Orchestras and ensembles

The Sixteen

From: 5 June

The Sixteen is preparing to return to live performances with in-person audiences from 5 June, as it embarks on its annual Choral Pilgrimage

The 20th anniversary of the tour fell last year, but due to Covid-19 celebrations have been deferred to 2021.

The tour has been a staple of The Sixteen’s programming for many years, and sees the choir travel to the UK’s cathedrals and abbeys, building relationships with the communities there.

Harry Christophers CBE, founder & conductor of The Sixteen said: 'I am thrilled beyond words that we can return to live concerts in time for the 20th anniversary of the Choral Pilgrimage.

'It is such an important part of our programming and it would not be the same without live audiences; a celebration always needs people there!'

This year’s tour, The Call of Rome, focuses on the city which has inspired countless pilgrimages, and particularly the Sistine Chapel, where each of the composers featured, Victoria, Josquin, F. Anerio and Allegri, created some of their finest works.

For more information visit thesixteen.com.

The Hallé

From: 3 June

Each programme will be performed twice at 2.15pm and 7pm. Three of concerts (3 & 17 June, 22 July) will also be available for online broadcast. 

The Hallé’s music director, Sir Mark Elder, will conduct the opening and closing programmes. Associate Pops conductor Stephen Bell will conduct two concerts and the orchestra welcomes back Norwegian conductor Tabita Berglund and the director of Welsh National Opera, Tomáš Hanus.  

The season features Elgar's Enigma Variations, Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, Beethoven’s Seventh and Schumann’s First Symphonies, Stravinsky’s The Firebird and Petrushka and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, played by Eldbjørg Hemsing. 

Full details of programmes and how to book can be found at: www.halle.co.uk/summer-2021

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

From: 19 May

In order to ensure Covid compliancy, a new acoustic screen has been installed at the rear of the Symphony Hall stage, allowing a larger number of musicians to play together while maintaining social distancing than has previously been possible.

Each programme will be performed twice, at 2pm and 6:30pm, to allow as many people as possible to join in person whilst seating capacity is still restricted due to Covid regulations.

Stephen Maddock, chief executive of the CBSO, said: ‘We are so thrilled to be able to welcome audiences back to our home at Symphony Hall and to be able to share the joy of live orchestral music with them once more. Today we’re announcing our programme for eight weekly pairs of concerts from May onwards and we feel sure that the people of Birmingham and the Midlands will want to rush back to enjoy the glorious sound of full-scale orchestral music after more than a year in which we have all been denied this opportunity.’

For full concert listings visit the CBSO website.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

From: 29 September

Venues

St Martin-in-the-Fields

From: 20 May

London’s St Martin-in-the-Fields will be launching a new concert series – ReSound – which offers a mix of live in-person audience events together with online streaming.

Andrew Earis, director of music at St Martin-in-the-Fields said: ‘We are thrilled to once again be able to welcome audiences back into St Martin’s and to share the moment with a wonderful group of internationally renowned artists, many of whom have not performed at St Martin’s before.

'It is exciting to be able to offer our first hybrid in-person and online festival, building on the success of our Fresh Horizons series, and to be able to open our music to as many people as possible in this way.’

Tickets for the entire series are now on sale through smitf.org/resound. In-person event tickets are priced from £9 to £26 for evening concerts, with daytime performances ranging from £5 to £20. Tickets for the online concerts are available for £10 per performance. A season ticket for the online concerts is available for the special price of £99, a 40% discount.

Snape Maltings

From: 21 May

From 21 May to early September, the Suffolk venue will run a 'Summer at Snape' programme of concerts and events.

In May, June and July, Britten Pears Arts will again be offering short concerts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, usually with two performances a day.

Roger Wright, chief executive of Britten Pears Arts, said: 'Having helped to lead the way last year with our determination to keep on presenting live performance and supporting musicians, it will be an enormous pleasure and privilege to welcome performers and audiences back to our venues.

'As part of our distinctive mix of programming, we are proud to be presenting so many world premieres, as well as hosting established and up and coming musicians.

'We will remain flexible and ready to respond to changing circumstances, whilst keeping audiences, musicians and our colleagues safe.

'Our wide-ranging summer programme is part of our ongoing commitment to the creative community and to our audiences, as we continue to celebrate music’s unique power to transform lives and bring communities together.'

For full programme information visit:

www.brittenpearsarts.org

www.snapemaltings.co.uk

Wigmore Hall

From: 17 May

On 17 May 2021, Wigmore Hall is reopening to live audiences with a festival celebrating the venue's 120th anniversary. 

The festival is headlined by nine new associate artists:

Nitin Sawhney (composer/performer)

Amjad Ali Khan (sarod)

Amaan Ali Bangash (sarod)

Ayaan Ali Bangash (sarod)

Lawrence Power (viola)

Gweneth Ann Rand (soprano)

Trish Clowes (saxophone)

Elaine Mitchener (vocal and movement artist)

Christian McBride (jazz bass)

Each associate artist will play at the hall at least once every season for five years. 

Nigerian-Romanian pianist Rebeca Omordia is also joining the hall's family of partners, spearheading the African Concert series, which bridges Western classical music and traditional African music.

Wigmore Hall will also present a week-long Learning Festival, with the theme of ‘connectivity’. Through concerts, an online art installation and family events, the festival explores music’s power to bring people together in the face of isolation, a plight faced by many over the past 12 months of the pandemic.

John Gilhooly, director of Wigmore Hall, said: ‘Since its auspicious opening in 1901, Wigmore Hall has become the international headquarters of chamber music with a diverse roster of artists and repertoire. 

'At this time of renewal, we are keen to continue our search for new and unjustly neglected voices on stage. 

I am particularly looking forward to our Learning Festival, which explores how the pandemic has challenged but also strengthened our sense of community.'

Tickets for all 25 concerts in the reopening festival are available initially on a ballot basis to Friends of Wigmore Hall.

Seating capacity will be determined by government announcements in the coming weeks. 

13 concerts will be streamed free of charge on the Wigmore Hall site, and 3 concerts will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

For full listings visit https://wigmore-hall.org.uk

For more information on the Learning Festival visit https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/learning/learning-festival-2021-connectivity

London Summer Music in City Churches

From: 17 June

This festival presents around 11 concerts over the course of 10 days each June. The theme this year is ‘Sunshine after Rain’.

Highlights include an opening concert by the London Mozart Players with Mark Bebbington, an original screening of On Wenlock Edge with Daniel Norman and Sholto Kynoch, Lucy Parham’s portrait of Clara Schumann with Juliet Stevenson, two cabaret evenings featuring classic songs from the Great American Songbook, a performance by the brass principals of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and a season finale for all the family with the City of London Choir, Njabulo Madlala and jazz trio celebrating sunshine and rain.

Tickets & Programme information: https://www.summermusiccitychurches.com/programme

Sage Gateshead

From: 11 June

The New Beginnings series will feature gigs and Royal Northern Sinfonia concerts, which will also be live streamed to enjoy at home. Concerts will explore the works of Bach and Beethoven, featuring soloists including violinist Rachel Podger. 

Abigail Pogson, managing director of Sage Gateshead, said: 'I am so pleased we can now welcome audiences back. Everyone has missed that unique buzz and excitement of live music in a great room. Safety will be our top priority and we hope people will also have a great night out. 

'We would not be here without the incredible support of all of those who have donated to our Crisis, Recovery and Renaissance fundraising campaign in the past year. Thanks to so many people, we have overcome the initial crisis. 

“But the road to recovery will be long and our financial challenges won’t end for a while. In pre-Covid times, we would be hosting hundreds of concerts, events and classes each month, welcoming thousands of people of all ages into our fantastic spaces. As we take the first steps towards recovery, our income is still hugely affected, and contributions from music fans, businesses and philanthropic organisations remain vitally important.'

For more information visit https://sagegateshead.com/

Saffron Hall

From: 4 June

Essex's Saffron Hall is welcoming Jess Gillam, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Tenebrae, and many more, to its summer season of live events. 

Socially distanced seating remains in place for these concerts along with staggered entrance times. 

Read more: How Saffron Hall is adapting to Covid-safe performances

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.saffronhall.com