Eight Songs for a Mad King
- Jump to →
- What you'll hear
- All about the music
Gripping. Unsettling. Not background listening.
Who’s on stage
Musicians from our orchestra Royal Northern Sinfonia and conductor James Weeks, a real master of contemporary classical music.
What they’re playing
One concert, two sides of the same restless imagination – the first, a parody of ancient, sacred music, the second, a raw, theatrical exploration of a troubled mind. Come with curiosity and open ears for a kaleidoscope of musical styles and colours.
Discounts: save if you’re under 17, aged 18 – 30, or a group of 10 or more people. Check the details.
Running time: 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval.
Age: under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
What you'll hear
Peter Maxwell Davies Missa super l’homme armé
Peter Maxwell Davies Eight Songs for a Mad King
Who's playing it
James Weeks conductor
Royal Northern Sinfonia
What's happening in the music?
New to Peter Maxwell Davies? You’re in for a ride. He didn’t do background music. Eight Songs for a Mad King is bold, dramatic and a bit wild – a singer pushed to the edge, with instruments chattering and snapping around him. Then Missa super l’homme armé takes an old war tune that once marched soldiers into battle and turns it into something urgent and moving. Two striking pieces. Come curious. Leave wide-eyed.
Tickets
Saturday 27 March 2027
From: £5.00 - £26.00