Legends and Tales are brought to life in the Royal College of Music’s Spring 2025 Season
Wednesday 11 December 2024
The Royal College of Music (RCM) Spring 2025 Season weaves together dramatic stories and musical masterpieces with the theme of Legends and Tales, featuring performances by renowned leaders of the classical world.
BAFTA winning artist Jeremy Sams brings his creative vision to Mozart’s witty and timeless masterpiece Le nozze di Figaro. Directing the RCM Opera Studio with conductor Michael Rosewell, the performances offer a traditional yet refreshingly modern take on the beloved opera on 17, 19, 20 & 22 March.
On 23 January, Vasily Petrenko returns to the RCM Symphony Orchestra to lead an evening of musical pictures from Respighi’s vibrant portrayal of the Fountains of Rome to Ravel’s sensual depiction of the Greek tale in his Daphnis et Chloé Suite no 2. The programme also shines a spotlight on the double bass with Tubin’s Double Bass Concerto performed by RCM Concerto Competition winner and YCAT artist, Will Duerden. Continuing the season’s theme, conductor Rafael Payare brings to life Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, a dramatic tale of love and madness, while the programme’s first half pairs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no 1 with Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers, inspired by Beethoven’s own journal (21 March).
The RCM Philharmonic and conductor Natalia Luis-Bassa explore a programme of ‘myths and magic’ with Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain inspired by Gogol’s horror-filled folk tale St John’s Eve, alongside game music from The Legend of Zelda by Koji Kondo and a world premiere by RCM student Pierre Catherine-Buffet (20 February). Elsewhere, Strauss’ fun-filled tone poem depicting Till Eulenspiegel’s merry pranks take centre stage on 6 March conducted by Joana Carneiro, alongside a world premiere by Gwydion Rhys, winner of the RCM Large Ensemble Composition Competition.
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On 12 February, celebrated American composer George Lewis visits the Royal College of Music for an exciting feast of his music, with performances of small and large ensemble pieces and insights into his creative process. Saxophonist Trish Clowes leads the RCM Jazz Orchestra in her own music on 6 February, and members of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe return to perform side-by-side with College musicians for a performance of Brahms’ expressive fourth and final symphony (27 February).
At the heart of the RCM Chamber Festival (15 & 16 February) are two centenary screenings of Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece The Gold Rush in which Chaplin’s music is played live by RCM musicians, among a busy programme including a Percussion Showcase and a series of installation performances. The annual Keyboard Festival on 2 March features the College’s many brilliant pianists and organists performing music inspired by rituals and dances, and the Great Exhibitionists series returns to spotlight the next generation of composers in collaboration with artists from other creative fields (31 March - 4 April).
Berlin Philharmonic French Horn player Sarah Willis passes on her exceptional knowledge to Royal College of Music brass players in a captivating masterclass on 14 February, while pianists learn from celebrated Chilean pianist Edith Fischer on 18 March as she shares her rich legacy and profound musical insights. Meanwhile, Controller of BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Proms, Sam Jackson, gives the 2025 Crees Lecture on 30 January, offering insights into his role in shaping the classical musical landscape.
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The RCM Wind Ensemble take audiences on a magical tour in a joyful programme of grown-up nursery rhymes and fairytales on 5 March, and the RCM Brass Band are joined by Ian Porthouse for a programme featuring Simon Dobson’s Journey of the Lone Wolf, inspired by the life and work of Bartók (30 January). The RCM Baroque Orchestra perform JS Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no 3 at the heart of a programme presented at the College on 23 February and at St John the Evangelist Church, Oxford on 21 February. Finally, the Junior Department celebrate the 150th anniversary of Royal College of Music alumnus Samuel Coleridge-Taylor with music for a range of ensembles on 29 March.
Booking for the Royal College of Music’s Spring Season is open now for RCM Friends, and general booking opens on 18 December. Booking for the opera opens on 5 February (29 January for RCM Friends). Listings and detailed information can be found in the What’s On section of the RCM website. For all the latest updates, follow the RCM on social media on Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky and YouTube.
