Bristol Ensemble

If Opera: Rigoletto
2025-08-14 19:00 - 21:30, 2025-08-16 19:00 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Church Farm, Wingfield, Church Farm, Wingfield, Wiltshire, BA14 9LE
Giuseppe Verdi Rigoletto
Libretto by Francesca Maria Piave, based on Victor Hugo’s Le roi s’amuse
First performed 11th March 1851 at La Fenice, Venice
Conductor Oliver Gooch
Director Nina Brazier
Designer Elliott Squire
Lighting Designer Luca Panetta
Bristol Ensemble
Sung in Italian with English surtitles
Since its triumphant premiere in 1851, Verdi’s masterpiece Rigoletto has remained at the very heart of the operatic repertoire. The story revolves around Rigoletto, the court jester to the morally corrupt Duke of Mantua, who is tormented by the Duke’s lecherous behaviour and vows to protect his daughter, Gilda. However, the Duke has already set his sights on the innocent girl, and Rigoletto unknowingly facilitates the seduction, with devastating consequences.
Renowned for its powerful arias, including Gilda’s exquisite idealisation of her new lover in Caro nome, and the Duke’s carefree La donna è mobile reflecting on the fickle nature of women, we are offered two deeply contrasting perspectives on love and relationships.
As we follow Rigoletto’s internal struggle, we witness a tragedy which captures the complexities of love, betrayal and sacrifice, the corrupting influence of power, and the very nature of revenge.
4.30pm Gardens & restaurant open
7pm Performance starts
9.30pm Approximate end
Running time: two hours with half-hour interval
Tickets £30 to £120, available online at www.ifopera.com/rigoletto and from Bath Box Office on 01225 463362.

If Opera: Orpheus in the Underworld
2025-08-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Church Farm, Wingfield, Church Farm, Wingfield, Wiltshire, BA14 9LE
Jacques Offenbach Orpheus in the Underworld
Libretto by Hector Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy
Sung (mostly) in J R Planché’s London version (1865)
Narrative script and lyrics for five additional numbers by Simon Butteriss
Two act version first performed 21st October 1858 at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens
Michael Waldron conductor
Simon Butteriss director
Elliott Squire associate designer
Luca Panetta lighting designer
Bristol Ensemble
Sung in English with surtitles
Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld scandalized and delighted 19th century Paris – no one was safe and nothing was sacred as Offenbach cut a gleeful swathe through political, musical and moral peccadilloes with a dazzlingly tuneful score that embraced both the Can-Can and the Marseillaise. Offenbach, dubbed by Rossini the Mozart of the Champs Elysées, pokes hilarious fun at po-faced classical opera in general and Gluck in particular as Orpheus is dragged to Hell to rescue an unwilling wife, accompanied by the Gods, in search of Bacchanalian joy.
“National treasure” (BBC Music Magazine) Simon Butteriss adapts and directs what promises to be an outrageously joyous version of Offenbach’s comic masterpiece.
4.30pm Gardens & restaurant open
7pm Performance starts
9pm Approximate end
Running time: two hours with half-hour interval
Tickets £30 to £120, available online at www.ifopera.com/orpheus-in-the-underworld and from Bath Box Office on 01225 463362.

Amadeus + LIVE music
2025-09-12 19:00 - 22:00 | Curzon Cinema Clevedon, 46 Old Church Road, Clevedon, BS21 6NN
“Amadeus weaves a beautiful, tragic fable, enchanting to children and adults alike. It has gore, a pact with God, celebrity, a masked stranger, murder and some of the best music ever written. What other film offers half as much? ” – The Guardian
The opulent, mad-cap, origin story of the talent that was Mozart is back on the big screen in a 4k restoration, ready to be seen in the style it deserves. A sumptous period drama unlike any other; there is no staid behaviour to be had here, this is the tale of a rock ‘n’ roll classical musician.
Amadeus is a feast for the senses, and one which needs no apetite for classical music. Winner of 8 Oscars, if you haven’t seen it, you must,and on a big screen.
Dress up, wigs optional but much admired, arrive as doors open at 7pm to enjoy live classical music with a drink before the film starts.

Listen In with Dame Evelyn Glennie
2025-09-24 18:30 - 22:30 | St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR, United Kingdom
How do we listen?
In our world of online distraction, what happens if we stop for a moment, take a collective breath and really listen to ourselves and the world around us? What does it mean to come together and truly listen to magical sounds being created for all our senses?
Join us for an extraordinary evening this September as we welcome Dame Evelyn Glennie, the world’s premiere percussionist, accompanied by Bristol Ensemble, to explore these questions through a beautiful and immersive performance specially created for St George’s.
From Vivaldi to Richter, this eclectic programme will be performed in the round for an audience of just 250 – less than half our main hall’s normal capacity. Expect to feel the music up close and see St George’s in a new light through this extraordinary performance, which will not be recorded or repeated.
“My career and my life have been about listening in the deepest possible sense. Losing my hearing meant learning how to listen differently, to discover features of sound I hadn’t realised existed. Losing my hearing made me a better listener.” – Dame Evelyn Glennie
This attention to listening, combined with the magic of collectively experiencing live music, lies at the heart of our mission at St George’s. We strive to create extraordinary live musical experiences, for everyone.
Arrival 6.30pm
Dress code: wear something that makes your heart sing
Welcome
Drinks and canapés
Listen In
Immersive live performance co-created for St George’s Bristol by Dame Evelyn Glennie and Bristol Ensemble
Supper
A delicious supper menu specially designed for Listen In, with tray service and festival-style grazing stations throughout the evening
Other musical experiences in our venue and grounds
Opportunity to bid in our live postcard auction – further information below
A £20 donation to St George’s Bristol is included within your ticket price
Your support means we can continue work with young musicians across Bristol and beyond, engaging over 4,000 children in musical and education projects across the city; it also means you’re helping us safeguarding our historic venue, in order to present over 300 performances here each year.
Please note: Age restriction 18+ due to alcohol licensing and live auction.

Salon Sessions
2025-09-26 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-09-26 20:30 - 21:30 | Alhampton Tabernacle Chapel, Alhampton, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QA, UK, Alhampton Tabernacle Chapel, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QA, United Kingdom
Join Bristol Ensemble and acclaimed vocalist Kat Kleve for an intimate evening of velvet-toned music in the unique surroundings of Alhampton’s Tabernacle. Salon Sessions blends timeless classics, soulful ballads, and elegant instrumentals — from Elgar and Piazzolla to Eva Cassidy, Gershwin, and Etta James — performed by a rich ensemble of violin, cello, keyboard and voice. This is a modern-day musical soirée: relaxed, refined, and full of atmosphere.
Come for the music, stay for the mood — and round off the evening just down the road at the Alhampton Inn with our special dinner deal — delicious fish and chips at the Alhampton Inn plus your concert ticket for only £36. A wonderful evening of music, good company and great food, without having to travel far. https://alhamptoninn.com/
Two performances, 6.30pm and 8.30pm. If you purchase our dinner deal ticket, Fish and Chips will be served at the Alhampton Inn from 5pm to 9pm on presentation of your ticket.
Programme
· • Chanson de Matin Elgar (violin/keyboard)
· • Dream a Little Dream of Me
· • Natural Woman Carole King
· • Oblivion Piazzolla (instrumental)
· • Gabriels Oboe Morricone (cello feature)
· • Summertime Gershwin
· • Maybe This Time from Cabaret
· • I Got Rhythm Gershwin (instrumental)
· • At Last Etta James
· • Thats Life Sinatra
· • Czardas Monti (violin feature)
· • Over the Rainbow Eva Cassidy version
· • Feeling Good Nina Simone

Henleaze Concert Society: Eastern Echoes
2025-09-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Trinity-Henleaze URC, Waterford Road, Bristol, BS9 4BT, United Kingdom
Béla Bartók Romanian Folk Dances
Frédéric Chopin Piano Concerto No.2 Op.21
Dmitri Shostakovich Gadfly Suite
Franz Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies 2 and 9 arr. strings
Viv Mclean piano
Our season opens with Béla Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances, a vibrant suite composed in 1915 amid the turmoil of the First World War. Drawing on fiddle tunes he collected from the Transylvanian countryside, Bartók captures the raw energy and charm of traditional peasant music—from the flirtatious Sash Dance to the proud swagger of the Stick Dance.
Folk influences also shine in Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsodies. Written in 1851, Rhapsody No. 2 – described by Liszt as “truly Hungarian” – is a beloved showpiece, while No. 9 blends authentic folk melodies with brilliant improvisatory flair, creating a dazzling display of virtuosity and color.
Dmitri Shostakovich’s Gadfly Suite brings cinematic drama to the concert hall. Composed for the 1955 Soviet film The Gadfly, it follows the tale of a 19th-century Austrian revolutionary. The suite includes the dashing Galop and the lush, unforgettable Romance.
We close with the lyrical beauty of Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, composed in 1829 when he was just 20 years old. Premiered in Warsaw to a sold-out audience with Chopin himself at the keyboard, this concerto showcases the composer’s gift for haunting melodies and brilliant pianism. The central Adagio, tender and romantic, was inspired by his youthful infatuation with soprano Konstancja Gładkowska.
Pre-concert talk with Steve Clarke begins at 6.45pm. Doors open at 6.15pm for the talk and at 7.15pm for the concert only. If coming to the concert only, we should be grateful if you would try to avoid arriving during the talk.
Individual concert prices
Tickets for Henleaze Concert Society members £17.50
Tickets for non members £21
Under 25 year olds £5
The ticket price includes the pre concert talk, a programme and interval drink.
How to book
Book tickets online – see below
You can also book by sending a cheque payable to Henleaze Concert Society, covering note and SAE to 2 Saville Mews, Kingsdown Parade, Bristol BS6 5UL
Tickets are available on the door from 6.15pm.
Season Tickets and Annual Society Membership
Season tickets are only £100 including Society Membership and admission to all six concerts from September to July. Alternatively, becoming a member of Henleaze Concert Society for £15 entitles you to book tickets for individual concerts at the members’ discounted rate. Season tickets and membership are available to buy by post by returning the Ticket Order Form with your payment and a stamped addressed envelope.

Somerset International Festival of the Arts - Baroque 'n' Roll
2025-10-03 19:30 - 21:30 | St Andrew’s Church, St Andrew's Church, Backwell, BS48 3JJ, United Kingdom
The 2025 Somerset International Festival of the Arts opening night features a programme of much-loved Baroque favourites alongside some modern classics, in a beautifully candlelit atmosphere. You can expect everything from Bach and Vivaldi alongside a few surprises Queen and Metallica for a fantastically eclectic programme!
*The ticket price includes a free drink*
Tickets £10 to £20 for adults, under 18s free of charge available online at www.somersetfestivalarts.co.uk

Somerset International Festival of the Arts - Family Concert
2025-10-04 10:30 - 11:30 | St Andrew’s Church, St Andrew's Church, Backwell, BS48 3JJ, United Kingdom
Embark on an epic adventure with Music for Miniatures as oboe, violin, and piano weave captivating tales from myths and legends! This interactive classical concert, perfect for children aged from 3 to 10, brings heroic quests, mystical creatures, and legendary adventures to life through enchanting melodies. Get ready to discover the magic of music and become part of the story!
Perfect for young children (up to age 10) and their grown-ups.
Tickets available online at www.somersetfestivalarts.co.uk

Somerset International Festival of the Arts - A Tribute to Édith Piaf
2025-10-04 19:30 - 21:30 | St Andrew’s Church, St Andrew's Church, Backwell, BS48 3JJ, United Kingdom
An unforgettable evening showcasing the iconic Ediaf Piaf, featuring arrangements of her most memorable works for live orchestra, such as La Vie en Rose, Rien de Rien, Padam Madam, Non je ne regrette rien, and many more…
*The ticket price includes a free drink*
Tickets available online at www.somersetfestivalarts.co.uk

Somerset International Festival of the Arts - Viennese Spectacular
2025-10-05 19:30 - 21:30 | St Andrew’s Church, St Andrew's Church, Backwell, BS48 3JJ, United Kingdom
Join the Bristol Ensemble at St Andrew’s as they present an evening of elegance and excitement with the music of Johann Strauss II. From the Pizzicato Polka to the ever popular Blue Danube, there is a waltz for everyone!
*The ticket price includes a free drink*
Tickets £10 to £20 for adults, under 18s free of charge available online at www.somersetfestivalarts.co.uk

Dark Side of the Moon
2025-10-11 19:30 - 20:40 | Wiltshire Music Centre, Ashley Road, Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 1DZ, United Kingdom
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Wish You Were Here and The Dark Side of the Moon
Join us for a truly special evening as the Bristol Ensemble, the city’s only professional chamber orchestra performs Pink Floyd’s legendary albums, The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here – 50th Anniversary! Fusing the spirit of the 1970s with the elegance of orchestral music, Pink Floyd’s iconic albums Wish You Were here and The Dark Side of the Moon are brought to life by a 23-piece chamber orchestra.

Nailsworth: Eastern Echoes
2025-10-12 15:00 - 16:00 | Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth, GL6 0DQ, United Kingdom
Frédéric Chopin Piano Concerto No.2 Op.21
Dmitri Shostakovich Gadfly Suite
Viv McLean piano
Our season opens with the lyrical beauty of Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, composed in 1829 when he was just 20 years old. Premiered in Warsaw to a sold-out audience with Chopin himself at the keyboard, this concerto showcases the composer’s gift for haunting melodies and brilliant pianism. The central Adagio, tender and romantic, was inspired by his youthful infatuation with soprano Konstancja Gładkowska.
Dmitri Shostakovich’s Gadfly Suite brings cinematic drama to the concert hall. Composed for the 1955 Soviet film The Gadfly, it follows the tale of a 19th-century Austrian revolutionary. The suite includes the dashing Galop and the lush, unforgettable Romance.
Tea and cakes served at 4pm. Tickets £15, available on the door and online at the Bristol Ensemble box office

The Birds and the Bees
2025-10-18 19:30 - 21:30 | St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR, United Kingdom
Moody Eagle Recorder Concerto (Bristol premiere)
Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending
Vivaldi Goldfinch recorder concerto RV 428
McGarr Ear sness hear inthral (world premiere)
Dinicu The Skylark
Casals Birdsong
Roger Huckle conductor
Piers Adams recorder
Emil Huckle-Kleve violin
Imogen Triner oboe
When is an Eagle not an Eagle? When it’s a recorder! This amazing instrument is at the heart of Piers Adam’s collection and for the first time a major concerto has been written for it by British composer Howard Moody. This spectacular work, full of majestic melodies and virtuoso acrobatics, is reminiscent of an eagle in full flight.
We also have a world premiere of Peter McGarr’s Ear sness hear inthral, a beautiful work about bees and nature dedicated to the Bristol Ensemble’s principal oboist Imogen Triner. The programme continues with Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, Vivaldi’s Goldfinch Concerto, Gypsy composer Dinicu’s Skylark and Pablo Casals’ Birdsong. This will be an enthralling journey through 300 years of music influenced by the Birds and the Bees!

Bridgerton In Concert by Candlelight
2025-10-22 19:30 - 21:30 | The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE, United Kingdom
The Bristol Ensemble presents an electrifying concert of music from Netflix’s smash hit series Bridgerton, where flickering candles, timeless classics, and modern hits come together for an unforgettable musical experience! Enjoy favourites by the likes of Mozart and Handel, as well as famous pop hits delivered with that wonderful orchestral sound.

Classical Masterpieces By Candlelight
2025-10-25 19:30 - 21:30 | Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, Thornbury, Bristol, BS35 2BA, United Kingdom
Mozart Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major
Shostakovich Gadfly Suite
Bristol Ensemble
Viv McLean piano

The Bristol Ensemble return to Thornbury on Saturday 25th October with ”Classical Masterpieces by Candlelight”, presented by Thornbury’s Action Arts group.

Join the Bristol Ensemble and acclaimed soloist Viv McLean for a candlelit celebration of some of the most expressive and enduring works in the classical repertoire by Chopin, Mozart, and Shostakovich – three composers whose distinctive voices shaped the course of Western music.
The programme will feature Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, a brilliant and energetic introduction to his comic opera, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, often praised for its lyrical beauty and elegant orchestration. Completing the programme are Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, known for its elegance and emotional depth, and Shostakovich’s Gadfly Suite, originally composed as a film score for a 1955 Soviet adaptation of The Gadfly and particularly beloved for its lyrical string writing and sweeping melodies.
Tickets, to include an interval drink, are £20 by email below or 01454 850933.
AAGThornbury@gmail.com

MiniBeats - Brilliant Brass!
2025-10-26 10:30 - 11:15, 2025-10-26 12:30 - 13:15 | St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR, United Kingdom
Join Presenter Laura Tanner and our fantastic MiniBeats players for a fun and interactive introduction to the brass family of instruments, and to some of the wonderful music written and arranged for trumpet, French horn, trombone and tuba!
MiniBeats in association with the Bristol Ensemble
Tickets: £9 (children & adults); 4-for-3 family ticket available
10.30am show – concert most suitable for under 5s
12.30pm show – concert most suitable for 4 – 8 year olds
Ages are guidelines only; both concerts are relaxed performances where everyone is welcome!
A BSL Interpreter will be signing at both performances
Event takes place on the floor of the auditorium with limited tickets available.

Classical Masterpieces by Candlelight
2025-10-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Tetbury Goods Shed Arts Venue, The Old Station Yard, Tetbury, GL8 8EY, United Kingdom
Mozart Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major
Shostakovich Gadfly Suite
Bristol Ensemble
Viv McLean piano
Join the Bristol Ensemble and acclaimed soloist Viv McLean for a candlelit celebration of some of the most expressive and enduring works in the classical repertoire by Chopin, Mozart, and Shostakovich – three composers whose distinctive voices shaped the course of Western music.
The programme will feature Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, a brilliant and energetic introduction to his comic opera, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, often praised for its lyrical beauty and elegant orchestration. Completing the programme are Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, known for its elegance and emotional depth, and Shostakovich’s Gadfly Suite, originally composed as a film score for a 1955 Soviet adaptation of The Gadfly and particularly beloved for its lyrical string writing and sweeping melodies.

Carmina Burana
2025-11-01 19:00 - 21:00 | St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR, United Kingdom
Respighi Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3
Warlock Capriol Suite
Orff Carmina Burana
Bristol Ensemble
Fitzhardinge Consort
You may know it as the X Factor’s audition music – or the music from the 1970s Old Spice advert. It was even used in Only Fools and Horses. O Fortuna, from Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, must be one of the most widely recognised and iconic pieces of classical music.
Bristol Ensemble and the Fitzhardinge Consort perform the whole of Carmina Burana, filling St George’s with its thunderous, joyous choral sections and more idyllic songs and dances, originally inspired by a set of medieval poems. The full programme takes in other beautiful, popular twentieth-century pieces, also inspired by Renaissance dances and melodies. A gorgeous, exhilarating, even tumultuous, evening of music (guaranteed to make you want to buy a surf board).

Exeter Philharmonic Choir: The Weather Book
2025-11-08 19:30 - 21:30 | Exeter Cathedral, 1 The Cloisters, Exeter, EX1 1HS, United Kingdom
Johannes Brahms Tragic Overture
Ralph Vaughan Williams Toward the Unknown Region
Johannes Brahms Alto Rhapsody
Cecilia McDowall The Weather Book
Francis Poulenc Gloria
Exeter Philharmonic Choir
Bristol Ensemble
Agnes Auer soprano
Seohyun Go soprano
Cecily Shaw mezzo soprano
Howard Ionascu conductor
Exeter Philharmonic Choir launches its 2025/26 season with the world première of a new choral work, The Weather Book, by one of the UK’s leading composers, Cecilia McDowall, co-commissioned by the choir with the Gustav Vasa Chamber Choir in Stockholm. This explores aspects of the history of weather and meteorology – appropriately for the city that is home to the world-renowned Met Office!
Cecilia’s inspiration for the commission was to link the UK and Sweden through references to climate. She worked with poet and librettist Kate Wakeling to discover different aspects of weather- related topics.
The first movement, ‘Celsius Rising’, was written for the Swedish choir, who performed it in Stockholm in March.
Cecilia then wrote the second and third movements, ‘History of Air’ and ‘The Weather Book’, for Exeter Philharmonic Choir. The entire work receives its world première on 8 November.
Bristol Ensemble will open the concert with Brahms’ Tragic Overture. This is one of a pair of overtures (the other being the Academic Festival Overture) written by Brahms in 1880, to thank Breslau University for his award of an honorary doctorate.
Vaughan Williams’ setting of Walt Whitman’s poem, Toward the Unknown Region, was composed in 1906 and first performed at the Leeds Festival the following year. It reflects the spirit of adventure felt by an explorer on a journey of discovery.
Brahms composed his Alto Rhapsody in 1869, based on text from Goethe’s poem, Harzreise im Winter. In it, the alto soloist depicts the agonies of a despairing recluse, wandering through the Harz Forest, until a four-part chorus finally brings comfort with a shared prayer to the ‘Father of Love’.
Poulenc’s ever-popular Gloria, a setting of text from the Latin Mass, was written in 1959. In its six short movements, soloist, choir and orchestra display many musical contrasts, ranging from solemnity, through lyricism, to pure joy.

City of Bristol Choir: Brahms Requiem
2025-11-09 18:00 - 20:30 | St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR, United Kingdom
City of Bristol Choir
Bristol Youth Choir Upper Voices
Bristol Ensemble
Esther Mallett soprano
Felix Kemp baritone
Edmund Hastings tenor
David Ogden conductor
Brahms Requiem
Chilcott Move Him into the Sun
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Greensleeves
Vaughan Williams Prelude to the 49th Parallel
On this Remembrance Sunday, the 100 voices of City of Bristol perform Brahms’ mighty German Requiem, one of the greatest of all choral works with moments of power and resilience, and others of profound tenderness and heartfelt passion.
This deeply human and comforting music, filled with hope and solace, offers a space to honour the memory of those lost in conflict, and to reflect on peace and renewal. The Upper Voices from Bristol Youth Choir join City of Bristol Choir for a performance of Bob Chilcott’s vivid settings of poems by Wilfred Owen. The 5-movement work reflects not only the futility of war, but also themes of beauty, love and the natural world, especially the sun as source of light, life, energy and hope. Two short evocative and popular orchestral works complete the programme.

The Beatles by Candlelight
2025-11-13 19:30 - 20:30 | The Subscription Rooms, George Street, Stroud, GL5 1AE, United Kingdom
Experience the iconic melodies of The Beatles like never before in the Bristol Ensemble’s stunning orchestral concert.
Let the gentle glow of candlelight set the mood as you immerse yourself in rich, sweeping arrangements that celebrate the legendary band’s timeless magic.
An unforgettable evening of nostalgia, warmth, and musical brilliance – the perfect way to welcome the cozy season!

Mozart Concertos by Candlelight
2025-11-14 19:30 - 21:30 | St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR, United Kingdom
Bristol Ensemble
Emma Johnson clarinet
Viv McLean piano
Mozart
Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Clarinet Concerto in A K.622
Piano Concerto in C No 21 K.467
Join the Bristol Ensemble and world-class soloists Emma Johnson and Viv McLean for a candlelit celebration of Mozart’s most beloved works.
The programme features the sparkling overture to The Marriage of Figaro, a vivacious and joyful work, alongside Mozart’s final instrumental work, the lyrical Clarinet Concerto in A, K 622, performed one of Britain’s most distinguished clarinettists, Emma Johnson, and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 21 in C, K 467 known for its elegance and emotional depth, performed by acclaimed soloist Viv McLean.

Stroud Choral Society: The Dream of Gerontius
2025-11-15 19:00 - 21:30 | Tewkesbury Abbey, Church Street, Tewkesbury, GL20 5RZ, United Kingdom
Stroud Choral Society
Bristol Ensemble
Victoria Simmonds mezzo soprano
Ed Lyon tenor
Darren Jeffrey bass
Simon Bell conductor
Edward Elgar’s The Dream Of Gerontius is an emotionally-powerful setting of Cardinal Newman’s poem about the journey of an ordinary person’s soul through death to judgment before God. First performed in Birmingham Town Hall in 1900, it is now widely considered one of the great choral masterpieces, scored for full orchestra, three soloists, and a large choir.

Nailsworth: Music for Wind Ensemble
2025-11-16 15:00 - 16:00 | Christ Church, Newmarket Road, Nailsworth, GL6 0DQ, United Kingdom
Jean Francaix Wind Quartet
George Butterworth The Banks of Green Willow
Richard Rodney Bennett Travel Notes
Andrey Rubstov Four Bagatelles
Bristol Ensemble Wind Quartet present a programme that is at once elegant, spirited, and deeply engaging. From the sparkling wit and neoclassical finesse of Jean Françaix, to the refined lyricism and rhythmic verve of Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, and the contemporary vibrancy of Andrey Rubtsov, this programme celebrates the wind ensemble as a palette of infinite nuance and personality.
Tea and cakes served at 4pm. Tickets £15, available on the door and online at the Bristol Ensemble box office.

From Darkness to Light: Britten, Strauss, and Vaughan Williams
2025-11-19 19:30 - 21:30 | St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol, BS1 5RR, United Kingdom
Britten Les Illuminations
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
Strauss Metamorphosen
Elizabeth Watts director/soprano
Bristol Ensemble
The internationally-acclaimed soprano, Elizabeth Watts, directs the Bristol Ensemble in this powerful exploration of human suffering and transcendence.
Britten’s Les Illuminations, based on nine poems by Arthur Rimbaud, forms the centrepiece of the concert, performed here in the version for soprano. Vaughan Williams’ iconic Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, scored for string quartet and two string orchestras, is one of the best loved works of English string music.
Richard Strauss’s powerful and evocative elegy for 23 solo strings, Metamorphosen, ends this program of music exploring darkness, light, and human suffering. Composed just after the second world war, in response to the bombing of German cultural and artistic centres, its poignant closing bars reference the funeral March from Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony in a defiant gesture signifying the power of art over warfare.

A Baroque Journey by Candlelight: The Sounds of European Cities
2025-11-21 19:30 - 21:30 | St Andrew’s Church, Chew Magna, Chew Magna, BS40 8SF, United Kingdom
Vivaldi Concerto in C, RV 114, ‘Paris Concerto’Haydn Symphony No. 104 in D major, ‘London’Bach Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D, BWV 1068Boccherini Musica notturna delle strade di Madrid (Night Music of the Streets of Madrid), Op. 30, No. 6

Start your journey in Paris with Vivaldi’s Concerto in C, RV 114 (‘Paris Concerto’); continue on to London to revel in the city’s splendour with Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D major (‘London’), and pause to admire the grace and grandeur of Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D, BWV 1068. As night falls, wander through the streets of Madrid with Boccherini’s Musica notturna delle strade di Madrid (Night Music of the Streets of Madrid), Op. 30, No. 6 — all interwoven with baroque favourites and a few unexpected delights along the way!

Henleaze Concert Society: Baroque Brilliance
2025-11-22 19:30 - 21:30 | Trinity-Henleaze URC, Waterford Road, Bristol, BS9 4BT, United Kingdom
Handel Concerto Grosso in G Major, Op. 6, No.1
Bach Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C minor, BWV 1060R
Vivaldi Concerto for Four Violins in B minor RV 580
Vivaldi Bassoon Concerto in E Minor, RV 484
Vivaldi Concerto for Two Cellos in G minor, RV 531
Bach Concerto for two violins in D minor BWV 1043
A concert featuring treasures of the Baroque period showcasing solo instruments in some sparkling and virtuosic concertos where elegance meets energy, and musical lines dance with vitality. This programme brings together masterpieces by three of the era’s greatest composers – Handel, Bach, and Vivaldi – in a showcase of dazzling ensemble interplay and solo virtuosity.
We begin with Handel’s Concerto Grosso in G Major, the radiant opening to his famed Opus 6 set. With its graceful melodies and spirited counterpoint, this work reflects Handel’s flair for drama and lyrical invention.
Bach’s Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C minor follows – an intimate, expressive dialogue between two contrasting voices. Thought to be a reconstruction of a lost original, this concerto is a gem of intertwining lines and emotional depth.
Vivaldi then takes centre stage with his brilliant Concerto for Four Violins, a tour de force of coordination and. The lively interplay among the soloists is as thrilling to watch as it is to hear.
In the Bassoon Concerto in E minor, Vivaldi showcases the bassoon’s lyrical and agile qualities, elevating this often-overlooked instrument to the spotlight with dramatic flair and wit.
Next, the Concerto for Two Cellos delivers dark, resonant beauty and fiery passion in equal measure – one of Vivaldi’s most loved and powerful double concertos.
We close with one of Bach’s most enduring works, the Concerto for Two Violins. Its sublime second movement is a Baroque jewel—an emotional heart-to-heart between the violins – framed by outer movements full of rhythmic drive and contrapuntal brilliance.
Pre-concert talk with Steve Clarke begins at 6.45pm. Doors open at 6.15pm for the talk and at 7.15pm for the concert only. If coming to the concert only, we should be grateful if you would try to avoid arriving during the talk.
Individual concert prices
Tickets for Henleaze Concert Society members £17.50
Tickets for non members £21
Under 25 year olds £5
The ticket price includes the pre concert talk, a programme and interval drink.
How to book
Book tickets online at Bristol Ensemble’s online box office.
You can also book by sending a cheque payable to Henleaze Concert Society, covering note and SAE to 2 Saville Mews, Kingsdown Parade, Bristol BS6 5UL
Tickets are available on the door from 6.15pm.
Season Tickets and Annual Society Membership
Season tickets are only £100 including Society Membership and admission to all six concerts from September to July. Alternatively, becoming a member of Henleaze Concert Society for £15 entitles you to book tickets for individual concerts at the members’ discounted rate. Season tickets and membership are available to buy by post by returning the Ticket Order Form with your payment and a stamped addressed envelope.
