Royal Northern Sinfonia celebrates 20th anniversary at The Glasshouse

The Royal Northern Sinfonia is celebrating its 20th anniversary at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (formerly Sage Gateshead) with a new season of over 50 classical concerts in its 2024/25 programme. The season will welcome visiting artists and orchestras including John Wilson’s Sinfonia of London with Sheku Kanneh-Mason, BBC Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and conductors Sofi Jeannin and Ricardo Minasi among others.

This autumn marks Dinis Sousa’s second three-year term as principal conductor of Royal Northern Sinfonia (RNS). He will be joined by former RNS leader, Polish violinist Maria Włoszczowska (now the orchestra’s now artistic partner), and newly-appointed principal guest conductor Nil Venditti who performs twice with the RNS in the upcoming season.

James Thomas, who directs both RNS and the Glasshouse’s Classical Programme, said: ‘It’s been a joy to work with Dinis and Maria on our 2024/25 season, my second full season as director of our exceptional orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia. It’s a season packed with musical highs and exceptional artists – something the North East of England can be truly proud of. It also marks the next chapter with Dinis Sousa as principal conductor and Maria Włoszczowska as artistic partner and I’m so pleased to welcome Nil Venditti to our musical family as principal guest conductor.’

The concert series will mark the 150th anniversaries of two classical music luminaries. Ravel’s music is celebrated in performances including symphonic music by BBC Philharmonic and pianist Bertrand Chamayou, Mother Goose by Royal Northern Sinfonia and an ensemble concert which sees Włoszczowska team up with new media arts collective Mediale. Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire and Verklärte Nacht, will be directed by Włoszczowska in two concerts.

The orchestra also presents A Child of Our Time as part of Sousa’s ‘Share the Stage’ initiative offering non-professional musicians from across the North East the opportunity to work with Sousa, the orchestra and chorus and perform alongside singers including Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Sarah Connolly, Nicky Spence and Willard White.