2017 Music Event Guide

2017 is set to be a very exciting and eventful year for classical music, with Mozart, Beethoven and Bach among the big names whose works will be performed. There are also plenty of great opportunities to sample performers of emerging stature and, possibly, some big stars of the future. Here is a guide to just some examples from this year's programme of classical concerts across the UK.

January

Bach, Handel and Vivaldi by candlelight | Trafalgar Sinfonia

St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, Thursday 26 January 2017, 19:30

The Trafalgar Sinfonia performs with violinist Mia Cooper and conductor Ivor Setterfield for this concert.

Knightsbridge Festival - Thames Chamber Orchestra

St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London, Saturday 28 January 2017, 19:30

Young Uzbekistan pianist Tamila Salimdjanova joins the Thames Chamber Orchestra.

February

The Pomegranate Piano Trio

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Sixth Form Centre, Clitheroe, Wednesday 1 February 2017, 19:30

This group has been formed by Fenella Barton, pianist Andrew West and violist Rebecca Hepplewhite.

Romantic classics with Croydon Symphony Orchestra

Concert Hall, Trinity School, Croydon, Saturday 11 February 2017, 19:30

Romantic classics including Beethoven's Emperor concerto and Rachmaninov's second symphony will be performed.

Six Strings of Apollo | Martyna Kazmierczak (harpsichord)

Handel House Museum, London, Tuesday 14 February 2017, 18:30

Viennese fugues focused on Pachelbel's Hexachordum Apollinis will be among the pieces performed.

March

Leeds Festival Chorus sings Haydn's The Creation

Leeds Town Hall, Leeds, Saturday 4 March 2017, 19:30

The biblical tale of creation is told in Haydn's leading masterpiece, an exhilarating sound picture.

Southport Orchestra's Spring Concert

St John's Church, Birkdale, Southport, Saturday 18 March 2017, 19:30

Soloist Andrew Winter will deliver Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor.

Orchestra of the Swan presents The English Genius

Number 8 Community Arts Centre, Pershore, Tuesday 24 March 2017, 19:30

Six orchestral pieces including Serenade for Strings in E minor by Sir Edward Elgar.

April

Gabrieli Consort - JS Bach's Easter Oratorio

Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden, Saturday 8 April, 19:30

Easter Oratorio's opening chorus is one of the pieces of Bach's work to be performed.

Laura van der Heijden plays Tchaikovsky with Orchestra of the Swan

Town Hall, Birmingham, Wednesday 12 April 2017, 14:30

BBC Young Musician winner Laura van der Heijden will play the cello.

Alessandro Taverna

The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate, Sunday 30 April 2017, 11:00

Pianist Alessandro Taverna plays music by leading Romantic period composer Frédéric Chopin.

May

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

The Anvil, Basingstoke, Friday 5 May 2017, 19:45

Violinist Alexandra Soumm plays Debussy's prelude to evoke the feel of a lazy summer afternoon.

Lunchtime Concert - Royal Academy Horn Ensemble

Charlton House, London, Friday 19 May 2017, 13:00

The Royal Academy of Music's Horn Ensemble performs pieces by Felix Mendelssohn and more.

Hiro Takenouchi and friends

Conway Hall, Holborn, Sunday 28 May 2017, 18:30

Pianist Hiro Takenouchi has played in Germany, Austria, Japan, Italy, Canada and more.

June

Viktoria Mullova and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra

Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, Thursday 8 June 2017, 19:30

Violinist Viktoria Mullova is to perform three of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt's masterpieces.

Fidelio | Longborough Festival Opera

Longborough Festival Opera House, Moreton-in-Marsh, Saturday 24 June 2017, 17:00

Beethoven's opera Fidelio will be performed by the Longborough Festival Opera Orchestra.

The Bach Choir - Best of British: A Sea Symphony

Royal Festival Hall, London, Thursday 29 June 2017, 19:30

A freshly commissioned work of composer Sir James MacMillan is to be premiered.

July

Kent Chamber Choir with Northfleet Brass

Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels, Wilmington, Dartford, Saturday 8 July 2017, 19:30

Alan Vincent is the conductor and also joins Northfleet Brass.

Blackburn Symphony Orchestra: Star Wars

Croston Theatre, Westholme Upper School, Blackburn, Saturday 15 July 2017, 19:30
John Williams' Star Wars Suite is one of four pieces delivered.

August

Orfeo ed Euridice | Longborough Festival Opera

Longborough Festival Opera House, Moreton-in-Marsh, Tuesday 1 August 2017, 17:00

A new production of Christoph Willibald Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice.

Sir András Schiff

Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, Saturday 5 August 2017, 20:00

Sir András Schiff plays the piano for the Bach compendium The Well-Tempered Clavier.

Yefim Bronfman (piano) and Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra

Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, Sunday 6 August 2017, 20:00

Yefim Bronfman performs Robert Schumann's Symphony No 2 in C.

September

New Music Britain

Barbican Hall, London, Thursday 14 September 2017, 19:30

A commission by the London Symphony Orchestra, the Barbican and Sir Simon Rattle.

Discovery Day: Faust in Music

Barbican Hall, London, Saturday 16 September 2017, 10:30

The London Symphony Orchestra rehearses Hector Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust.

Tricko (Lucy Railton & Kit Downes) + Tom Challenger & Kit Downes: 'Vyamanikal' Album Launch

Kings Place: Hall Two, London, Thursday 21 September 2017, 20:00

Cellist Lucy Railton forms a contemplative pairing with pianist-composer Kit Downes.

October

Sheku Kanneh-Mason: BBC Young Musician 2016

Kings Place: Hall One, London, Wednesday 4 October 2017, 19:30

Sheku Kanneh-Mason joins sister Isata Kenneh-Mason for a special recital.

Aurora Orchestra with Sarah Connolly, Andrew Staples & John Reid

Kings Place: Hall One, London, Saturday 14 October 2017, 19:30

Esteemed soloists Andrew Staples and Sarah Connolly perform works by Mozart and Mahler.

November

Natalie Clein: Bach Through Time - Concert II

Kings Place: Hall One, London, Thursday 2 November 2017, 20:00

Natalie Clein brings to life pieces including Bach's fourth and fifth cello suites.

Paul & Huw Watkins - First World War: Channel Crossings

Kings Place: Hall One, London, Sunday 19 November 2017, 18:30

Cellist Paul Watkins and pianist brother Huw explore Delius and Bridge cello sonatas.

Christophe Coin with Ailish Tynan & Maggie Cole: Italians in London

Kings Place: Hall One, London, Thursday 23 November 2017, 19:30

Christophe Coin and Maggie Cole deliver a colourful set of Baroque Italian sonatas.

December

Pieter Wispelwey: Bach Through Time - Concert III

Kings Place: Hall One, London, Friday 8 December 2017, 20:00

Cellist Pieter Wispelwey performs Bach's serene suite no. 1 in G major.

Christmas concert with Gravesham Choral Society

St George's Church, Gravesend, Wednesday 20 December 2017, 20:00

Celebrate Christmas in a traditional manner at this church on the River Thames.