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One of the country’s most revered composers – Sir Edward Elgar – and his musical legacy is celebrated at the annual Elgar Festival, which takes place in the heart of ‘Elgar Country’ – Worcester and Malvern - across the week closest to his birthday on 2 June.
Since its inception in 2018, the Elgar Festival has grown from a weekend to a 9-day celebration of the life and music of Worcester’s most famous son and Britain’s great composer, Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934), held at a number of integral venues of both historic interest and personal significance to the composer including Worcester Cathedral and Guildhall, St George’s RC Church and Great Malvern Priory.
Lauded as Critic’s Pick in The Guardian in 2018 and featured as one of the top 20 Jubilee events in 2022, the Festival offers a wide programme combining concerts of popular repertoire and new commissions performed by internationally recognised guest artists as well as the cream of the region’s musicians, with talks, masterclasses, workshops, film screenings and family-friendly events.
Amongst highlights this year are symphonic and ensemble concerts given by the Festival’s orchestra-in-residence - English Symphony Orchestra (ESO) - under their Principal Conductor and Festival Artistic Director, Kenneth Woods. World-renowned guest artists taking part include Raphael Wallfisch, Gareth Brynmor John, April Fredrick, Simon Callaghan and David Briggs. Visit the website for full details.
(Photo, Michael Whitefoot)
Saturday 24th May
Wednesday 28th May
Thursday 29th May
Friday 30th May
Saturday 31st May
Sunday 1st June
Raphael Wallfisch
Raphael Wallfisch is an internationally acclaimed British cellist. He has recorded nearly every major work for his instrument and worked closely with many of Britain's leading composers.
See Raphael Wallfisch tour dates
English Chamber Orchestra
One of the top chamber orchestras in the country.
See English Chamber Orchestra tour dates
Worcester Concert Brass
Easy listeningbrass band music embracing songs from the stage, themes from films and TV series, and light classics as well as more traditional brass band music.
See Worcester Concert Brass tour dates
English String Orchestra
The Worcestershire-based ESO was founded by conductor William Boughton as the English String Orchestra in 1978. It soon earned an international reputation for performances of English music, made over fifty recordings and began touring regularly in Europe. Over time, the orchestra's repertoire expanded to include the full breadth of orchestral music and the ESO grew to become the English Symphony Orchestra. Ever since then, 'ESO' has served as an acronym with a dual meaning. Conductor Vernon Handley succeeded William Boughton in 2007, and led the orchestra until his death in 2008. Over the years, the ESO has worked with a distinguished list of instrumentalists, composers and conductors, including Stephen Isserlis, Daniel Hope, Michael Tippett, Nicholas Maw and Yehudi Menhuin, who was appointed the ESO's Principal Guest Conductor in 1991, and led the orchestra on a number of international tours.
See English String Orchestra tour dates
Worcester Cathedral
8 College Yard
Worcester
WR1 2LA
- Website:
- worcestercathedral.co.uk
See all events at Worcester Cathedral
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on Sat 24 May 2025