Acclaimed classical musicians perform across historic venues as part of Brighton Festival 2024
The London Symphony Orchestra opens the classical programme in Brighton Dome’s Concert Hall and celebrated American-Iranian harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani performs at Glyndebourne from 4-26 May. This year also sees the return of Brighton Dome’s historic Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre to the Festival following a major refurbishment, with a premiere from composer Ed Hughes and performances by 12 Ensemble and Solomon’s Knot.
On 4 May, the London Symphony Orchestra under its new Chief Conductor Designate, Sir Antonio Pappano, perform with prize-winning French pianist Bertrand Chamayou.
In the classical programme, the Corn Exchange hosts the premiere of award-winning, Brighton-based composer Ed Hughes’s new score, States of Innocence on 19 May. The piece features Sir John Tomlinson playing Milton, with adaptation by acclaimed librettist Peter Cant.
On 16 May, the trailblazing 12 Ensemble will perform a programme ranging from Edmund Finnis' reworking of the William Byrd prayer For light within the darkness to an instrumental aria from Oliver Leith’s bleakly beautiful 2022 opera about Kurt Cobain.
International Baroque collective Solomon’s Knot celebrate three of the era’s defining composers all born in the same year, in Class of 1685 (9 May).
On 20 May, star of stage and TV screen, Glyndebourne’s leading lady and ‘opera’s coolest soprano’ (The New York Times), Danielle de Niese, performs an evening of song.
On 8 May, the Studio Theatre welcomes Welsh contralto Hilary Summers and English pianist Andrew West for What’s So Great About Opera?
This year, Brighton Festival also returns to the splendour of the Royal Pavilion’s Music Room, with a new programme from the award-winning Heath Quartet on 22 May.
On 11 May, Brighton Festival Chorus present the UK premiere of Norwegian composer Kim Andre Arnesen’s The Stranger. Preceding this is a performance from Brighton Festival Youth Choir, with Cecilia McDowall’s cantata for children’s voices, Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo, forming the centrepiece of the concert.
Additional Highlights - Lunchtime concerts 7-22 May
Taking place in the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre and spotlighting classical stars of the future, Brighton & East Sussex Youth Orchestra Alia Alzougbi tells tales from 1,001 Nights before the young musicians perform Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade suite. The concert also features Arutunian's Trumpet Concerto, which showcases former orchestra member turned professional Alan Thomas.
Further Information: Brighton Festival | Brighton Festival