Britten Pears Arts announces its Spring 2026 season
Highlights include:
• Aurora Orchestra returns to Snape Maltings for two concerts including its Orchestral Theatre Production of The Rite of Spring
• Tenebrae and Britten Sinfonia perform a reflective programme for Passiontide
• Apollo’s Fire join forces with the English Baroque Soloists for duelling double concertos
• The Britten Pears Young Artist Programme once again presents the Friday Lunchtime Concert series with outstanding young artists and leading international coaches
• Britten Pears Chamber Choir performs Fauré and Handel at St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds
• Open Sessions offer a chance to catch a glimpse of musicians developing new work at Snape Maltings
• Family activity includes Concerteenies’ The Duck with No Luck , Mini Music Makers, Family Music Makers and Easter Family Fun at The Red House
• Art historian Dr John Paul-Stonard present ‘Art Talks’ a 6-part cultural historical tour that begins in Constable’s native Suffolk marking the artists’ 250th anniversary in 2026
Britten Pears Arts’ Spring Programme features classical concert hall performances from Aurora Orchestra, Tenebrae, Apollo’s Fire and Britten Pears Chamber Choir, plus the popular Friday Lunchtime Concert series from Britten Pears Young Artists returns. Open Sessions invite the opportunity to explore the unexpected through experimental artistic sharings from Residency artists. In February, the Art Talk Series from art historian Dr John-Paul Stonard focuses on the painter John Constable. Family Fun includes events at The Red House and the family musical experience, Concerteenies. There's something for everyone to inspire, uplift, and delight.
Easter: 2 April
- Maundy Thursday: Tenebrae and Britten Sinfonia: A powerful and reflective programme for Passiontide pairing Renaissance masterpieces by Allegri (Miserere) and Victoria (Tenebrae Responseries) with more contemporary works by Edmund Finnis (Hymn – After Byrd), Barber (Adagio for Strings) and James MacMillan (Seven Last Words from the Cross). Nigel Short conducts Britten Sinfonia and Tenebrae (2 April, 7.30pm, Snape Maltings Concert Hall).
Aurora Orchestra: 10 & 11 April
- Aurora: Light and Motion: Aurora opens a tantalising weekend in signature collaborative style, joining forces with the BBC Singers, Britten Pears Chamber Choir and pianist Nicholas McCarthy. The programme features Nicholas McCarthy performing Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, John Adams’ exhilarating Short Ride in a Fast Machine, Ravel’s Boléro and Fauré’s Requiem, all conducted by Aurora’s Founder and Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon (10 April, 7pm, Snape Maltings Concert Hall).
- Aurora’s Rite of Spring: Aurora’s Orchestral Theatre production of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in 2023 was one of the most talked-about classical music events of recent years, described by The Times’ Richard Morrison in his five-star review as “Simply one of the boldest and most breathtaking achievements I have witnessed”. Experience this dramatic and musical adventure as it returns for one night only at Snape Maltings. This unique living programme sets the stage for a performance of the whole score entirely from memory, without sheet music, stands or chairs and conducted by Nicholas Collon, scriptwriter and director Jane Mitchell, and director James Bonas (11 April, 7pm, Snape Maltings Concert Hall).
Britten Pears Chamber Choir: 12 April
- Britten Pears Arts’ resident choir is joined by soprano Ceferina Penny and baritone Jonathan Eyers from the Britten Pears Young Artists Programme conducted by Ben Vonberg-Clark and accompanied by organist Francesca Massey, to perform Fauré’s Requiem and Handel’s Dixit Dominus in the stunning surroundings of St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds (12 April, 4pm, St Mary’s Church, Bury St Edmunds).
- Hailed by Classical Music Magazine as “the USA’s hottest baroque band”, Apollo’s Fire, led by Jeannette Sorrell, joins forces with members of the renowned English Baroque Soloists in this new programme of duelling double concertos. J.S. Bach’s Concerto in D minor brings emotional depth and technical brilliance to demonstrate the chemistry between two violinists. The musical fencing continues in Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor for two violins; Telemann’s Concerto for flute and recorder, and a set of colourful dances by Rameau. The programme climaxes as multiple duels break out in Vivaldi’s La Folia (“Madness”) (26 April, 7pm, Snape Maltings Concert Hall).
Snape Sessions: Zakia: 24 January
- BBC Radio 6 Music Presenter, Zakia, joins for an evening of rich sounds and captivating grooves in the Britten Studio. From London’s vibrant club scene to BBC Radio, Zakia has built a reputation for eclectic, immersive DJ sets. Her mixes blend jazz, folk, dub, ambient, and global sounds into an unforgettable night of rhythm and texture (24 January, 7pm, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings).
Britten Pears Young Artist Programme
Friday Lunchtime Concerts: January to April
- Every Friday from mid-January to early-April, Britten Pears Arts presents twelve Friday Lunchtime Concerts at 12pm. The majority take place in the historic Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall, with one taking place at Snape Maltings’ Britten Studio and the finale on Good Friday in Orford Church. The series features performances by young ensembles on the 2025-26 Britten Pears Young Artist Programme as part of their residencies in Snape and Aldeburgh.
- Participants include Ensemble Jackalope (16 January & 23 January); Extended Music Collective (30 January & 6 February); Bellot Ensemble (13 February & 20 February); Trio Archai (27 February & 6 March); Terra String Quartet (13 March & 20 March); Paddington Trio (27 March & 3 April).
Tickets £15 each or only £12 each when you buy for 3 or more concerts.
Aldeburgh Young Musicians
- Aldeburgh Young Musicians (AYM) with London Sinfonietta: London Sinfonietta takes Britten Pears Arts’ Aldeburgh Young Musicians under its wing for a week-long project exploring and composing protest songs. Alongside a guest composer they’ll be drawing inspiration from Hans Werner Henze’s work “Voices”, which will be performed in the 2026 Aldeburgh Festival (20 February, 4pm, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings).
- Aldeburgh Young Musicians: This year’s AYM’s celebrate the culmination of their efforts from April’s project. AYM offers creative and collaborative musical training for promising young musicians in Suffolk (10 April, 4pm, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings).
Artist Development
Open Sessions offer a unique chance to go behind the scenes and experience work-in-progress created during Britten Pears Arts Residencies. The following Open Sessions are taking place from February to May:
- Alice Boyd: Join sound artist Alice Boyd for a guided field recording workshop which follows the scenic route from Snape Maltings to Iken. Taking place during her week-long residency exploring environmental change through sound, this session offers the chance to listen closely to the Suffolk landscape and learn how to capture its sonic details (3 February, 3pm, Snape Maltings). Get a first glimpse into Alice Boyd’s new live adaptation of her BBC Radio 4 documentary Shifting Soundscapes. Combining Martyn Stewart’s archive recordings with her own field audio, Alice performs live using layered vocals, synths, and field recordings to create an evolving soundscape in real time (6 February, Jerwood Kiln Studio, Snape Maltings, 7pm).
- Orlando | Britten Pears Arts: Mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska and guitarist Sean Shibe share early explorations from their new collaborative project Orlando, which traces the legendary troubadour’s journey across centuries and continents, from the medieval Chanson de Roland to Ariosto’s epic poem, and Virginia Woolf’s groundbreaking 1928 novel. They weave together music by Schubert, Glanert and Adès, alongside newly commissioned pieces by Sasha Scott and Cassandra Miller (27 February, 7pm, Britten Studio).
- Can you hear the alarm?: This new performance work from Crispin Lord (director/performer), Tom Foskett-Barnes (composer/performer) and Rita Mazza (dramaturg/performer) reimagines Béla Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle for two performers, one deaf, one hearing, using live electronics, gesture, image and written English to explore how sound and silence shape our understanding of danger, communication and story (13 March, 7pm, Britten Studio).
- More Noise: Tyrone Isaac Stuart’s More Noise is a bold, multidisciplinary allegory. Set in a dystopian town with ancient roots, the work personifies sound through fantastical characters and explores how we navigate an increasingly loud world. Expect a dynamic journey from serene silence to explosive noise, blending music, dance, storytelling, live book-binding, and more into an immersive experience (17 April, 7pm, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings).
- Alex Groves and The Carice Singers: Composer Alex Groves develops a new piece commissioned by The Carice Singers. Drawing inspiration from the creative bond between Sir Michael Tippett, Dame Barbara Hepworth and Priaulx Rainier, the work explores their shared love of bold ideas, movement, and the Cornish coast. Groves’ fascination with Hepworth’s sculptural forms has shaped his sonic imagination for years. Now, working closely with musicians and experts, he’s refining the score and testing ideas in real time (24 April, 7pm, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings).
- Sam Belinfante and Neil Luck: Opera gets dismantled, reassembled, and reimagined through sound, screen, and speaker in this bold experiment in theatrical technology. Belinfante and Luck restage and rearrange critical moments using sound, video, lighting, and complex cueing systems. Working across disciplines and unconventional spaces, they transform off-stage choruses, dramatic reveals, and musical interactions into immersive audio-visual maquettes. These are performed not by people, but by projectors, speakers, and screens (2 May, 3.30pm, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings).
- Resonant Bodies: Rob Bentall on Swedish nyckelharpa and Zeb Budworth on hammered dulcimer explore folk-minimalist improvisation. Expect extended techniques, analogue effects, and a bold reimagining of how these traditional instruments can sound and interact. This sharing will feature a 45-minute continuous improvised performance shaped by text scores from UK composer Henry McPherson (15 May, 7pm, Jerwood Kiln Studio, Snape Maltings).
Family Concerts
- Concerteenies: The Duck with No Luck: Narrator Polly Ives, bassoonist Daria Phillips and pianist Annabelle Lawson combine new music, composed by award-winning Paul Rissmann, and digital animations by Victor Craven, with this much-loved children’s book written by Jonathan Long and illustrated by Korky Paul. For children aged 3 – 7 and their families, The Duck with No Luck features songs and actions to join in with and a relaxed and friendly environment, this is a perfect introduction to music, animation and storytelling (29 March, 12pm, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings). This is followed by a Family Music Makers (29 March, 2pm, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings).
- Easter Family Fun: Easter activities include storytelling with interactive sounds, make an Easter-themed musical instrument, and an audio Easter Egg Hunt offering the chance to explore The Red House Garden (8 & 9 April, 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3pm, The Red House, Aldeburgh).
- Mini Music Makers is a Friday morning session of fun music and play activities for 0-5-year-olds. The 90-minute sessions are led by The Red House’s Community and Collections Curator Joe Carr and include singing and creative play to encourage social skills, turn-taking, sharing and having fun (every Friday from 9 January, The Red House).
- Family Music Makers is a free, fun session of music and play activities for 5–10-year-olds including warm-ups, musical games and creating new music (Monthly from 9 November, Britten Studio, 2pm).
Participatory Events
- Scratch Choir: The American Greats: Enjoy an enriching singing day exploring American choral and gospel music including pieces by Randall Thompson, Lauridsen and Whitacre. Perfect for singers of all ages who are comfortable reading music. Expect a warm-hearted and uplifting participatory workshop of singing together in the company of conductor Ben Vonberg-Clark (20 May, 11am, Snape Maltings Concert Hall).
Art Talks
- Britten Pears Arts and celebrated Art Historian Dr John-Paul Stonard takes us on a cultural historical tour that begins in Constable’s native Suffolk, then takes us far afield, to the foothills of Himalayas, the landscape of China, and even as far as the moon. The lectures will be accompanied by Stonard’s trademark drawings, films and photographs and mark Constable’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Weekly from Monday 23 February - 30 March, 6.30pm, Britten Studio, Snape Maltings.
- Lecture 1: Fen Lane (23 February); Lecture 2: The Borough (2 March); Lecture 3: Constable in Love (9 March); Lecture 4: The Lock (16 March); Lecture 5: Riverrun (23 March) and Lecture 6: Summerland (30 March). Buy a season ticket to all six talks in the John Constable series and receive a multibuy discount off the full price (from £75 to £60).
Art Exhibitions
- Les Bicknell: POWER | Britten Pears Arts: POWER is an exhibition of work by Les Bicknell, artist in residence at Sizewell C. In his role as observer, and witness, he is creating testimony to what he has seen. This is the first exhibition of this new work. (31 January – 15 March, Snape Maltings Galleries).
- Lasting Britten | Britten Pears Arts: A reflective exhibition on the people who shaped Benjamin Britten’s final years and legacy. (2 April – 30 June, Kitchen Gallery, The Red House)
The Red House
- The Viola Tunnard Recital: On This Island: Pianist Francesca Lauri, this year’s Viola Tunnard Young Artist , and Britten Pears Young Artist Programme alumna, is joined by soprano Madeline Boreham to present a deeply personal programme built around their identity as a duo. They offer a selection of songs from composers including Marx, Fauré and Poulenc, that reflects their artistic journey as collaborators and close friends, culminating with Britten’s On This Island (26 April, 1pm & 4pm, Library, The Red House).
- Red House Recital: The Art Song of Imogen Holst: Soprano Joanna Songi and pianist Matthew Fletcher explore the archived works of Imogen Holst in this recital celebrating their new recording of her Art Song. Imogen Holst’s music sets poetry by English Renaissance writers, including Shakespeare and Donne, and folksongs from the Appalachian Mountains. Completing the programme are works by her father Gustav Holst and Britten, together with companion pieces by a new generation of composers (10 May, 1pm & 4pm, Library, The Red House).
Full listings online at www.brittenpearsarts.org
Images available here.
Tickets from £10 and go on general sale on 22 November at 10am.
For further press information, please contact:
Rebecca Driver Media Relations
Email: rebecca@rdmr.co.uk | Tel: 07989 355446 | web: www.rdmr.co.uk