Read our latest highlights from the live classical music offer in Manchester and the North, taking in a number of the region’s most cherished ensembles and venues.
Want more music? Head to our general Music guide for our latest scoop on the North’s best gigs and festivals.
The RNCM has launched its brand new Inspirational Artists series, spotlighting a huge range of touring musicians and ensembles, each bringing something unique to the stage.
The 27th instalment of The Bridgewater Hall’s flagship classical music series is here. True to form, there are some incredible concerts to look forward to, featuring some of the leading ensembles and musicians of our time.
Natural history and live orchestral music combine as Manchester Camerata help bring Netflix’s Life on Our Planet to life at The Bridgewater Hall.
English Touring Opera storm back into Buxton Opera House with a double-bill of Dame Judith Weir’s Blond Eckbert and a brand-new production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snowmaiden – two sensational operas exploring the supernatural, myths and folklore.
This autumn, join The Stoller Hall for a solo piano performance from world-renowned multi-instrumentalist and producer, Elijah Fox.
Fusing the sound of a Western Classical Orchestra with Carnatic song, Rushil Ranjan presents his new composition Māyā, commissioned by Manchester Camerata, at The Stoller Hall.
The perfect way to introduce your little ones to classical music, this family concert explores a world of myths and legends through music from films we all know and love.
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.
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.
Still Manchester’s newest 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.
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.
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.
Manchester’s Albert Hall is an astounding Wesleyan Chapel turned live music venue, regularly hosting classical concerts.
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.
Fat Out Fest, a Salford festival championing the experimental and the underground in music and visual art, returns with three-days of music, exhibitions and workshops.
from £ 0
Joyous, sassy with a thrilling soundtrack, be transported to 1940s New York for Talawa Theatre’s eagerly anticipated and stylish retelling of Twelfth Night.
from £11.00
The Bridgewater Hall’s flagship concert series brings the best international orchestras, celebrated recitalists and world-renowned choirs to Manchester.
from £8
Porches, the synth-pop project of New York–based musician Aaron Maine, plays at Band on the Wall following the release of his sixth album, Shirt.
Expect a packed programme of fun, family-friendly daytime activities and adults-only evening events spanning never-seen-before installations, live performance and interactive adventures.
English Touring Opera storm back into Buxton Opera House with an Autumn season exploring the supernatural, myths and folklore.
from £28.50
If you’re hunting for the perfect present – a Factory International Gift Membership could be just the ticket.
from £45.00
Get priority booking on the best seats, special discounts, invitations to exclusive events and much more. Are you in?
from £45.00
Expect a joyous weekend loaded with outdoor performances, live music, hands-on family events, and of course, Preston’s signature Torchlight Procession and firework display.
free entry
Let the Hallé transport you to a galaxy far, far away…
from £18.00
From soul legends to fantastical opera, live art to dance’s cutting edge, we select our highlights from the RNCM’s Autumn Season.
from £8
Blackpool’s beloved Lightpool Festival returns in October with a packed programme of world-class entertainment and art.
free entry
Spanning an array of visual and textile arts, explore courses and workshops based in some of the North’s most distinctive locations.
Take me there
From the team behind the Kazimier, the Invisible Wind Factory is Liverpool’s most eclectic live music venue and nightclub.
District Liverpool is a multi-purpose venue in the Baltic Quarter, hosting gigs, club nights, films, cabaret, festivals and much more.
The Empire brings big national productions to Liverpool
Band on the Wall is one of Manchester’s most legendary live music venues, the place where Joy Division, The Buzzcocks and Oasis got their first breaks.
The Bread Shed is 480 capacity event space off Oxford Road in Manchester. The venue plays host to regular live music, club nights, comedy and much more.
Bite-size basement dive alternating techno-house and indie nights, this stalwart of the Manchester music scene can be found just off Deansgate, next door to St Ann’s Square.
Bates Mill Photographic Studio is a creative space in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
From synth pop and jazz punk to meditative piano and Indian classical, read about the autumn shows that have piqued our interest.
Punchy verbatim shows, comedy festivals and rave-fuelled Shakespeare feature in this month’s eclectic pick of live theatre.
School may have started, but the arts and cultural fun hasn't stopped! From spooky theatre to arty parties, families are spoilt for choice.
Develop a new skill with this month's workshop and learning based tours and activities guide.
This year's Manchester Literature Festival tickets are being snapped up, and festival fever is also taking hold in the suburbs as well as further afield.
From intricate textiles to a medieval poem-inspired arts festival, there is lots of new art to see before the autumn rains start for good.
Look out for Widescreen Weekend, a celebration of Women of the West and a Leeds Cinema Crawl as we head into leafy Autumn.
Take some eating-out tips from this month's guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.
