What's On / Bristol Concerts, Theatre & Dance / classical

Classical Concerts in Bristol

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Bristol's Classical Scene

Bristol has a long history of classical music, with new talent emerging year upon year thanks to students at Bristol University’s prestigious department of music. The largest classical music performances see complete orchestras performing at St George’s Hall where natural acoustics continue to wow audiences of over five hundred guests. Contemporary solo performances have found home in Colston Hall’s second room, The Lantern. St Stephen’s church and the Victoria Rooms in Clifton are also essential venues for classical music and orchestras in Bristol.

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Our recent classical recommendations

Cables and Cameras return with the massive annual Inspired mini-fest, showcasing POC creatives and centring empowering narratives across a dazzling array of shorts, Q&As + the Bristol premiere of the definitive doc on dancehall queen Sister Nancy. Cables & Cameras proudly presents a dynamic one-day film and music event dedicated to showcasing the vibrant work of filmmakers of colour from across the globe.

Bristol’s glitterati, this is your summer solstice sermon! Comedy don Jeff Innocent and antihero of anarchic verse Attila the Stockbroker top a riotous cabaret lineup of satire, reggae, absurdism and sleight-of-hand. A stacked bill of chaos, charisma and counterculture with a dancefloor basted in enough dub to summon the ghost of DJ Derek. RIOT ACT proudly presents the very best in Comedy, Poetry, Music and everything inbetween from the South West and beyond

Sell out warning! A celestial highlight in the Impermanence calendar bursts onto the stage in a shower of rose petals and illuminating candles. Songs of the Bulbul melds deep Persian myths with the whirling dramatics of Sufi Kathak dance and a sweeping, epic score by Rushil Ranjan. A joyous and mesmerising experience; if you give contemporary dance just one chance this year, make sure this is it. Songs of the Bulbul, a new dance work by Aakash Odedra with choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan.

A beacon of contemporary classical and a past collaborator with Earth, Nirvana, and David Byrne (among countless others), Lori Goldston’s cello explorations are a marvel in their own right. Better still, she's joining The Cube to live-score a series of short films from underground visionaries including prolific Seattle outsider artist Jon Behrens, Ukrainian-American multi-disciplinary experimentalist Anna Kipervaser, and BEEF co-founder Vicky Smith. Cinematic Symbiosis

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What our editors say

“CarmenCo Trio (www.carmencotrio.com) are a locally-based trio who perform their own arrangements of orchestral pieces, opera, folk and world music, using mezzo voice or flute and two classical guitars. They perform entirely from memory and incorporate movement, dance and storyline into their concerts, as well as varying instrumentation from solo guitar through to voice/flute and two guitars, making their concerts and shows exciting and engaging for all ages.”
From: CarmenCo Trio and Young Performers' Spotlight

“In this immersive oil painting course, we will focus on painting the two angels from The Baptism of Christ, exploring the moment where High Renaissance naturalism truly comes alive. You’ll learn how to build luminous flesh and atmosphere using the Sfumato technique—Leonardo’s famously subtle, almost magical method of soft transitions. We’ll also dive deep into convincing drapery folds, understanding how fabric flows, settles, and supports form, and you’ll learn how to integrate gold leaf into your paintings, uniting brilliance with classical tradition.”
From: Masters & Apprentices

“Scarlett Smith is an electroacoustic harpist and comedian. Tired of the harps demure, classical reputation, Scarlett’s debut solo show Any Objections? is a surreal quest to prove this instrument belongs far beyond the orchestra pit. Blending live looping covers of popular songs, self-produced indie-pop jingles and fast paced punch lines, the show is a playful celebration of creativity and harp innovation.”
From: Any Objections?

“Claire is a singer, songwriter, and piano player. She specialises in teaching singers and singer-songwriters to accompany themselves at the piano. Having received classical piano lessons for many years – which left her completely unable to express herself freely – she has since been on a long journey to find self-expression through her voice and the piano.”
From: Awaken Your Voice: Day Retreat

“Richard Green is her English husband, and the creator/performer of the Music Machine that will be heard on the opening night. He is a classical pianist, software engineer and general lost soul, who has turned to electronics to give his life meaning.”
From: KERTECZ#31