The City of London Festival will be kick starting the New Year with a series of free winter concerts (16 January to 27 March), animating some of the City’s most intimate and charming venues with world-class music for everyone to enjoy. All the concerts take place during lunchtimes, from 1.05 – 1.55pm.
CLASSICAL
Tuesday 22 January, 1.05 -1.55pm, Bishopsgate Institute, Great Hall, EC2
Cantible - The london Quartet (vocalists)
Outstanding in both comedy and the classics, these masterful vocalists present madrigals by Weelkes, Bennet and Passereau and close-harmony arrangements of Gershwin, Ellington and Lennon & McCartney. (FREE)
Wednesday 30 January, 1.05 - 1.55pm, St Andrew Holborn, EC4
City of London Sinfonia with Dan Bates (oboe)
This concert celebrates the best of British composers, with Purcell (arr Britten) Chaconny; Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto; Elgar Serenade for Strings; Grainger Londonderry Air; Molly on the Shore. (FREE)
Wednesday 6 February, 1.05 -1.55pm, St Vadast alias Foster, Foster Lane, EC2
Manus Noble (guitar)
Young award-winning guitarist performs an eclectic programme, with JS Bach Prelude and Presto BWV 996; Jorge Morel Danza Brasiliera; Piazzolla Verano Porteño; MacCombie Nightshade; Barrios Un sueño en la Floresta; Yuquijiro Yocoh Sakura Theme and Variations; Gary Ryan Scenes From the Wild West. (FREE)
Tuesday 12 February, 1.05 - 1.55pm, Bishopsgate Institute, Great Hall, EC2
Leslie Howard (piano)
Enjoy some of the most popular and magnificent of Beethoven’s compositions, with: Beethoven Sonata No 13 Op 27 No 1 Sonata quasi una fantasia; Beethoven Sonata No 14 Op 27 No 2 Sonata quasi una fantasia Moonlight; Alkan Symphonie pour piano seul Op 39 Nos 4-7 (from Douze Études dans les tons mineurs). (FREE)
Wednesday 27 February, 1.05 -1.55pm, St Andrew Holborn, EC4
City of London Sinfonia
This fun programme includes music from Purcell’s semi opera, a film score from Henry V and light-hearted, nostalgic music from Britten. Featuring: Purcell Suite from The Fairy Queen; Walton; Two pieces from Henry V; Finzi Romance; John Woolrich Ulysses Awakes and Britten Simple Symphony. (FREE)
Tuesday 5 March, 1.05 -1.55pm, Bishopsgate Institute, Great Hall, EC2
Judith Hall (flute) & Craig Ogden (guitar)
Two highly–acclaimed artists collaborate for an unmissable performance featuring: Poulenc Mouvements Perpétuels; Benoit Schlosberg Trois Esquisses; Rodrigo Serenata al Alba del Día; Philip Houghton In the Dreaming (Cave Painting); Robert Beaser Mountain Songs. (FREE)
Tuesday 19 March, 1.05 -1.55pm, Bishopsgate Institute, Great Hall, EC2
Joseph Tong & Waka Hasegawa (pianos)
One of Britain’s leading piano duos performs a World Première of composer John McCabe’s Two Scenes from Edward II, alongside Poulenc Sonata and Stravinsky The Rite Of Spring. (FREE)
Wednesday 27 March, 1.05 -1.55pm, St Andrew Holborn, EC4
City of London Sinfonia with Stephen Stirling (horn), Ronan Busfield (tenor)
Enjoy a snapshot of yesteryear Britain, with the luscious, haunting movement of Gerald Finzi’s Prelude for String Orchestra, to the dancing folksong melodies of Gustav Holst’s vibrant St Paul’s Suite. Also includes Elgar Elegy and Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings. (FREE)
POPULAR
Tuesday 22 January, 1.05 -1.55pm, Bishopsgate Institute, Great Hall, EC2
Cantible - The london Quartet (vocalists)
Outstanding in both comedy and the classics, these masterful vocalists present madrigals by Weelkes, Bennet and Passereau and close-harmony arrangements of Gershwin, Ellington and Lennon & McCartney. (FREE)
FOLK
Wednesday 16 January, 1.05 -1.55pm, St Lawrence Jewry, Gresham Street, EC2
Damien O'Kane
Originally from Coleraine in Co. Derry, Damien O’Kane has a growing reputation as a creative and exciting musician and singer. O’Kane and his band are regarded as one of the finest acts on the Irish folk scene today. (FREE)
Wednesday 13 March, 1.05 -1.55pm, St Anne & Agnes, Gresham Street, EC2
Christine Tobin (vocalist)
St Anne & St Agnes will come alive with the eclectic music of the award–winning folk singer Christine Tobin. Tobin will explore music from Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Rufus Wainwright in her new programme A Thousand Kisses Deep. (FREE)
Wednesday 6 February, 1.05 -1.55pm, St Vadast alias Foster, Foster Lane, EC2
Manus Noble (guitar)
Young award-winning guitarist performs an eclectic programme, with JS Bach Prelude and Presto BWV 996; Jorge Morel Danza Brasiliera; Piazzolla Verano Porteño; MacCombie Nightshade; Barrios Un sueño en la Floresta; Yuquijiro Yocoh Sakura Theme and Variations; Gary Ryan Scenes From the Wild West. (FREE)
JAZZ
Wednesday 20 February, 1.05 -1.55pm, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, Newgate, EC2
Guildhall Jazz Singers & Band
Expect silky harmonising, great soloing and youthful exuberance as eight outstanding solo singers come together to create an interesting and engaging mix of modern jazz. (FREE)
Wednesday 13 March, 1.05 -1.55pm, St Anne & Agnes, Gresham Street, EC2
Christine Tobin (vocalist)
St Anne & St Agnes will come alive with the eclectic music of the award–winning folk singer Christine Tobin. Tobin will explore music from Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Rufus Wainwright in her new programme A Thousand Kisses Deep. (FREE)
Further information about the Festival can be found at: www.colf.org
About the City of London Festival
The Festival exists to entertain and inspire the City's workers, residents and visitors with special events and world-class artists in beautiful surroundings, whilst providing unique opportunities for business dialogue, community involvement, learning and participation.
Animating the City with world-class arts
Each summer the City of London Festival brings the City's unique buildings and outdoor spaces to life with an extensive artistic programme of music, visual arts, film, walks and talks, much of it free to the public. Inaugurated in 1962 to revitalise the cultural life of the City, it has established itself as one of the UK's leading arts events.
City of London Festival is run by the registered charity, The City Arts Trust Limited.
