New year, new music
10 things to look forward to as The Glasshouse turns 20 in 2024
2024 is set to be another big year for the music charity as they celebrate their 20th birthday in style. More details about big birthday plans will be announced soon, but in the meantime, there is plenty to mark in your calendars…
- Big Bruckner Weekend | 1-3 March
Marking the 200th anniversary of the visionary Austrian composer Anton Bruckner, The Glasshouse are hosting a one-off festival weekend of concerts, hosted by widely celebrated broadcaster John Suchet. If you’re familiar with Bruckner’s work you might know that his music splits opinion like marmite, and that it would be safe to say that Bruckner fans are certainly one of the more dedicated groups built up around a composer.
Royal Northern Sinfonia, Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia and four brilliant soloists (conducted by Thomas Zehetmair) bring the ‘Great’ Mass No. 3 to life in vivid technicolour while Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, The Hallé and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra present powerful performances of Symphonies No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9. The string principals of Royal Northern Sinfonia will also explore Bruckner’s lesser-known String Quintet in an intimate Sunday morning recital and there will be pre-concert talks, discussions and Concourse performances throughout the weekend.
Whether already part of the Bruckner fan club, or still to make up their mind, the Big Bruckner Weekend is a fantastic opportunity for classical music lovers to spend a few days in the North East. Discounted tickets are available for day and weekend passes and for 18-30 year olds, allowing travellers to make the most of their trip to Gateshead for less.
Read more online here and in the press release here.
- ECHO Rising Stars | 20 January
New. Exciting. You heard them here first. This day of performances features four of the best young classical artists around – chosen by the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) as their Rising Stars of 2024. This year’s lineup is Julia Pusker (violin), Sean Shibe (guitar), Mathis Stier (bassoon) and Faye MacCalman (saxophone, clarinet, composer) who will each perform a mix of traditional and contemporary classical music, chosen to showcase their incredible talents.
As well as the main recitals, the Rising Stars will deliver workshops for local young musicians and perform mini concerts on the Concourse throughout the day. There will also be a panel discussion with former Rising Star Jess Gillam. Read more here. The same weekend, Jess will also perform with Royal Northern Sinfonia – an eclectic array of music for saxophone and strings that spans four centuries, from stately Baroque concertos to a bit of David Bowie. Read more here.
- Royal Northern Sinfonia continue touring in Middlesbrough, Carlisle and Sunderland | now until 23 May
An orchestra for the whole region, Royal Northern Sinfonia continue touring to local areas including Middlesbrough, Carlisle and Sunderland in early 2024.
Following a triumphant Messiah concert in December, the orchestra make a return to Middlesbrough Town Hall for the 2024 season, including their much-loved Viennese New Year’s concert (2nd Feb) and Music from the Movies (1 Feb), movie soundtracks spanning from the golden age of Hollywood right up to the present day. Find out more about the Middlesbrough season here.
In Carlisle and Kendal (and at The Glasshouse where it will be streamed live!) Royal Northern Sinfonia conducted by Dinis Sousa are joined by superstar pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason for Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony. Read more about the Carlisle season here. In Sunderland, Royal Northern Sinfonia return to The Fire Station to play the iconic Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons (26 May) and are joined by clarinettist Julian Bliss for Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto (25 Feb).
- RNS Moves plays Glass | 14 January | Sage Two
A whole programme inspired by our new name! Pieces with glass in the title. Music written for glass instruments. Scores by people named Glass. They’re a creative bunch and their set list building skills show it.
RNS Moves is the inclusive ensemble made up of disabled musicians and non-disabled members of Royal Northern Sinfonia. They’ve got an incredible energy and style – effortlessly blending classical, folk and electronic instruments and inspirations for a truly unique sound.
Find out more here.
- Richard Hawley | 13 June | standing in Sage One
Gritty. Soothing. Crossing musical boundaries. A rare chance to experience the electrifying atmosphere of a seats out gig in Sage One, Sheffield native Richard Hawley visits The Glasshouse on 13 June.
Renowned for his guitar playing and vocals, he has collaborated with Tom Jones, Nancy Sinatra, Arctic Monkeys, Elbow and more. As a guitarist for Pulp, he helped define their sound. With his mix of classic songwriting, soothing vocals, and gritty realism, Richard crosses musical boundaries while maintaining his unique identity. Find out more here.
- Plenty more platforming of emerging and independent artists
As The Glasshouse roll into their 20th year there will be more great ‘From The Glasshouse’ shows offering Pay What You Decide tickets and a chance to discover some of the best new independent artists from the region and beyond. Find out more here.
June will see the projects from the current Artists in Residence Hayden Thorpe and Faye MacCalman come to fruition, culminating in two inspiring performances. Hayden and Faye were chosen from an impressive range of applicants from across the region who answered an open call out looking for the most exciting artists in the North. As an Artist in Residence, they have access to funding, investment in a creative project of their choosing, a residential retreat, rehearsal space, one to one advice and support, and a performance at The Glasshouse at the end of the residency. Read more here.
- Big Sing – the heart-warming mass singing project for local young people | 3 July | Sage One
Inspiring. Joyful. Discover more than your voice. Hundreds of school children from across the region will raise the roof of The Glasshouse this summer as they perform the songs they’ve been learning in school in Sage One.
There’s still time to sign your class up at https://theglasshouseicm.org/make-music/schools-colleges/big-sing-2024-discover-enrolment-open/
- Big shows from some very familiar names
From future favourites to legendary stars.
Wet Wet Wet and Go West| 27 January | Popular. Established. Two 80s juggernauts unite.
ABC – The Lexicon of Love | 10 February | Unique. Lavish. A masterpiece returns.
Diversity | 14 + 15 February | Innovative. Engaging. Edge-of-seat entertainment.
Alison Goldfrapp | 22 February | Glittering. Genre-defying. Pop provocateur.
The Pretenders | 24 February | Unmistakable. Timeless. Female fronted force.
Rob Brydon – A Night of Songs & Laughter | 7 March | Charismatic. Quick-witted. Comedic chameleon.
Tony Hadley – The Big Swing Tour | 16 March | Charismatic. 80s icon. Sing-a-long classics.
Champagne for Lulu | 12 April | Vibrant. Uplifting. Decades of dancefloor hits.
An Evening with Anton Du Beke & Friends | 22 April | Glitzy. Entertaining. You’ll score this show 10.
Postmodern Jukebox |28 April| Vintage. Modern. Expect tapdancing.
Dianne Warwick | 5 May | Soulful. Insightful. In person and in Her Own Words.
An Evening with Alfie Boe | 5 June | Charismatic. Emotive. A Musical storyteller with tenor talent.
Adam Ant | 2 November | Exuberant. Bold. Classic pop-rock.
And plenty more to be announced…
- WoCo – new chapter of Women Conductors programme beginning in 2024
January will see five new conductors join the high-level Women Conductors programme, in partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Society. The opportunity involves encounters twice yearly with the full orchestral forces of the Royal Northern Sinfonia, with residual support from the RPS and RNS, and dedicated mentoring from Alice Farnham, Founder and Artistic Director of the programme.
Joining in 2024 are Josephine Korda, Michal Oren, Oi Ching Chan, Peggy Wu and Sinéad Hayes. Read more here.
- Dakhabrakha | 19 January | Sage Two
Theatrical. Vivid. Music without boundaries. DakhaBrakha is a quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, the Ukrainian “ethno chaos” band create a world of unexpected new music and their live shows have a strong visual element.
Accompanied by Indian, Arabic, African, and Ukrainian traditional instrumentation, the quartet’s powerful music creates a trans-national sound rooted in Ukrainian culture. Find out more here.
Head to www.theglasshouseicm.org/whats-on/ to stay up to find out more and stay up to speed.
-ENDS-
Media enquiries: Jackie Thompson, Jackie.thompson@theglasshouseicm.org
Phone: 0191 4434602