Suffolk offers a wide range of music festivals and open air concerts throughout the year so it’s a great place for music lovers.
Music Concerts in Suffolk- February 2019
Saturday 23rd February
Knight and Spiers
8:00pm
Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB98AR
The pairing of violin and melodeon is not a new one, but in the hands of Knight and Spiers, improvisation and invention meet the listener at every turn. Together they have created a musical document that resonates with history, but also something that should inspire future generations of musicians to engage with Britain’s folk dancing heritage, and the beautiful, mysterious tunes that can be found within that heritage.
These uniquely gifted musicians make a sublime pairing and create a live performance to be remembered for a long time.
Tickets: £15.50
Monday 25th February
Academy of Ancient Music
7.30pm
The Apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD
This programme of concertos and transcriptions explores the full emotional gamut of baroque music, from the heartbreaking beauty of Bach’s ‘Erbarme dich’ to the many extrovert moods of Vivaldi’s ‘La notte’ concerto.
Young recorder-player Lucie Horsch is already in demand internationally as a soloist and, with a critically-acclaimed solo album to her name, has launched what promises to be a distinguished career. Now in his 12th season as AAM’s music director, harpsichordist Richard Egarr still continues to surprise and excite audiences with his technique and his instinctive musicality – here he demonstrates both, in two of Bach’s finest keyboard concertos.
Recorder – Lucie Horsch
Harpsichord/Director – Richard Egarr
Pieces featured:
Vivaldi – Concerto for Flautino in C major, Op. 4 No. 11 (arr in G major for Recorder)
Bach – Concerto for Harpsichord No. 3 in D major BWV1054
Sammartini – Recorder Concerto in F major
Bach – ‘Erbame dich’ from St Matthew Passion
Bach – Concerto for Oboe in D minor BWV1059r (arr for Recorder)
Bach – Concerto for Harpsichord No. 7 in G minor BWV1058
Vivaldi – Concerto for Flute in G minor ‘La notte’, Op. 10 No. 2
Tickets: £28*, £23*
*Includes £1 booking fee.
Music Concerts in Suffolk- March 2019
Sunday 3rd March
Bury Friendly Orchestra Spring Concert
The Apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD
6:00pm
The programme features Rimsky Korsakov’s sparkling and exuberant Capriccio Espagnol, with it’s infectious rhythms based on Spanish folk songs.
Its five movements include fiery dances from northern Spain, romantic slow melodies and concludes with a raucous Fandango featuring all the instruments in a orchestral fireworks display.
The Spanish theme continues with music by Strauss and Bizet before performances of beautiful folk songs from Sweden, energetic dance music from Mexico and a British Coronation March written by Frank Bridge in the early 20th century receiving a very rare performance.
A new fanfare has been commissioned to open this concert featuring young musicians from across Suffolk and expect the unexpected!
A varied programme to be enjoyed by adults and children alike:
David Sims – Fanfare for Brass
Johann Strauss II – Spanischer March
Georges Bizet – Habanera from Carmen
Rimsky-Korsokov – Capriccio Espagol
Frank Bridge – Coronation March
Johan Svendsen – Swedish Folk Melodies
Jose Pablo Moncayo – Huapango
Tickets: Adult £11*, Child (Under 17) £3*
*Includes £1 booking fee.
Friday 15th March
Best of British
Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH
7.30pm to 9.30pm
Embracing British music in all its rich and diverse range, conductor Stephen Bell leads you on a journey through green and pleasant lands in a concert some of the country’s finest music. Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, with its lyrical and soaring violin line, features alongside the blazing fanfares and noble themes of Walton’s Spitfire Prelude and Fugue and Karl Jenkins’ inspired Palladio for string orchestra.
Elgar’s ever popular, and quintessentially English ‘Enigma’ Variations provides a fantastic finish to this performance. A landmark piece not just for Elgar, but for British music, Elgar wrote his Variations in dedication to a number of dear friends, with one them left unnamed, adding to the work’s mystery and intrigue.
Free: A pre-show talk with conductor Stephen bell with take place in the auditorium at 6.30pm for all ticket holders.
NIGEL HESS- A Celebration Overture
DELIUS- The Walk to the Paradise Garden
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS- The Lark Ascending
WALTON- Spitfire Prelude and Fugue
KARL JENKINS- Palladio
ELGAR- ‘Enigma’ Variations
Stephen Bell – Conductor
Duncan Riddell – Violin
Full Price: £27.50 – £32.50, Concession £27.50 – £30.50, Under 21’s £10
Saturday 16th March
Suffolk Sinfonia Spring Concert
The Apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD
7.30pm
Join Suffolk Sinfonia for their Spring Concert.
Led by guest conductor Christopher Braime, for symphonic poems Tintagel and Isle of the Dead, culminating in Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.
Bax- Tintagel
Rachmaninov- Isle of the Dead
Beethoven- Symphony No 6 “Pastoral”
Please note, latecomers will not be admitted until the first applause. If you are collecting tickets, please arrive in plenty of time before the performance begins.
Tickets: £13*, Concessions £11*
*Includes £1 booking fee.
Wednesday 20th March
The Syd Lawrence Orchestra
The Apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD
7.30pm
The ‘Best Big Band in the Land’ is back for 2019 and their explosive new show is better than ever!
Hold on tight as Big Band Spectacular takes you on an exciting journey that is stunning, dynamic, and thrilling. Directed by Chris Dean, this mesmerizing performance is packed with your Big Band favourites.
Featuring the music of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Neal Hefti, Billy May, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many more.
This is definitely a musical extravaganza you won’t want to miss!
Tickets: £23*, U25s £5*
*Includes £1 booking fee.
Saturday 30th March
Community Light Orchestra- Concert with guests ‘Stacks of Sax’
St John’s Church, Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich, IP4 4QE
7:30pm
With guest soloists – Stacks of Sax
Concert in aid of Guide dogs.
Sunday 31st March
Castalian Quartet
The Cut Arts Centre, 1-7 New Cut, Halesworth, IP19 8BY
2.30pm
HAYDN: String Quartet in D minor, Op.76 No.2 Fifths
BRITTEN: String Quartet No.2 in C, Op.36 (1945)
SCHUBERT: String Quartet No.13 in A minor, D.804 Rosamunde
“The Castalian Quartet makes the simplest things we hear into the most important things we could ever want to hear” – so said the Calgary Herald of this quartet who are becoming increasingly important here and abroad.
Tickets: £16.50
Music Concerts in Suffolk- April 2019
Friday 5th April
National Youth Jazz Orchestra: Three Nations Under One Groove
The Apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD
7.30pm
The UK’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) join forces with its German and Dutch counterparts (BuJazzO and NJJO) for an evening of exceptional music-making from the leading lights of Europe’s next generation of jazz musicians.
All three ensembles have a maximum age of 25 and comprise the best young jazz musicians from their respective countries.
Fresh from a joint tour of Germany and the Netherlands in September 2018, NYJO, BuJazzO and NJJO bring the spirits of collaboration and cultural exchange to The Apex, featuring members of all three bands in a range of combinations, led by their three Music Directors.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Europe’s finest emerging jazz talent in action!
Tickets: £18*
*Includes £1 booking fee.
Saturday 13th April
The Pasedena Roof Orchestra
Spa Pavilion Theatre, Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe, IP11 2DX
7.30pm
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra have brought the music from a bygone era into a vibrant show for the present time. 10 men in Dinner Jackets and carnations play the musical arrangements of yesteryear to the highest level. Before them, stands Duncan Galloway the compere and band leader, never short of an anecdote or a joke or two. The tunes from the era include such hits as the ‘Lullaby of Broadway’, ‘Tiger Rag’, ‘Cheek to Cheek’, or Irving Berlin’s evergreen ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’
Tickets: Adults £24, Concessions/Children £22
Music Concerts in Suffolk- May 2019
Thursday 2nd May
Lunchtime Concert: The Vega Wind Trio
Theatre Royal, Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR
1.10pm
Duke Dobing (flute), Charles Hine (Clarinet) and David Miles (Bassoon) provide virtuoso variety including works by Haydn, Beethoven, Joplin and Villa Lobos.
Tickets include tea, coffee and cakes after each concert.
Tickets £8.50
Sunday 5th May
Prometheus Orchestra: Vaughan Williams and Mendelssohn
Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, IP17 1SP
4pm
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
Damase Flute Concerto
Mendelssohn Symphony No 4 “Italian”
Conductor: Edmond Fivet
Flute soloist: Anna Noakes
Tickets: £5 to £15
Saturday 18th May
Wolsey Orchestra: May Concert
Corn Exchange, Grand Hall, King Street, Ipswich, IP4 1HE
For the final concert in our 2018-2019 season, come and join the
Wolsey Orchestra for an exciting evening of music featuring local
pianist Erdem Misirlioğlu.
Conductor: Andrew Morley
Leader: Nick Reynolds
Soloist: Erdem Misirlioğlu
Weber: Overture: Oberon
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54
Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia
Borodin: Symphony No.2 in B minor
Tickets £15.00 Full Price
£3.00 Children and Full time Students
(A booking fee of £1.00 is included in these prices)
Music Concerts in Suffolk- June 2019
Monday 10th June
Pasadena Roof Orchestra
The Apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3FD
7.30pm
The UK’s finest dance band playing music from the roaring 1920s and elegant 1930s are celebrating 50 years in 2019.
Not just a show with music, but some delightful tomfoolery is in store with band leader Duncan Galloway and his musical comrades performing an impressive programme of music from the dance band era.
Included will be the songs of Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, plus some classic tunes from Louis Armstrong, and sumptuous arrangements from the likes of Duke Ellington and his orchestra, plus songs from the great British bands Ray Noble, and Ambrose.
The Pasadena Roof Orchestra was founded by John Arthy in 1969. As a young bandleader John had the good fortune to discover 1500 arrangements from the 1920s and 1930s lying dormant in an attic in Manchester. The Orchestra’s unique style, attention to musical detail, and relentless sense of fun soon became a hit not only in the UK, but far and beyond.
Take an opportunity to lose yourself in a bygone era, listen to a live dance band – ‘an audaciously entertaining collective of music-making crowd pleasing legends.’
Tickets: £23.50*
*Includes £1 booking fee
Sunday 23rd June
CBSO
Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, IP17 1SP
3pm
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor
Stephen Hough piano
Alisa Weilerstein cello
Tippett Concerto for Double String Orchestra 23’
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 34’
Thomas Larcher Ouroboros for cello and orchestra 20’
Bartók Suite: The Miraculous Mandarin 20’
With a blockbuster programme containing enough memorable music for several concerts, Edward Gardner and the CBSO present four substantial orchestral works, each enveloping the listener in its own compelling sound-world.
Tippett and Bartók shared a fascination with complex rhythms yet chose very different paths: Bartók’s Mandarin is seduced and murdered to a pounding, off-kilter beat, while Tippett’s twin string orchestras echo and interweave in a floating, multilayered continuum.
The CBSO are joined by soloists Stephen Hough and Alisa Weilerstein in concertos of intimate, mysterious beauty – the questions posed by Beethoven’s remarkable slow movement lingering well beyond the duration of the piece and Thomas Larcher’s cello concerto moving effortlessly between lyrical, filmic atmosphere and dynamic modernism.
Tickets £5 to £38
Music Concerts in Suffolk- July 2019
Sunday 21st July
Royal Academy of Music and Julliard School
Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Snape, IP17 1SP
4pm
James Ehnes – Violin, Edward Gardner – Conductor
This orchestra from London’s Royal Academy of Music and New York’s Juilliard School is conducted by Edward Gardner, one of the leading figures in the British musical scene.
Stravinsky’s explosive ballet is a thrilling, virtuosic masterpiece of suppressed energy and orchestral colour. It is preceded by Tchaikovsky’s tumultuous Shakespearean fantasy and Britten’s brooding, ardent concerto, penned in America under the looming threat of war.
Tickets: £5 to £27
Music Concerts in Suffolk- November 2019
Friday 15th November
Continental Classics
Marina Theatre, The Marina, Lowestoft. NR32 1HH
7:30pm
Experience Europe’s rich tradition of orchestral music in this lovingly-curated programme.
Mozart’s energetic Overture to The Marriage of Figaro gives a foretaste of the farcical fun of the opera it introduces and provides a sparkling curtain-raiser for this concert. Then follows Rossini’s explosive Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers and Mendelssohn’s heart-swelling ‘Italian’ Symphony; a charming expression of how Italy made him feel.
A pre-show talk with conductor Chloe van Soeterstede will take place in the auditorium at 6.30pm for all ticket holders.
Full Price: £27.50 – £32.50, Concession £27.50 – £30.50, Under 21’s £10.
Sunday 17th November 7.30pm
Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford
Star of the Sea: Music from Venice and the Italian Renaissance
Cambridge Renaissance Voices, with sackbuts and cornetts
The maritime republic of Venice played a unique role in the music of the Italian Renaissance and early Baroque. From the songs of the gondoliere to the splendour of the sacred works sung in St Mark’s basilica, music was at the heart of the city’s culture. In the glorious acoustic of Holy Trinity Long Melford, Cambridge Renaissance Voices recreate this Venetian soundworld, accompanied by the sackbuts and cornetts of I Musici della Contessa,
including music by Lassus, Gabrieli, and Monteverdi, whose Ave Maris Stella – a characteristically Venetian celebration of the Virgin Mary as ‘star of the sea’ – comes at the culmination of his Vespers of 1610.
Tickets £16.50 on the door, or £15 online at http://www.cambridgerenaissancevoices.org.uk/
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