Royal Northern Sinfonia brings the magic of Christmas to communities across the North East
Royal Northern Sinfonia, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music’s home orchestra, will bring the magic of Christmas to communities across the North East and to audiences at The Glasshouse this festive season, with a packed programme of live music running from November through to New Year.
Running from 26 November 2026 to 1 January 2027, this year’s festive programme includes Royal Northern Sinfonia’s annual Winter Tour, a Brass and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia Winter Tour, Handel’s Messiah, performances with Matt Baker and festive film favourites including Home Alone in Concert. Joining the programme for the first time are Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Live in Concert and The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert, alongside seasonal highlights including Christmas at The Musicals, Sinfonia of London: A Christmas Songbook, The Snowman in Concert and the traditional Viennese New Year’s Day Concert.
The programme also marks Royal Northern Sinfonia’s return to Sage One for its first festive season following the hall’s summer refurbishment, continuing a Christmas tradition that has become a highlight of the region’s cultural calendar.
Bringing Christmas to communities across the North East
Royal Northern Sinfonia’s annual Winter Tour opens the festive season by taking live orchestral music beyond The Glasshouse and into communities across the North East and Cumbria.
Running from 26 November to 3 December, this year’s tour visits Alnwick, Redcar, Hexham, Richmond, Heaton, Kendal, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Berwick, Pickering, Rothbury, Carlisle and Cullercoats, giving audiences the opportunity to experience Royal Northern Sinfonia close to home before the orchestra returns to Gateshead for Christmas.
Alongside the main Winter Tour, the brass and percussion players of Royal Northern Sinfonia join the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia and chorus director Tim Burke for a festive musical journey through five centuries of music. The Brass and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia Winter Tour visits Newcastle Cathedral, Durham Cathedral and St George’s, Jesmond from 26 to 28 November, with music ranging from Gaudete and beloved carols to Troika, The Nutcracker and The Christmas Song.
Returning home for Christmas
Following the Winter Tours, The Glasshouse will host a packed festive programme across Sage One and Sage Two.
The programme begins in Sage One with Home Alone in Concert (5-6 December), followed by Christmas at The Musicals (9 December), before acclaimed saxophonist Jess Gillam brings her genre-defying ensemble to Sage Two on 10 December.
Royal Northern Sinfonia then performs Handel’s Messiah in Sage One (13 December), one of the best-loved works of the festive season. Sinfonia of London: A Christmas Songbook (16 December) celebrates seasonal classics with one of the UK’s leading orchestras and The Glasshouse’s Artistic Partner, John Wilson.
Television presenter Matt Baker returns on 17 December for Christmas at The Glasshouse, joining Royal Northern Sinfonia, Associate Conductor Ellie Slorach, Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia and Voices of the Rivers’ Edge for an evening of festive music, seasonal stories and celebration.
The orchestra rounds off the festive season with the much-loved Viennese New Year’s Day Concert (1 January), welcoming audiences into 2027 with music from the Strauss family and other New Year favourites.
Festive favourites on stage and screen
Royal Northern Sinfonia once again brings some of the world’s best-loved stories to life through the power of live orchestral performance.
Audiences can experience Home Alone in Concert (5–6 December), with John Williams’ iconic score performed live alongside the film. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York Live in Concert (20 December) makes its debut at The Glasshouse, giving audiences the chance to experience another Christmas classic with a live orchestral soundtrack.
Also making its Glasshouse debut, The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert (22 December) brings another much-loved festive film to life, with Royal Northern Sinfonia performing the score live alongside the movie. The Snowman in Concert (23–24 December) then sees Raymond Briggs’ timeless classic accompanied live by the orchestra, featuring a young North East soloist performing Walking in the Air.
Between Christmas and New Year, 007 in Concert (30 December) celebrates more than six decades of iconic James Bond music in a spectacular live orchestral performance.
The Glasshouse is committed to making live music accessible to audiences across the region. As part of its wider classical programme, North East residents going to their first Royal Northern Sinfonia concert can get £5 tickets on selected performances. Under-17s and people who are unemployed can also get £5 tickets on selected concerts. For audiences aged 18-30, Bar 10 offers a concert ticket and a drink for £10 on selected performances.
James Thomas, Executive Director of Royal Northern Sinfonia and Classical Music at The Glasshouse, said:
“Christmas is one of the most special times of year for Royal Northern Sinfonia. Our Winter Tours gives us the opportunity to take live music into communities across the North East before welcoming audiences back to The Glasshouse for a festive season full of music, celebration and shared experiences. Whether it’s introducing families to live orchestral music for the first time, celebrating cherished Christmas traditions or bringing audiences together through world-class performances, we’re looking forward to sharing another memorable festive season with people across the region.”
The festive programme runs from 26 November 2026 to 1 January 2027.
Tickets for all performances are on sale now at theglasshouseicm.org.
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