchester, M3 1SX - Visit now

Manchester Cathedral dates back to at least the 1400s and has been rebuilt many times. In current, striking form, it’s still a place of worship, but also host to regular gigs and events.

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Babies listening to a man play the guitar as part of My First Protest Song

Activity Until 7 August 2021, FREE

My First Protest Song with the People’s History Museum

My First Protest Song goes online. Round up the family and join Matt Hill for this live-streamed event full of toe-tapping tunes.

Exhibitions Until 3 January 2022, from £6

Use Hearing Protection: The Early Years of Factory Records at the Science and Industry Museum

Use Hearing Protection tells the story of Factory Records’ formative years from 1978-1982, when the label made waves with its innovative work in music, technology and design.

Festivals Until 12 September 2021,

Leeds Waterfront Festival 2021

Leeds Waterfront Festival brings the waterways of the city to life with an eclectic mix of music, performance and art for all the family.

Music 13 August 2021 7:30 pm, from £10

Another Sky at The Star & Garter

Finally getting to tour their acclaimed debut album ‘I slept On The Floor’, Another Sky return to Manchester for an intimate show at The Star & Garter.

Music 14–15 August 2021, from £17.5

Erol Alkan at The White Hotel

Raves are back and to celebrate, Salford den of debauchery The White Hotel is playing host to an all-night-long set from DJ don Erol Alkan.

Music 15 August 2021 2:30 pm, from £10

Manchester Collective: The Holy Presence at Hallé St Peter’s

Two days before their BBC Proms debut, Manchester Collective present a hometown celebration of life, music, and some truly extraordinary composers.

Music 28 August 2021 12:00 pm, from £25

This Must Be The Place at Belgrave Music Hall

Leeds’ Belgrave Music Hall plays host to an all-dayer featuring Gruff Rhys, Stealing Sheep, Jerskin Fendrix, Deathcrash and more.

Music 2 September 2021 7:00 pm, from £17.75

Black Midi at The Ritz

Fresh from the release of their hellacious second album Cavalcade, Svengalis of the avant-rock scene Black Midi are performing at The Ritz.

Music 3–5 September 2021, from £64.25

Neighbourhood Weekender 2021

The Neighbourhood Weekender returns to Warrington for its third outing next May bank holiday. We make our top five picks from the line-up.

Culture Guides

Cinema in Manchester and the North

Hong Kong classics, a John Carpenter marathon and an obscene midnight movie masterpiece all feature in this month’s cinema guide.

Rachel Kneebone: 399 Days at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Exhibitions

Tales of antiquity, cloud gazing, and a return to the forest all feature among this month’s hand-picked selection of exhibition highlights.

Grimm Tales: Witches, Wolves, Fairies and Frogs at Williamson Park

Families

With summer in full bloom in Costa del Manchester and the North, we round up our top alfresco activities to do with the family, plus exciting indoor offerings.

Literature

With August, the literature scene is promising some hot events, both online and in real life: with book launches, short story showcases, regular poetry chats, live readings and even an exhibition of word art…

Music

Outdoor shows, candle-lit jazz gigs, boozy all-dayers. Manchester and the North’s live music scene is making up for lost time.

Theatre

As some of our favourite theatre teams head back into the rehearsal room, we take a look ahead to some of the performances we’re most looking forward to, as well as the outdoor theatre happening now.