Credit TyneSight Photographic Services
Classical music is for everyone, and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music‘s house orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, couldn’t agree more. As The Glasshouse continues to celebrate its 20th birthday throughout 2025, Royal Northern Sinfonia will bring captivating compositions, family-friendly treats, and infectious personalities to the venue as part of its 2024/25 season.
Epic. Spine tingling. Here’s Johnny!
On 6 February, Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson will join Royal Northern Sinfonia and Principal Conductor Dinis Sousa for a monumental programme blending atmospheric compositions. Music lovers will hear Kaija Saariaho’s ethereal Ciel, and Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, which famously featured in the film The Shining. The evening will conclude with Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2.
Bright. Direct. A refreshing musical shower.
On 21 March, Violinist Maria Włoszczowska, Royal Northern Sinfonia’s Artistic Partner, is known for her incredible energy and passion and is much-loved by The Glasshouse’s audiences. Włoszczowska will lead the orchestra through a selection of Bach’s works, including his Violin Concertos and Orchestral Suite No. 3. This concert offers a satisfying journey through Bach’s timeless, bright melodies.
Heroic. Gripping. Music with the wow factor.
On 4 April, conductor Stephanie Childress and pianist Piotr Anderszewski, praised by The Guardian for his “raw and astonishing” performances, will light up the stage with the orchestra. The programme will feature Benn Lunn’s Sonnet, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World’, which fans will recognise from the iconic Hovis advert directed by Ridley Scott.
Slapstick. Poignant. Get gold rush fever.
On 6 April, having brought City Lights and Modern Times to The Glasshouse, the orchestra will complete the hat-trick by performing the soundtrack to Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush. As part of the film’s 100th birthday year celebrations, Royal Northern Sinfonia, with guest conductor Stefan Geiger, will bring Chaplin’s rags to riches tale to life, charming film and music fans alike.
Daring. Adventurous. Monstrous fun.
On 15 and 16 April, families looking for an adventure at The Glasshouse can see The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s popular children’s books. Royal Northern Sinfonia, guest conductor Terry Davies and guitarist Huw Davies will perform the music that has been a part of countless childhoods as the films play on the big screen.
Wit. Grandeur. An opera in disguise.
On 9 May, Nil Venditti, Principal Guest Conductor of Royal Northern Sinfonia, is a firecracker and joy to watch, always bringing vibrancy and a sense of fun to The Glasshouse’s stages. Venditti will conduct Royal Northern Sinfonia, joined by four remarkable soloists and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia, in a performance of Rossini’s lively Overture to The Barber of Seville, Mozart’s majestic Symphony No. 29 and Rossini’s Stabat Mater.
This snapshot of the season shows the variety on offer for music fans of all ages, and with many more concerts up their sleeve, check out Royal Northern Sinfonia’s full programme here.