Manchester Classical returns with a weekend-long festival of music at the Bridgewater Hall

Taking place from Fri 27 to Sun 29 Jun, Manchester Classical returns to The Bridgewater Hall with another wondrously diverse festival of orchestral performances, food, crafts and free entertainment featuring an illustrious selection of the city’s best musical organisations.

Developed as a collaboration between The Bridgewater Hall, the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata and Manchester Collective, Manchester Classical hosts a series of hour-long concerts showcasing the region’s dynamic music scene and reinforcing its reputation as a European hub of world-class artistry and classical music culture.

On opening night, the Hallé welcomes conductor and percussionist Colin Currie and Radiohead icon Jonny Greenwood for an unmissable concert spanning some of Steve Reich’s best-known works, following the highly acclaimed festival celebrating his oeuvre in 2024.

Beginning with the legendary Clapping Music, performed using only human hands, the performance features spellbinding renditions of the ‘calmly luminous’ (New York Times) orchestral piece Runner, the ‘tenderly arching’ and ‘melodious’ (San Francisco Chronicle) Pulse, and the uplifting Variations for Vibes, Piano and Strings.

Saturday’s schedule includes a live, interactive family-friendly performance of Musical Storyland’s Three Billy Goats Gruff (10am), a stage and screen special from the Hallé Children’s Choir (11am), a diverse programme from the Hallé Youth Training Choir (12.30pm), a showcase of Mahler’s Resurrection by the RNCM Symphony Orchestra and much more, alongside concerts from Bharatiya Vrund Gaan (3.45pm), Riot Ensemble (5pm) the BBC Philharmonic (8pm). See the full events listing HERE.

Sunday begins with a dazzling musical journey through the work of Quentin Blake with Box of Treasures. Set to a live accompaniment by the BBC Philharmonic in their second performance of the weekend, the legendary illustrator’s pair of animated adventures burst into life as 80 renowned musicians chart the story of Jack and his Sister Nancy who embark on a thrilling adventure through deserted islands and exploding volcanoes, before the genius inventor Mrs. Armitage heads out on a madcap bike ride with her dog, Breakspear.

Later that morning, Simply Singing and ENO Breathe host an inclusive and entertaining breath control workshop (11.45am), led by Emma Wheeler and Suzi Zumpe. The afternoon’s highlights include an eclectic showcase of opera favourites by the Hallé and Chorus of ENO (1pm), a mesmerising concert by the AMC Gospel Choir (2.30pm) and Manchester Collective’s The Body Electric (3.30pm), a divine display of stark contrasts exploring the power of the soloist starring cellist Zoë Martlew alongside violinist and Manchester Collective Co-Artistic Director, Rakhi Singh.

The festival concludes with a blockbuster finale (6.30pm) which unites Manchester’s globally revered ensembles under the baton of Alpesh Chauhan in a joyous musical spectacular, rounding off a memorable weekend with works by John Adams, Iain Farrington, Borodin and Respighi. See the full Sunday programme HERE.

For more information and tickets to Manchester Classical, click below.