About

The Classical Series is back at Portsmouth Guildhall, with a full and exciting series of shows that feature orchestral, symphonic, chamber and solo music by some of the best performers around.

With everything from popular works by acclaimed composers, to reinterpreting rock and pop plus orchestra and film, The Classical Series is a heady mix of classical and contemporary - all mixed with a heavy dose of innovation.

There is much to choose from, whether you're a seasoned classicalist, enjoy the music of the big screen, or are completely new to the thrilling world of classical music!

Exciting seasons of work from the resident Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Portsmouth Chamber Music (presented by Music in the Round) will be accompanied on the line up this year by incredible concerts from The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight, The International Film Orchestra (with the music of James Bond), The Massed Bands of HM Royal Marines, The Milton Glee Choir Christmas Concert, and festive favourites The Holiday and Love Actually presented in concert with full orchestras playing the score live-to-film.

A highlight of the programme will be The Brandenburg Concertos performed by Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - a trailblazing orchestra renowned for playing music on instruments from the time that it was written. Hear an authentic replication of the concertos - known as one of music’s greatest riddles.

Portsmouth Chamber Music has been staged in the city for over 20 years. It will return with an exciting series of intimate concerts where audiences can enjoy the music just metres away from world-class musicians. Meanwhile, the eclectic Sounds of Now series will explores some of the most exciting ideas in music today.

For full details of The Classical Series 2024/25 and to book tickets see portsmouthguildhall.org.uk, and be sure to follow Portsmouth Guildhall on Facebook, Instagram and X.

The Classical Series 2024/25:

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment – The Brandenburg Concertos
14 November
Bach’s groundbreaking ‘six concertos for several instruments’ is music of endless inventiveness which demands a supergroup ensemble of virtuosos. From intricate strings to grandiose harpsichord and dazzling trumpet, the concertos are one of music’s great riddles – lost for over 100 years before they were eventually published in 1850.

Portsmouth Chamber Series – Mozart, Onslow & Watkins
2 December
Strings, wind and piano players join forces for a Mozart masterpiece, Onslow’s charming Nonet, and a recent work by renowned composer Huw Watkins.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra – Nutcracker Magic
5 December
Music that tinkles in the memory like a lost music box – enchanting for young and old alike.
Rachmaninov – Piano Concerto No.3
Tchaikovsky – The Nutcracker (Act II)

Milton Glee Choir – The Christmas Concert
8 December
Get your festive season off to a great start with an afternoon of festive and seasonal music.

The Holiday (11 December)
Love Actually (19 December)
Two of the Christmas season’s most adored films are presented live in concert with full orchestras playing the score live-to-film. 

Sounds of Now – Bridge Ensemble
11 December
A haunting work for oboe and electronics, an Afrobeat-inspired piece for wind, and Valerie Coleman’s bluesy tunes all feature in this tour through new classical music.

The Massed Bands of HM Royal Marines – A Christmas Spectacular
15 December
The versatility and talent of these world class musicians will be clear for all to see, with an evening featuring all the usual festive fun and enjoyment, alongside the traditional music from one of the finest military bands in the world.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra – Last Night of The Christmas Proms
20 December
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the BSO’s Last Night of the Christmas Proms concert! This year will welcome the talents of pianist and singer extraordinaire, Joe Stilgoe, who will be showcasing his musical talents with a hamper full of Christmas musical goodies alongside all your favourite orchestral treats.

Portsmouth Chamber Series – Beethoven, Mozart and More: String Quartets
20 January 2025
The award-winning Marmen Quartet presents four works, among them Beethoven’s ‘Serioso’ String Quartet No.11, Bartók’s thrilling Quartet No.3 and Mozart’s ‘Dissonance’ String Quartet in C K456.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra – Viennese Whirls
23 January
Sunny themes, dance-like melodies and a sweeping waltz conjures the elegance of the Viennese dancehalls.
J Strauss – The Blue Danube
Berg – Violin Concerto
Brahms – Symphony No.2

The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight
2 February
Prepare for a spellbinding spectacle that infuses iconic rock and metal anthems with a hauntingly beautiful energy. In an ethereal candlelit setting, a band of 14 classical musicians unleashes effortlessly enchanting melodies alongside powerful walls of distortion.

Sounds of Now – Purnima, Eastman, Wolfe & Singh
13 February
Rakhi Singh, one of the UK’s leading contemporary classical violinists, presents solo works by Finnis, Wolfe, Eastman and more from her debut solo album.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra – Symphonic Dances
6 March
Rhythmically animated and truly symphonic, haunting and poignant and a real tour de force of a piece!
Sibelius – Valse Triste
Shostakovich – Violin Concerto No.1
Rachmaninov – Symphonic Dances

Portsmouth Chamber Series – A Celebration of Czech Music
17 March
A celebration of the 100th anniversary of Mládí (‘Youth’), Janáček’s iconic work, which unusually features a bass clarinet alongside flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra – Heroes & Superheroes 
21 March
Music from some of Hollywood’s best big screen adventures with scores from Robin Hood, The Magnificent Seven, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan and many more.

Sounds of Now – The Hermes Experiment
17 April
One of the most exciting forces in contemporary music today, the Hermes Experiment, fronted by singer Heloïse Werner, performs works by Meredith Monk, Hannah Peel and more.

Portsmouth Chamber Series – Fanfare! Trumpet Classics
28 April
Charismatic rising star trumpeter Aaron Akugbo performs uplifting tunes, ranging from the more familiar names of Vivaldi and Mahler to works by Price and Bozza.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra – The Essence of Brahms
8 May
A cosmos of textures, tempos and moods, culminating in music of unsurpassed grandeur – cuts as close to the heart as music can.
Wagner – Lohengrin Prelude
Britten – Violin Concerto
Brahms – Symphony No.4

Portsmouth Chamber Series – New Impressions: Debussy & More 
19 May
Praised for their “immaculate precision and spirit” (The Strad), the Solem Quartet performs a programme of glittering works with Debussy’s sensual string quartet at its heart.