Welcome to our Autumn Season, showcasing our exceptional performers in a wide variety of settings and working with some of the greatest musicians of our time.
World-class visitors
Sir Andrew Davis makes his first visit to the College, to lead our impressive symphony chorus in masterpieces by Lili Boulanger and Stravinsky, in a concert also featuring competition winner David Horvat in Britten’s Violin Concerto. Vasily Petrenko returns to conduct the RCM Symphony Orchestra in the extraordinary The Wrath of God by Sofia Gubaidulina, alongside Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony – a triumph of optimism.
Orchestral favourites
RCM Prince Consort Professor of Conducting, Martyn Brabbins, leads two contrasting suites both old and new – Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and A Little Summer Suite by Betsy Jolas – while the RCM Philharmonic with Ben Palmer explores the magical world of Disney, culminating in a concert for all the family.
Toe-tapping jazz
Meanwhile, the RCM Jazz Orchestra leads us through the history of jazz, and trumpeter Mike Lovatt and the RCM Brass Ensemble promise to thrill with Johnny Richards’ groundbreaking 1956 jazz suite, Cuban Fire, made famous by the Stan Kenton Orchestra.
A stunning masterclass line-up
World-class visiting artists return to the College to give masterclasses, including Lang Lang, Tasmin Little and Jonathan Lemalu, and the Brodsky Quartet visits for the first time to work with our musicians and perform in a series of concerts and classes on Shostakovich’s quartets. We also welcome viola da gamba player Vittorio Ghielmi back to the RCM for the 18th year of our International Festival of Viols.
Colourful chamber music
Villa-Lobos forms the core of our chamber music performances – a unique opportunity to hear his series of Chôros for varied ensembles – and the RCM Wind Ensemble takes us on a journey inspired by the region of Bohemia. There are colourful performances from the RCM Wind Orchestra, including Imogen Holst’s recently rediscovered Iken Fanfare, and our exceptional string players perform Tavener’s iconic The Protecting Veil alongside Glazunov’s Saxophone Concerto.
A stirring season finale
The autumn ends with the RCM Junior Department performing the completed version of Elgar’s Symphony no 3, and Gazzaniga’s rarely performed Don Giovanni Tenorio, a one-act opera exploring the legend of Don Juan which predated Mozart’s version by just nine months.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Royal College of Music.
Stephen Johns
Artistic Director
