Themed ‘Celebrate with Elgar’, the 2025 Elgar Festival taking place from Saturday 24 May until Sunday 1 June will bring together world class professional musicians and artists alongside local choirs and ensembles.
Tickets are now on sale for the festival which aims to place the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers. This year’s festival will also celebrate the work and 70th birthday of Worcester’s finest living composer Ian Venables (pictured)
Set in Elgar’’s hometown and surrounding areas, the festival is an annual celebration of his music spanning symphonic and string orchestra concerts by the resident and world renowned English Symphony Orchestra (pictured above. Photo credit: Michael Whitefoot)
Festival artistic director Kenneth Woods said: “Building on the success of previous years, this year’s festival promises nine days packed with events. We’ll celebrate great music-making, our natural environment, young musicians, diversity, the music of today as well as music of the past, beautiful historic buildings, community and participation.”
Highlights include Elgar’s Symphony No. 2 and John Ireland’s oratorio These Things Shall Be performed by the ESO and joined by the 2025 Festival Chorus on Saturday 31 May in Worcester Cathedral. There are further performances by English String and Chamber Orchestras, recitals by world renowned performers Raphael Wallfisch, David Briggs and April Fredrick and a Young Singers Masterclass.
The ever-popular family concert returns hosted by Classic FM’s Zeb Soanes including the winning pieces of the Festival’s Young Composers’ Competition.