12 days of live music and a lot more (free for Tower Hamlets residents)
With classical music becoming more affordable and accessible, once conceived ‘high-brow’ arts are becoming open to everyone; people can expand their cultural interests on a smaller budget.
In 2011, dubstep and bass producers Nero joined up with BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, blending genres and audiences, and changing musical stereotypes. They were not alone in this flavourful fusion, with a load of alternative mixed genres recently popping up on the scene like the greatly named dubstyle, jazz rap, folktronica and slowcore.
And this mixing up doesn’t just stop within music. Many artists and makers are cross-pollinating between senses and art forms: Heston Blumenthal’s Sound of the Sea recently broke headlines for including an iPod with his meal, following research at Oxford University that sound enhances your taste.
The broader our thinking of art forms the better. And that’s why Spitalfields Music Winter Festival fuses old and new, classic and contemporary, food and music, babies and opera… The list goes on.
Spitalfields Music
An organisation born and bred in Tower Hamlets, Spitalfields Music draws inspiration from the local area, producing two annual music festivals and simultaneously running a bunch of creative projects with the local community. That’s why if you’re a resident of Tower Hamlets, and have never been to one of our shows, you can come for free. Or, if you’re a student living anywhere, you only pay £5.
Spitalfields Music Winter Festival
The Spitalfields Music Winter Festival
Opening on the 4 December, there’ll be a 12-day long programme of wintery shows dotted around venues in East London, including Rich Mix and Shoreditch Church. Events range from a musical feast run by exciting pop-up dining superstars Disappearing Dining Club to a conversation with acclaimed ceramist and best-selling author Edmund de Waal, and from a film screening of Bach’s motets spiced up with pub music from around the world, to the highly celebrated choir The Sixteen returning to perform in Christ Church Spitalfields. Whatever your background, budget or interests, you’ll find something to delight and surprise you this December.
Disappearing Dining Club on December 5th
What’s On
04 Dec -The Cries of London Music for vocal and viol consort by Gibbons, Dering and Ravenscroft.
04-05 Dec – Musical Rumpus An interactive opera for babies and toddlers aged 0-2½ years.
05 Dec -Disappearing Dining Club Cocktail aperitif, three-course meal and music from Mara Carlyle and Liam Byrne.
06 Dec – Death Actually: film screening Moving and uplifting musical documentary on our attitudes to death.
07 Dec – The Riot Ensemble An explosive exploration of new music ranging from Bach to a 10 year-old composer.
08 Dec – On White: Edmund de Waal Ceramicist and best-selling author reflects on 40 years of working with the colour white.
08 Dec – Winterreise Creative chamber orchestra presents Schubert’s Winterreise, featuring Allan Clayton.
09 Dec – Robbers, Rebels & Royals Joglaresa present topsy-turvy medieval song to turn the world upside down.
09 Dec – Platform: Upbeat A youthful and uplifting jazz performance by East London hot talent.
09 Dec – The English Concert Internationally acclaimed baroque music ensemble perform Charpetnier’s Christmas story re-telling
09 Dec -Les Arts Florissants Renowned European early music ensemble make their festival debut
She’koyokh
She’Koyokh Instrumental group creating magical journey through eastern European winter folk
B’Rock Following their debut at BBC Proms, Belgian baroque orchestra fuse together old and new
Songs from the Northern Lands Join the Choir of Royal Holloway for a candlelit exploration of music
Spitalfields Sings vocal workshop Open to all abilities: develop your vocal skills in fun and relaxed morning of singing
Sound Explorers: Moon Man Interactive musical adventure for 5-7 year olds, based on much loved children’s book, Moon Man
The Sixteen Celebrated choir return to perform sumptuous music inspired by the nativity
Baskets, Bananas, Bags & Brushes Join historian and author Rachel Kolsky on a walking tour of the trading heritage of Spitalfields’ past and present
The Marian Consort y Victoria, Mouton, Morales and Guerrero, inspired by the visitation of the shepherds at the nativity
Christmas Oratorio Newcomer Solomon’s Knot present JS Bach’s seasonal masterpiece by heart
What: Spitalfields Music Winter Festival: 4-15 December 2015
When: 4-15 December 2015
Where: in various venues in East London
Cost: Residents of Tower Hamlets: Free (who haven’t been before), Students: all tickets £5 best available, 16-25s: 25% off, A selection of £5 tickets to all shows as well as some free concerts
