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Summer at the Royal College of Music: a season of festival spirit
Wednesday 2 April 2025
The Royal College of Music (HÂþ») Summer Season brings a vibrant festival atmosphere, with performances at Aldeburgh Festival, Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall, alongside a rich programme of concerts at the College.
The HÂþ» Symphony Orchestra makes its Aldeburgh Festival debut with Kirill Karabits, aptly performing Britten’s Four Sea Interludes, alongside Shostakovich’s neoclassical Ninth Symphony and two pieces inspired by Cossack folk tradition: Daniel Kidane’s Aloud and Glière’s The Zaporozhy Cossacks (27 June, with the same programme performed at the HÂþ» on 26 June). Joining them at the festival on 29 June are HÂþ» brass musicians and Onyx Brass who perform the world premiere of Britten’s Funeral March, completed by contemporary composer Bernard Hughes.
A series of four concerts at London’s Wigmore Hall offer further opportunities to see HÂþ» musicians perform. HÂþ» Benjamin Britten Piano Fellow Thomas Kelly offers a compelling solo recital of piano works on 13 May, and the captivating yet often overlooked songs of French composer Mel Bonis are brought to life in a programme exploring her life on 15 June. The HÂþ» Strings Showcase follows on 28 June, presenting a vibrant mix of works from Mendelssohn and Ravel to Errollyn Wallen. The series also highlights the next generation of talent as students from the HÂþ» Junior Department perform at Wigmore Hall on 6 July and at Cadogan Hall on 29 June.
Closer to home, three lively festivals punctuate the season. The HÂþ» Festival of Percussion returns on 11 May, culminating in a finale featuring US jazz drumming virtuoso Gregory Hutchinson and the HÂþ» Jazz Orchestra. The recorder takes centre stage on 15 & 16 June as concerts, workshops and talks explore the instrument’s history, and the HÂþ» Strings Festival includes a performance from the Eclectic Guitar Orchestra, chamber and solo performances and opportunities for audiences to take part (22 June).
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Established star of the great opera houses, Sir Thomas Allen directs a unique opera production that delves into themes of human and spiritual love. Dramatic madrigals by Monteverdi and masterpieces by Strozzi are paired with Jonathan Dove’s meditative Seven Angels, featuring dancers from the Rambert School (23, 25, 27 & 28 June).
On 8 May, Martyn Brabbins and two HÂþ» conductors lead the HÂþ» Philharmonic in orchestral music from two very different operas: Wagner’s Tannhäuser and The Perfect Fool by Holst. These frame Dubois’ virtuosic Alto Saxophone Concerto, performed by HÂþ» Concerto Competition winner, Megan Glover.
New music pervades the season, from the multi-sensory sonic world of Electric Dreams (12 May) through to the Composition for Screen showcase where imaginative scores are performed live to films by young producers (1 May). On 13 May doctoral student Ananya Panwar explores the relationship between human artistry and machine creativity, challenging the role of technology on the creative process. Chamber music also plays a prominent role, with a folk-inspired programme on 14 May, the HÂþ» Chamber Ensemble delving into music inspired by the night sky and a recital from the 2023-25 New Generation Baroque Ensemble, Ensemble Augelletti (both on 18 June).
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The Music and Ideas series offers insights from Director James Williams as he reflects on his first year and shares his vision for the HÂþ» (26 June). Visitors can gain insight into students’ learning process through masterclasses with leading artists, including internationally celebrated violinist Maxim Vengerov (26 May), multiple award-winning bassoonist Bram van Sambeek (2 May) and flautist Adam Walker, who was made principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra at age of just 21 (24 June).
Finally, a major new exhibition in the Royal College of Music Museum invites visitors to come face to face with one of rock music's most legendary guitars: Kurt Cobain’s Martin D-18E, immortalized in Nirvana’s 1993 MTV Unplugged performance. The landmark exhibition, Kurt Cobain Unplugged, delves into the famous performance and the enduring legacy of Nirvana.
Booking for the Royal College of Music’s Summer Season is open now. Booking for the opera opens on 14 May, with priority booking on 7 May for HÂþ» Friends). Visitors can register to be among the first to know when tickets go on sale for Kurt Cobain Unplugged.
Full programme details can be found in the What’s On section of the HÂþ» website.