Festival 2025

Northern Chords Festival 2025

We are delighted to present the 16th Northern Chords Festival, which will take place on the 27 – 29th May in venues across the region. We have an incredible group of musicians travelling to the North East and we can’t wait to welcome you to our concerts.

To buy tickets for individual concerts, use the buttons below. If you’d like to buy a festival pass, this option is available on all 3 of the ticket pages.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Friday 27th June 2025, 7.30pm
St. Mary’s Church, Whickham

Opening Gala Concert

Northern Chords Festival returns home to St Mary’s Church Whickham – the venue of the very first Northern Chords concert – with a programme featuring three superstars of the classical music scene. Martin James Bartlett is British pianist signed to Warner Classics, recognized for his expressive performances and impressive technique, and was awarded the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2014. He will be joined by Louis Schwizgebel, who is a renowned Swiss pianist, celebrated for his virtuosity and captivating interpretations of both classical and contemporary repertoires, with performances across prestigious concert halls worldwide. Ben Johnson is a dynamic British tenor, renowned for his commanding voice and remarkable versatility, captivating audiences with his stunning performances in major opera houses and concert halls worldwide.

Martin James Bartlett piano
Louis Schwizgebel piano
Ben Johnson tenor

Programme to include piano duets and songs by Schubert and British composers.

Tickets £15. Under 25 + students free.

Saturday 28 June 2025, 7.30pm
Laing Arts Gallery, Newcastle

Bach and Schubert

Our Artistic Director Jonathan Bloxham joins four friends and colleagues to performance one of the most iconic pieces of chamber music ever written – Schubert’s “Cello Quintet”. In the first half violinist Benjamin Baker, who has played with the most famous orchestras in the world, such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Bach’s iconic Second Partita. It includes the famous Chaconne, a work with profound emotional depth and intricate variations, which evokes rich storytelling also found in works of art. A perfect piece to perform in the Laing Art Gallery.

J.S.Bach Partita for Solo Violin No.2 in D minor (including Chaconne)
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F. Schubert  String Quintet in C major D D.956

Benjamin Baker violin
Ruth Rogers violin
Benjamin Roskams viola
Thomas Carroll cello
Jonathan Bloxham cello

Tickets £15. Under 26 + Students Free.

Sunday 29 June 2025, 4pm
St James’ and St Basil’s Church Fenham

Dido and Aeneas

We’re very excited to present our first opera as a festival. Dido and Aeneas is a powerful opera by Henry Purcell, blending rich baroque music with a poignant story of love, loss, and fate. Alongside an ensemble of fabulous soloists,  and directed for the space by Ben Johnson, we will again be collaborating with the incredible Voices of Hope for this special afternoon concert. To open the concert the multi-award winning Swiss pianist Louis Schwizgebel will perform Mozart’s beautiful early C major piano concerto.

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Mozart Piano Concerto in C major
Purcell Dido and Aeneas

Northern Chords Festival Orchestra
Voices of Hope
Louis Schwizgebel piano
Mark Edwards chorus master
Jonathan Bloxham conductor

Cast tba.

Tickets: £20. Under 25 + students free.