All Classical Music Explained

Rainer Hersch’s hilarious show, All Classical Music Explained – Live!, returns to UK theatres this autumn.

Rainer Hersch is half German, half English, which means he’d like to take over the world but he’s too polite…

His comedy show All Classical Music Explained has been broadcast by BBC Radio 4 in a 6-part series and sold out festivals across the world from Scotland to New Zealand. At its heart are those difficult questions: “why is organ music so boring?”; “what did Mozart steal from ABBA?” and “what do conductors actually do?” Whether you are a music professor or can’t tell string quartets from a string vest, relax: All Classical Music Explained will teach you nothing but it will make you laugh. Really laugh.

Rainer Hersch is a pianist, conductor and stand-up comedian who has appeared on every major comedy stage in Britain and abroad. In the UK he is known for his many radio appearances on ‘Loose Ends’, BBC Radio 4 documentaries and series about musical comedians of the past including All the Right Notes, Not Necessarily in the Right Order. As a conductor his credits include Friday Night is Music Night, and tours with orchestras from the Tasmanian Symphony to the St Petersburg Philharmonic.

BSO: New Year Viennese Gala

Members presale: Friday 22nd May, 10am
General sale: Monday 25th May, 10am

 

Johann Strauss Favourites

The swirling majesty and joyous sounds of the traditional Viennese Gala will see you spinning into the New Year with a flourish! Merry waltzes, polkas and marches from Johann Strauss II, his family and contemporaries fill this sparkling concert that will transport you from your seat in the concert hall all the way into the traditional gala halls of Vienna.

This evening of joyous music includes all of Strauss’ greats such as the Fledermaus Overture, Thunder and Lightning Polka, Radetzky March and, of course, The Blue Danube! This beguiling performance that will ensure a glamorous start to your New Year!

Tom Fetherstonhaugh – Conductor
Claudia Boyle – Soprano

Programme:

Franz von Suppé Light Cavalry Overture
Johann Strauss II Annen-Polka
Josef Strauss Friedenspalmen Waltzer (Palms of Peace)
Johann Strauss II Mein Herr Marquis from Die Fledermaus
Johann Strauss II Emperor Waltz
Josef Strauss Village Swallows from Austria Waltz
Lehár Vilja’s Lied from Merry Widow
Johann Strauss II Wiener Blut (Vocal Version)
Offenbach Can-Can from Orpheus in the Underworld
Johann Strauss II Tik-Tak Polka
Josef Strauss Ohne Sorgen! (No Worries!), Polka Schnell

Pre-show meals are available for this show.
Served in the Piano Bar from 5pm. Booking is highly recommended.
Call the Box Office on 01305 783225 to reserve your table.

Important Information

Please note that while the auditorium is seated, some guests may choose to stand or dance. If you wish to do so, please move to the sides or rear so seated guests can still enjoy the show. Some performances actively encourage dancing, please bear this in mind when booking, refunds will not be issued. For safety reasons, dancing is not permitted in the front row of the circle.

BSO: From Darkness to Light

Members presale: Friday 22nd May, 10am
General sale: Monday 25th May, 10am

 

The BSO returns for its traditional late-summer concert!

Vaughan Williams’ quintessentially English variations on the eponymous folk song weave a tapestry that will transport your soul. Sumptuous string writing and sweeping melodies are underpinned by rich, resonant harmonies, ultimately reaching celestial redemption, radiant with shimmering sunlight. There is perhaps no more popular or beloved violin concerto than Mendelssohn’s masterpiece. Taking a journey from darkness to light, it begins restless, mysterious and questioning, and ends in a blaze of colour, full of joy and exhilaration, sustained by virtuosic melodies and lively interplay between soloist and orchestra.

Massenet’s contemplative Meditation is one of the most dramatic violin solos in all operatic literature. Its soaring melodies, and pulsating emotion have made it a favourite of violinists and a hugely popular standalone piece. Written in a single month, Bizet’s polished gem of a symphony is remarkable not so much for its originality, but for its skilful reworking of others’ designs. It is a brilliant work that shows a grasp of unity and overall design that was remarkable for a seventeen-year-old composer.

Michal Oren – Conductor
Tamsin Waley-Cohen – Violin

Programme:
Vaughan Williams Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Massenet Mediation from Thaïs
Bizet Symphony in C

Pre-show meals are available for this show.
Served in the Piano Bar from 5pm. Booking is highly recommended.
Call the Box Office on 01305 783225 to reserve your table.

Important Information

Please note that while the auditorium is seated, some guests may choose to stand or dance. If you wish to do so, please move to the sides or rear so seated guests can still enjoy the show. Some performances actively encourage dancing, please bear this in mind when booking, refunds will not be issued. For safety reasons, dancing is not permitted in the front row of the circle.

Imperial Classical Ballet® Presents The Nutcracker

Following multiple sold-out UK tours and an overwhelmingly warm reception from audiences nationwide, Imperial Classical Ballet® proudly announces the return of its beloved production of The Nutcracker for the Autumn 2026 season.

A Tradition That Begins the Festive Spirit Early
As the nights grow crisp and anticipation for the holiday season begins to sparkle in the air, The Nutcracker remains the perfect way to welcome the warmth and wonder of winter. This iconic ballet – filled with shimmering snowflakes, swirling waltzes, enchanted toys, and the unforgettable journey of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince -continues to captivate families year after year.

A Production of Beauty, Grandeur & Emotion
Set to Tchaikovsky’s exquisite score, performed live by a full orchestra, this staging brings together:

– Lavish hand-crafted costumes
– Timeless classical choreography
– A cast of internationally acclaimed dancers
– Mesmerising set designs that transport audiences from the Christmas Eve party to the sparkling Kingdom of Sweets

Pre-show meals are available for this show.
Served in the Piano Bar from 5pm. Booking is highly recommended.
Call the Box Office on 01305 783225 to reserve your table.

Hounds of Love – The Kate Bush Celebration

Step into the ethereal world of Hounds Of Love – The Kate Bush Celebration, a tribute that faithfully recreates the artistry, passion, and magic of one of music’s most iconic and enigmatic performers.

This stunning production brings to life Kate Bush’s groundbreaking Tour of Life, the visionary 1979 tour that revolutionised live music with its fusion of theatre, dance, and multimedia storytelling. From her breathtaking vocals to the intricate choreography and spellbinding visuals, every element is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, capturing the spirit, drama, and innovation that made Kate’s performances legendary.

Featuring a phenomenal live band and a performer who embodies Kate’s unmistakable voice, Hounds Of Love delivers authentic and heartfelt renditions of her timeless hits, spanning from The Kick Inside to Hounds of Love and beyond. Expect to be transported by unforgettable classics such as Wuthering Heights, The Man with the Child in His Eyes, Babooshka, Running Up That Hill, and of course, Hounds of Love.

But this is more than just a celebration of her most famous songs—it’s also a chance to experience the deeper cuts and musical treasures that never had their moment on stage. From the theatrical masterpieces of Never for Ever to the cinematic soundscapes of The Sensual World, this show honours the full spectrum of Kate’s genius, bringing some of her most beloved studio creations to life in a way they’ve never been heard before.

With a production that pays homage to Kate’s visionary approach to live performance, Hounds Of Love – The Kate Bush Celebration is a must-see for lifelong fans and newcomers alike. Immerse yourself in the soundscapes, stories, and spectacle of Kate Bush’s world—an experience that is as haunting, exhilarating, and otherworldly as the music itself.

Pre-show meals are available for this show.
Served in the Piano Bar from 5pm. Booking is highly recommended.
Call the Box Office on 01305 783225 to reserve your table.

Important Information

Please note that while the auditorium is seated, some guests may choose to stand or dance. If you wish to do so, please move to the sides or rear so seated guests can still enjoy the show. Some performances actively encourage dancing, please bear this in mind when booking, refunds will not be issued. For safety reasons, dancing is not permitted in the front row of the circle.

The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight

After mesmerising audiences across Europe and the USA, The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight is set to electrify the UK and Ireland once again.

Prepare for a spellbinding 90-minute spectacle that infuses iconic Rock & Metal anthems with a hauntingly beautiful energy. In ethereal candlelit settings, this band of 14 classical musicians unleash effortlessly enchanting melodies alongside powerful walls of distortion. Witness the unexpected union of Classical music and Metal.

The Rock Orchestra is a rotating collective of classical musicians, featuring some of the world’s greatest instrumentalists and vocalists.

📣 WHAT OUR FANS THINK 📣
👉 “Every rock fan should see and hear this concert!”
👉 “Fking awesome would not do it justice!”
👉 “Entertaining from the first song to the last.”
👉 “Perfect blend of classical bravado and hard rock!”
👉 “It is a unique experience: the music, the show, the stage… something incredible”

Disclaimer: The Rock Orchestra and its events are not affiliated with the artists and composers listed. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Pre-show meals are available for this show.
Served in the Piano Bar from 5pm. Booking is highly recommended.
Call the Box Office on 01305 783225 to reserve your table.

Important Information

Please note that while the auditorium is seated, some guests may choose to stand or dance. If you wish to do so, please move to the sides or rear so seated guests can still enjoy the show. Some performances actively encourage dancing, please bear this in mind when booking, refunds will not be issued. For safety reasons, dancing is not permitted in the front row of the circle.

A James Bond Concert Spectacular

Q The Music’s James Bond Concert Spectacular is the world’s finest and most critically acclaimed tribute to the music of James Bond.

Celebrating more than 20 years as the first original and pioneering Bond concert, they are known for their stirring emotional and adrenaline-fueled performances, mixed in with superb musicianship and flair. Indeed, every fan club around the world recognises them as the best and finest performances of the songs since the originals.

Focusing not only on theme songs, the show also pays homage to the complete canon covering chase music, incidental cues and suites from across the series.

Some of the most notable praise has come from hugely influential Bond related stars including:

Five-time Bond composer David Arnold: “They do a phenomenal job”

Former James Bond actor George Lazenby: “They did John Barry proud”

Sir Roger Moore’s Office (following his official Memorial at Pinewood Studios): “They helped make a wonderful day an extraordinary day”

Steven Saltzman (son of legendary founding Bond producer Harry Saltzman): “You did my Dad proud”

Even The Times national newspaper raved about their performance in a 4-star review of their West End debut: “It’s hard to imagine this music being served better. Simply stunning.”

Becoming synonymous with the top Bond events around the world, in 2019 they performed at an event with George Lazenby: the 50th anniversary event for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, held at Piz Gloria in the Swiss Alps. In 2019 they had the honour to provide the music at Sir Roger Moore’s official memorial event at Pinewood Studios. Appearing in London’s West End multiple times they have sold out several of the most prestigious venues to huge critical acclaim.

The show features all the Bond songs such as Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die and Nobody Does It Better – performed by musicians taken from the UK’s leading orchestras, sessions and shows. Caroline Bliss, who played Moneypenny in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill, will guide you through the concert as compere, sharing the odd anecdote about her time working in this legendary series.

With stunning singing, an informative compere, and a show full of iconic tunes performed to an unparalleled level of detail it really is a night of the highest quality guaranteed. As the only James Bond concert created by die-hard Bond fans, for Bond fans, by people who understand the music better than anyone else: you won’t want to miss it.

Pre-show meals are available for this show.
Served in the Piano Bar. Booking is highly recommended.
Call the Box Office on 01305 783225 to reserve your table.

Important Information

Please note that while the auditorium is seated, some guests may choose to stand or dance. If you wish to do so, please move to the sides or rear so seated guests can still enjoy the show. Some performances actively encourage dancing, please bear this in mind when booking, refunds will not be issued. For safety reasons, dancing is not permitted in the front row of the circle.