News and Press Releases

All news items and press notices

The Barbican’s classical music season for 2025-2026

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The Barbican has announced its forthcoming season of classical music from September 2025 – July 2026

The season will champion new and radical performances, spotlighting diverse and groundbreaking artists whose work is profoundly engaged with the issues of the day. Across 2025 and 2026, there will be premieres from Bushra El-Turk, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Catherine Lamb, Blasio Kavuma, Tansy Davies, and Tyshawn Sorey among others, with performances by Davóne Tines, Seth Parker Woods, Compagnie Amala Dianor, Theatre of Kiribati and many more. The season will also feature Fragile Earth – a series of events that focus on our relationship with the natural world, including UK premieres of work by Julia Wolfe and Lemi Ponifasio. Alongside these will sit international ensembles, artist residencies, and major anniversaries showcasing the widest possible spectrum of classical music – from beloved favourites to groundbreaking new music, from internationally-renowned artists to rising stars.

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Music at Paxton festival – 18 to 27 July 2025

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MUSIC AT PAXTON FESTIVAL 2025

Music at Paxton festival unveils a dazzling programme of world class music with a truly global flavour from Friday 18 – Sunday 27 July 2024, Music at Paxton presents 10 days of glorious international music at Paxton House on the banks of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders. The 2025 festival comprises 24 events and concerts from international, national and local artists in the famous Paxton House Picture Gallery, hung high with paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland’s collection. Following on from the success of last year, the festival ventures beyond the grounds of Paxton House for concerts in Norham, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Duns.

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Pianist Peter Simon travels to troubled Israel in May to give free concerts and strike a different chord

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May music tour of Israel: A pianist’s mission to heal through harmony

Peter Simon

In a world increasingly defined by conflict and division, one concert pianist is striking a different chord. Peter Simon, an acclaimed American musician with a career that spans continents, is preparing for a deeply personal and profoundly symbolic journey. In May 2025, Simon will travel to Israel for a special tour that blends world-class artistry with a mission of compassion — offering free concerts across the country to bring healing, hope, and humanity to communities in pain.

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The Royal Ballet and Opera in 2025-26

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The Royal Ballet and Opera announces 2025/26 Season

Royal Opera’s first Season with new Music Director Jakub Hrůša featuring eight new opera productions

RBO/Shift – a new festival exploring the ever-evolving intersection between opera and technology

Royal Ballet world premieres by Wayne McGregor, Cathy Marston, Akram Khan and choreographic duo Sol León and Paul Lightfoot

First Royal Ballet presentation of work by Justin Peck

Tickets from £5 on sale from 2 July 2025
For more information click here

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Jerusalem Quartet’s Cleveland Chamber Music Society Shostakovich string quartet cycle

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Jerusalem Quartet brings Shostakovich’s string quartet cycle to Cleveland

Jerusalem Quartet © Felix Broede

The mightiest string quartet cycle of the twentieth century is rarely encountered live. Indeed, it is probable that a complete cycle of the quartets of the formidable Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) has never before been presented in the American Midwest. That is changing this month when the Jerusalem Quartet brings these intense, epic works to the Gartner Auditorium at the Cleveland Museum of Art for a five-concert series.

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Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2025-26

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RSNO Launches 2025/26 Concert Season

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) launches its 2025:26 Concert Season, featuring Scottish talent, contemporary composers and new commissions.

The 2025/26 Season explores brand new music, celebrates living composers and brings old favourites to communities all across Scotland under the artistic leadership of Music Director Thomas Søndergård.

Music Director Thomas Søndergård continues his epic Mahler cycle
Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Hahn swaps podium for piano
Anthony Parnther joins as Featured Artist for 2025:26 Season
Celebrating the sounds and sights of home
Committed to new works and contemporary voices
Red carpet rolled out with RSNO at the Movies

For more information click here

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