Autumn 2023 on sale now

05 May 2023

Saffron Hall today announced the first half of its 2022/23 season with a feast of world-class artists and ensembles encompassing classical, jazz and folk, all taking place in the award-winning concert hall from September 2023.

Saffron Hall today announced the first half of its 2022/23 season with a feast of world-class artists and ensembles encompassing classical, jazz and folk, all taking place in the award-winning concert hall from September 2023.

The venue’s own promotion programme opens with Resident Orchestra the London Philharmonic on Saturday 29 September. Led by conductor Edward Gardner, the orchestra presents works by Beethoven and Dvořák with internationally renowned violinist Christian Tetzlaff performing Bartók’s Violin concert No.2.

Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth (Friday 6 October) make their Saffron Hall debut with a selection of imaginative contemporary vocal music by female composers.

English Touring Opera return with two fully staged operas; Monteverdi’s darkly troubling Coronation of Poppea (Friday 20 October) and Rossini’s vivacious retelling of Cinderella (Saturday 21 October).

Legendary violin virtuoso Nigel Kennedy joins the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra (Sunday 12 November) for an unmissable concert celebrating the music of Bach. Leading the orchestra and duetting with their star principals, Kennedy presents a survey of some of the composer’s best-loved instrumental music.

Double MOBO award-winner, broadcaster and multi-talented saxophonist YolanDa Brown (Friday 17 November) brings her stunning fusion of reggae, jazz and soul to Saffron Hall as part of this year’s Cambridge Jazz Festival.

A packed Christmas programme includes The Nutcracker & I – an ingenious intimate staging of Tchaikovsky’s ballet for solo pianist, dancer and projected hand-drawn animations (Friday 8 and Saturday 9 December), A Swinging Christmas with the BBC Big Band (Friday 15 December), award-winning choir Tenebrae present a theatrical sequence of music and words for the festive season (Saturday 16 December), and family Christmas pantomime returns to the hall with a magical production of Cinderella (Saturday 23 to Saturday 30 December).

The London Community Gospel Choir (Friday 19 January) return to the venue following sold-out performances in 2019 and 2022, as they bring their joy, devotion and vocal talents to an evening of iconic gospel hits.

The Hall celebrates its 10th Birthday this December with a special weekend of events featuring a selection of artists who have played an important role in the venue’s first 10 years. Highlights include visits from acclaimed countertenor Iestyn Davies (Saturday 2 December) as part of a concert performance of Rodelinda, and award-wining saxophonist Jess Gillam (Sunday 3 December).

Autumn 2023 highlights

Cinderella stood in a dark room facing the camera against a window, dressed in red

English Touring Opera: Cinderella

Saturday 21 October 2023, 7pm
Rossini’s opera is a vivacious retelling of the Cinderella story, complete with a murderously wicked stepfather and astonishingly virtuosic vocal lines
Sir Mark Elder

Hallé Orchestra: Brahms Symphony No.4

Friday 3 November 2023, 7.30pm
Music based on legends and fairy tales make for a captivating programme displaying the full kaleidoscope of orchestral colour
Nigel Kennedy plays the violin passionately

Nigel Kennedy & Oxford Philharmonic

Sunday 12 November 2023, 4pm
The great British violin virtuoso, as thrillingly direct and searchingly creative as ever, turns his attention to the music of Bach