Bringing the most exciting names in classical music to the Regency town, Cheltenham Music Festival returns from Saturday 6 until Saturday 13 July 2024.
With everything from world premieres of newly-commissioned pieces to inventive reimaginings of much-loved works, there's something for every classical music fan to enjoy — with accessible events ideal for first-time festivalgoers, too.
This year's event celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Cheltenham's own Gustav Holst, with a selection of concerts performing his music in some of the venues he loved most.
These include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing 'The Hymn of Jesus' in the divine setting of Gloucester Cathedral, as well as a range of lesser-known works at Cheltenham Town Hall; a special musical tour of Holst's birthplace, taking in the Holst Victorian House, which is home to the piano 'The Planets' was composed on, as well as the church where Holst's father was an organist, with intimate performances showcasing his smaller-scale works; and a talk exploring the mystical 'Hymn of Jesus' and its enduring impact at Gloucester Cathedral's Lady Chapel.
Works from Holst's contemporaries, including Ralph Vaughan Williams, Olivier Messiaen and Francis Poulenc will also feature in this concert series.
Other standout concerts include celebrated baritone Roderick Williams and Roger Vignoles performing fairytale-inspired stories of courtly love, as well as a brand-new composition from Cameron Biles-Liddell; The Marian Consort evoking flowers and gardens through the work of late Renaissance Spanish composers, alongside two premieres by Laura Cannell and Leo Chadburn; the Dunedin Consort collaborating with Sean Shibe for a concert that traces the Scottish-Canadian diaspora through music, with a brand-new guitar concerto for a modern instrument with gut strings by Cassandra Miller; and acclaimed pianist Clare Hammond performing a programme of music on the themes of light and dark, featuring music by Debussy, Fauré, Mozart, Schumann and a world premiere by Sun Keting.
The festival also has a strong reputation for supporting emerging talent and a longstanding partnership with the BBC and its New Generation Artists scheme, with some of the most exciting up-and-coming classical musicians at this year's event including violinist Geneva Lewis; cellist Santiago Cañón-Valencia; pianists Naoko Sonoda and Alim Beisembayev; the Chaos String Quartet; and prize-winning ensemble, the Marmen Quartet.
There are two, youth-oriented 'Spotlight' concerts taking place too, with performances from BBC Young Musician of the Year 2022, Jaren Ziegler; and the winners of Gloucestershire Young Musician 2024 and the Keith Nutland Award.
With many concerts taking place in some of Cheltenham's most iconic buildings, including Pittville Pump Room and Cheltenham Town Hall, the festival also brings classical music to more unconventional venues with the free '...around town' programme, which takes place in bars, cafes and restaurants across town.
The festival's trademark Mixtape event also returns for 2024, giving music fans the chance to enjoy a laid-back, 'no rules' concert with music this year from guitarist Sean Shibe, pianist Clare Hammond, the Chaos String Quartet and the Choir of Merton College, Oxford.
As well as concerts, music enthusiasts can attend a series of talks and hybrid events exploring classical music's place in the world now, including 'Bach, The Universe and Everything' which blends music from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with spectacular images of the cosmos and insights from a real-life astronaut; and the 'Everyday is Spatial' conference at the University of Gloucestershire's immersive audio labs.
There's a wide and varied programme of events for school-age children to get involved with, too, including the return of the Music for Schools scheme, which sees Gloucestershire Youth Chamber Orchestra and a variety of professional musicians showcasing music for dancing; while the Relaxed Concert for Schools provides the opportunity for pupils and teachers from SEND settings to experience the magic of classical music in a truly accessible way.
Tickets for Cheltenham Music Festival go on sale to members on Thursday 21 March 2024; and on general sale on Thursday 28 March 2024.
For more information, or to buy tickets, visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/music.
