The Glasshouse

Royal Northern Sinfonia, The Glasshouse’s orchestra, are currently on tour in Nantes, France with Music Director Lars Vogt. Across three days they will perform five concerts of Beethoven’s symphonies and piano concertos.

Flying to Nantes on Wednesday 29 January, the orchestra left Britain as members and citizens of the European Union. When they disembark from their flight home on Saturday 1 February, they return to a Britain that is no longer an EU member state.

Meanwhile, the Orchestre National de Lille (ONL) are at the same time on a concert tour of the UK. The ONL arrived in the UK for their first concert in Birmingham on Tuesday 28 January and will return to France on Sunday 2 February. Their tour includes performances at Symphony Hall, Cadogan Hall, The Glasshouse, Sheffield City Hall and Leeds Town Hall.

Here’s what our friends at the ONL have said about touring the UK during this historic political period:

“It seems more important than ever to strengthen Franco-British relations. Whatever the outcome of the negotiations between the UK and the EU, the Orchestre National de Lille firmly intends to work towards maintaining ties between the two territories.

“In January 2020 this intention will take the form of a cross-Channel tour, during which the orchestra will represent the cultural standing of its region, mirroring the economic standing of northern businesses.”

Thorben Dittes said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the ONL here and to have our orchestra performing at Cites de Congre in Nantes at the same time. The timing of these two tours is significant in demonstrating our joint will to maintain cultural and musical connections nationally and internationally.

“We are an international orchestra and plan to continue taking our music around Europe and the rest of the world, building relationships with great international artists and ensembles and presenting them at The Glasshouse.”