Aldeburgh Festival 2023

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Celebration of music and place is at the heart of the Aldeburgh Festival. Look forward to music familiar and new, five exhibitions, five films, two operas, a centenary celebration of the composer Ligeti, concert theatre and more, all set in the magical Suffolk landscape.

Download a PDF of the Aldeburgh Festival 2023 Programme

16 events on this page of 68 total

Sarah Angliss.

Pre-performance talk: Giant

Composer Sarah Angliss introduces the world premiere of Giant at the Aldeburgh Festival, in a live talk about this fascinating opera.

Peter Pears Recital Room, Snape Maltings

Friday 09 June | 6:30pm

Giant the opera: image of a giant behind a curtain.

World Premiere: Giant

A brand-new opera from visionary composer Sarah Angliss, telling the story of the 18th-century “Irish giant” who was betrayed in the name of science.

Britten Studio, Snape Maltings

Friday 09 June | 7:30pm

Kreutzer Quartet | Remember...

The first of two concerts imagined by the Kreutzer Quartet as responses to this year’s Aldeburgh Festival opera, Giant.

Britten Studio, Snape Maltings

Friday 09 June | 9:30pm

Black and white image of the Kreutzer Quartet: Remember...

Kreutzer Quartet | Continuation

The second of two compelling programmes curated for this Festival by the Kreutzer Quartet, featuring a world premiere by David Matthews and music by Priaulx Rainier, Michael Finnissy and Mozart.

Orford Church

Saturday 10 June | 11:00am

Giant the opera: image of a giant behind a curtain.

Giant

A brand-new opera from visionary composer Sarah Angliss, telling the story of the 18th-century “Irish giant” who was betrayed in the name of science.

Britten Studio, Snape Maltings

Saturday 10 June | 3:30pm

Special Opening

Aldeburgh Festival at The Red House

Two weeks of exhibitions, talks and special events at the former home of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, and the Archive. The Red House is open every day during the Aldeburgh Festival. We look forward to welcoming you.

9 – 25 June

Pavel Kolesnikov standing in a dark hallway.

Pre-performance talk with Pavel Kolesnikov

Join a live introduction to the evening’s concert by one of the most esteemed pianists of our time.

Peter Pears Recital Room, Snape Maltings

Saturday 10 June | 6:30pm

Celestial Naviagtion, by Joseph Cornell.

Celestial Navigation (after Joseph Cornell)

“Light is a wave and so is sound. A piano is a boat, a spaceship, a dreamy discoverer of wonder worlds... this performance is an ode to the night sky, to the vastness of space, to that pure silent light that travels from the other side of the universe to reach an eye, yours or mine, and to make us wonder.” Pavel Kolesnikov

Snape Maltings Concert Hall

Saturday 10 June | 7:30pm

Aldeburgh Church.

Aldeburgh Festival Service

The traditional Sunday Festival Service includes William Byrd’s Mass for five voices, sung by Aldeburgh Voices, as part of the service of holy communion, conducted by Dominic Ellis-Peckham.

Aldeburgh Church

Sunday 11 June | 10:30am

The members of Exaudi.

EXAUDI: Verses of Love

EXAUDI presents a portrait of love, with work by Festival featured musician Cassandra Miller, as well as Michael Finnissy, Monteverdi, Gibbons and Elisabeth Lutyens.

Britten Studio, Snape Maltings

Sunday 11 June | 4:00pm

Cassandra Miller looking to the side.

Pre-performance talk: BBC Philharmonic I

Join Cassandra Miller in conversation about her life and work. This evening’s concert by the BBC Philharmonic in Snape Maltings Concert Hall includes her work, La Donna.

Peter Pears Recital Room, Snape Maltings

Sunday 11 June | 6:30pm

BBC Philharmonic

BBC Philharmonic I

Violinist Simone Lamsma joins the BBC Philharmonic and their new chief conductor John Storgårds with a programme including classic works by Britten and Sibelius alongside Festival featured artist Cassandra Miller.

Snape Maltings Concert Hall

Sunday 11 June | 7:30pm

Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy portrait

Two Pianos | Bach and Shostakovich

Acclaimed piano duo Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy interweave music by Bach and Shostakovich, in the first of two Aldeburgh Festival performances created especially for the historic Jubilee Hall.

Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall

Monday 12 June | 11:00am

Roderick Williams

Festival Masterclass

Roderick Williams on Britten Song

Watch and learn as world-famous baritone Roderick Williams coaches Britten Pears Young Artists.

Britten Studio, Snape Maltings

Monday 12 June | 2:30pm

young woman with dark hair bathed in shadows and light

Pre-performance talk with Anna Thorvaldsdottir

An opportunity to hear an Aldeburgh Festival featured composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir talk about her work including the evening’s performance of her elemental new work, Metacosmos.

Peter Pears Recital Room, Snape Maltings

Monday 12 June | 6:30pm

BBC Philharmonic II

Be swept up by a stirring trio of powerful orchestral works by Britten, Tchaikovsky and Aldeburgh Festival featured composer, Anna Thorvaldsdottir.

Snape Maltings Concert Hall

Monday 12 June | 7:30pm