Organisers of the annual celebration of the life and music of Worcestershire’s most famous composer have announced that tickets for this year’s event are now on sale.
Themed ‘Celebrate with Elgar’, this year’s Festival – which will take place from Saturday 24 May until Sunday 1 June – will bring together world class professional musicians and artists alongside local choirs and ensembles placing the music of Worcester’s most famous son alongside that of his contemporaries and some of today’s leading composers and arrangers.
Set in the composer’s hometown and surrounding areas, the Festival is an annual celebration of Elgar’s music spanning symphonic and string orchestra concerts by the resident and world renowned English Symphony Orchestra.
Kenneth Woods, Artistic Director of The Elgar Festival said: “We are delighted to announce that booking for this year’s event is now open. Building on the success of previous years, this year’s Festival promises 9 days packed with events. We’ll celebrate great music-making, our natural environment, young musicians, diversity, the music of today as well as music of the past, beautiful historic buildings, community and participation.”
Highlights include Elgar’s Symphony No. 2 and John Ireland’s oratorio ‘These Things Shall Be’ performed by the ESO and joined by the 2025 Festival Chorus on Saturday 31 May in Worcester Cathedral. There are further performances by English String and Chamber Orchestras, recitals by world renowned performers Raphael Wallfisch, David Briggs and April Fredrick, several participatory events including ‘Come and Play Elgar 1’ and a Young Singers Masterclass. The ever-popular family concert returns hosted by Classic FM’s Zeb Soanes including the winning pieces of the Festival’s Young Composers’ Competition; the event will also celebrate the work and 70th birthday of Worcester’s finest living composer Ian Venables.
There are several free events, relaxed concerts, an exhibition, choral events, a film screening, Q and As, a guided walk, a new performance partnership with students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and a Club Elgar event.
Kenneth concluded: “Elgar really is for everyone! We look forward to welcoming you.”
Venues will include Worcester Cathedral, Royal Porcelain Works, The Guildhall, Malvern Priory, Pershore Abbey, St Martin’s London Road, All Saints Deansway, St George’s Barbourne, St Martin in the Cornmarket, Elgar’s Birthplace The Firs, Huntingdon Hall, St Wulstan’s at Little Malvern, St George’s RC Church and West Malvern Social Club.
Since its inauguration in 2018, when it was a Critic’s Pick in both The Guardian and The Times, the festival has doubled in size and scale and continues to grow annually through an innovative development programme of appealing and accessible events, working with hundreds of both internationally renowned professional artists and amateur musicians and performers of all ages to ensure Elgar really is for everyone.
For further information and to book tickets please visit www.elgarfestival.org