Culture Guides
Destination Guides
Looking ahead to the Autumn season, Manchester’s classical music calendar is filled to the brim with exciting concerts. Below, we select our top season highlights from the city’s major ensembles, orchestras and institutions.
This includes the BBC Philharmonic 2019/20 Concert Season. Performing over 100 concerts a year for broadcast on BBC Radio 3, the orchestra is a tour de force across Manchester and its neighbouring cities, and their new season ranges from concert-hall rarities to established classics.
We also explore The Hallé 2019-20 Season. Ranking amongst the world’s top symphonic ensembles, the Hallé will perform a brilliant range of symphonies, concertos, vocal works, operas and more at The Bridgewater Hall.
Onto The Stoller Hall’s 2019-20 season, we write about Hannah James, a key figure in the recent revival of English percussive dance. We also write about a range of classical concerts, with highlights including pianist Paul Lewis and violinist Jennifer Pike. Finally explore the exciting upcoming season from the venue’s ‘Orchestra In Association’: the Northern Chamber Orchestra.
Next, we select our top five highlights from the RNCM Autumn Season, whose theme, this year, is Migration. We particularly look forward to Poulenc’s dazzling opera, Dialogues des Carmélites as well as Sirocco, a highly-celebrated concert by the electrifying Manchester Collective, who are The Stoller Hall’s ‘Ensemble in Residence’.
And speaking of electrifying ensembles, Psappha are the North of England’s only stand-alone, professional contemporary classical music ensemble, and they have some particularly exciting concerts on the near horizon. Taking place at St Michael’s, Lyric Suite will feature cutting edge contemporary works as well as radical works from the 20th Century’s leading visionaries.
Read about all of this and more in the guide below, where you’ll find our selection of the best upcoming classical music concerts in the north.
Here are our picks
-
1. Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival 2019
-
2. BBC Philharmonic – Aho/Tarkiainen/Shostakovich at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Aho/Tarkiainen/Shostakovich at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 21 November 2019, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £5.50 - Book now
Opening with a hair-raising Theremin Concerto and closing with a symphony which has for years divided opinion, here we have a delightfully off-kilter programme from the BBC Philharmonic.
-
3. Manchester Collective: The Centre is Everywhere at The Stoller Hall
Manchester Collective: The Centre is Everywhere at The Stoller Hall, 23 November 2019, 8:00 pm–10:00 pm, from £11 - Book now
Manchester Collective presents its “largest and most ambitious programme to date”, featuring a new work by Edmund Finnis and Richard Strauss’ Metamorphosen.
-
4. The Hallé – Bach’s Monumental Mass at The Bridgewater Hall
B Ealovega The Hallé - Bach’s Monumental Mass at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 24 November 2019, 5:00 pm–7:15 pm, from £14.50 - Book now
Conducted by Sir Mark Elder and featuring a star cast of soloists, the Hallé are perfectly placed to do Bach’s B minor Mass justice at The Bridgewater Hall.
-
5. BBC Philharmonic: Milhaud/Ravel/Prokofiev at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Milhaud/Ravel/Prokofiev at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 28 November 2019, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
Featuring a frolicsome ballet score by Milhaud as well as Prokofiev’s vivacious Seventh, this BBC Philharmonic concert promises to be particularly joyous.
-
6. Jennifer Pike with Martin Roscoe at The Stoller Hall
Jennifer Pike with Martin Roscoe at The Stoller Hall, 3 December 2019, 7:30 pm–9:30 pm, from £3.50 - Book now
Violinist Jennifer Pike will showcase her dazzling virtuosity in a programme of Grażyna Bacewicz, Edward Elgar, Jeremy Pike and Miklós Rózsa.
-
7. Joby Burgess ‘Credo in USA’ at RNCM
Photo credit: Nick White Joby Burgess 'Credo in USA' at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 3 December 2019, 8:00 pm–10:00 pm, from £5 - Book now
Percussionist Joby Burgess performs a non-stop soundtrack of 20th century classics, arrangements and new works from the East and West Coasts of the US.
-
8. Paul Lewis at The Stoller Hall
Paul Lewis at The Stoller Hall, 12 December 2019, 7:30 pm–9:30 pm, from £3.50 - Book now
Paul Lewis’ interpretations of Beethoven and Schubert have received rich critical and public acclaim worldwide. See why at The Stoller Hall this December.
-
9. RNCM Opera ‘Dialogues des Carmélites’ at RNCM
RNCM RNCM Opera 'Dialogues des Carmélites' at Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester, 8–14 December 2019, from £21 - Book now
A powerful story of faith, bravery and redemption, Poulenc’s ‘Dialogues des Carmélites’ promises to be a highlight of the RNCM’s Autumn season.
-
10. Awake Arise: A Christmas Show for Our Times at The Stoller Hall
Awake Arise: A Christmas Show for Our Times at The Stoller Hall, 14 December 2019, 8:00 pm–10:00 pm, from £18 - Book now
Five of the English folk scene’s most inventive artists join together for a collaborative event that celebrates the riches of our winter traditions.
-
11. BBC Philharmonic: Gubaidulina/Bruckner at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Gubaidulina/Bruckner at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 14 December 2019, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
Omer Meir Wellber’s first Bridgewater Hall concert as the BBC Philharmonic’s Chief Conductor is set to be a great one, featuring works by Sofia Gubaidulina and Bruckner.
-
12. The Hallé – Skyfall in Concert at The Bridgewater Hall
The Hallé The Hallé - Skyfall in Concert at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 29 December 2019, 7:00 pm–10:00 pm, from £32.50 - Book now
Film Concerts Live! is proud to present Skyfall in Concert, the second instalment in the James Bond Concert Series, produced in association with EON Productions and Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM).
-
13. Colin Currie (percussion) with Northern Chamber Orchestra at The Stoller Hall
Linda Nylind Colin Currie (percussion) with Northern Chamber Orchestra at The Stoller Hall, 17 January 2020, 7:30 pm–9:30 pm, from £5 - Book now
Lauded as “the world’s finest and most daring percussionist” by The Spectator, Colin Currie leads the Northern Chamber Orchestra in a wonderful programme.
-
14. BBC Philharmonic: Clyne/Vaughan Williams/Berlioz at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Clyne/Vaughan Williams/Berlioz at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 18 January 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
Bookended by two wild works by Anna Clyne and Berlioz and featuring Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, this BBC Philharmonic concert promises to dazzle.
-
15. BBC Philharmonic: Szymanowski/Myaskovsky at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Szymanowski/Myaskovsky at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 1 February 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
The BBC Philharmonic presents two Eastern European masterpieces as well as an epic symphony by Myaskovsky. Starring acclaimed violinist Tasmin Little OBE.
-
16. BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Symphony No. 3 at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Symphony No. 3 at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 6 February 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
In the first of five concerts celebrating 250 years of Beethoven, the BBC Philharmonic will present the ‘Eroica’ symphony as well as two relative rarities.
-
17. BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 15 February 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
From Beethoven’s defiantly optimistic Seventh Symphony to two works marking lost lives, get ready for a BBC Philharmonic concert full of emotional extremes.
-
18. BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Mass in C Major at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven - Mass in C Major at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 7 March 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
Bridging church and concert hall better than almost any other work, Beethoven’s Mass in C major features alongside his Fourth Symphony in this BBC Philharmonic concert.
-
19. Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Guy Johnston at The Stoller Hall
Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Guy Johnston at The Stoller Hall, 14 March 2020, 7:30 pm–9:30 pm, from £24 - Book now
Two titans of the cello playing world come together to perform a number of sonatas by Luigi Boccherini and a new work by Emma-Ruth Richards.
-
20. The Hallé – Beyond The Score: Beethoven’s Faithful Blows at The Bridgewater Hall
Marco Borggreve The Hallé - Beyond The Score: Beethoven’s Faithful Blows at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 11–15 March 2020, from £14.50 - Book now
Part of the Hallé/BBC Philharmonic’s Beethoven cycle, Beyond the Score® offers a breathtaking multimedia experience of Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony.
-
21. BBC Philharmonic: Strauss/Mozart/Wagner at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Strauss/Mozart/Wagner at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 21 March 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
Three iconic works by three iconic composers will be performed by the BBC Philharmonic under the baton of acclaimed German conductor, Moritz Gnann.
-
22. Benjamin Powell (piano) with Northern Chamber Orchestra at The Stoller Hall
Benjamin Powell (piano) with Northern Chamber Orchestra at The Stoller Hall, 22 March 2020, 3:00 pm–5:30 pm, from £5 - Book now
Virtuoso pianist Benjamin Powell joins the Northern Chamber Orchestra for an exciting programme of Shostakovich, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Handel.
-
23. BBC Philharmonic: Poulenc/Shostakovich/Dvořák at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Poulenc/Shostakovich/Dvořák at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 26 March 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
Clemens Schuldt conducts the BBC Philharmonic in a delightful programme of Poulenc, Shostakovich and Dvořák at The Bridgewater Hall.
-
24. BBC Philharmonic: Brahms/Mahler/Hindemith at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Brahms/Mahler/Hindemith at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 16 April 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
This BBC Philharmonic concert features two gleaming works by Hindemith and Brahms, as well as a selection of songs from Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn.
-
25. BBC Philharmonic: Strauss/Schnittke/Shostakovich at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Strauss/Schnittke/Shostakovich at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 30 April 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
From the dread of Schnittke to the playfulness of Strauss, this wide-ranging BBC Philharmonic programme is guaranteed to thrill.
-
26. Anthony Marwood (violin) with Northern Chamber Orchestra at The Stoller Hall
Pia Johnson Anthony Marwood (violin) with Northern Chamber Orchestra at The Stoller Hall, 15 May 2020, 6:30 pm–8:30 pm, from £5 - Book now
With the Northern Chamber Orchestra, world-class violinist Anthony Marwood leads a thrilling programme featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D major.
-
27. BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – A Hallé Collaboration at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – A Hallé Collaboration at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 16 May 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
The BBC Philharmonic is joined by the Hallé in a joint celebration of Beethoven, which sees Sir Mark Elder return to the podium for one night only.
-
28. The Hallé – Puccini’s Tragic Geisha at The Bridgewater Hall
Chris Gloag The Hallé - Puccini’s Tragic Geisha at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 28–30 May 2020, from £14.50 - Book now
A climactic moment in the Hallé’s 2019-20 season, Puccini’s richly celebrated opera, Madama Butterfly, will be performed by a star-studded cast.
-
29. BBC Philharmonic: Sibelius/Debussy/Tom Coult/Respighi at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Sibelius/Debussy/Tom Coult/Respighi at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 4 June 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
Dedicated to the natural world, this BBC Philharmonic concert features familiar works by Sibelius, Debussy and Respighi, and a new commission by Tom Coult.
-
30. BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Missa solemnis at The Bridgewater Hall
Matt Squire BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Missa solemnis at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre, 13 June 2020, 7:30 pm–10:00 pm, from £12.50 - Book now
A work of towering proportions, and yet an intimate statement of religious faith. Beethoven’s Missa solemnis will be extraordinary at The Bridgewater Hall.
-
31. 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.
-
32. Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM)
RNCM -
33. The Stoller Hall
Image by Chris Horkan -
34. Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
-
35. Hallé St Peter’s
Ben Williams -
36. Albert Hall
Image courtesy the Albert Hall. -
37. Manchester Cathedral
Manchester Cathedral. Illustration by Simone Ridyard.
Related Guides
Food and Drink in Manchester and the North
Looking for the best food and drink options in the North West of England? Look no further, here’s our expert guide to where to eat and drink this month.
Exhibitions
One of the most important feminist artists of the last 50 years, Judy Chicago’s first major UK retrospective tops our pick of exhibitions this month.
Things to Do in Manchester
Spend a day in the city and it rapidly becomes apparent just how much it…
Music
From psych to soul, post-punk to electro-pop, there’s something for everyone in this month’s music guide.
Things to do right now
Powered by
