A five-day celebration of Music in all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.

From 1–5 October, we’ll be performing for free across all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester. From skate parks to shopping malls, libraries and more, we’re taking music into unexpected places—meeting people where they are and finding out what YOU want from our organisation. (Full list of activities lower down)

At the same time, we’ll be celebrating the launch of ten new free Music Cafés for people living with dementia and their carers across Greater Manchester, supporting people to ‘live well’ through music (click here to find a Music Café near you).

In addition to our free events, the weekend will feature two special ticketed headline performances by our orchestra. At our home, The Monastery in Gorton, join us for an unforgettable evening with Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy conducting works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Arvo Pärt (click here for tickets). At Aviva Studios, experience the UK premiere of Opera Omnia, a powerful short film by critically acclaimed electronic duo Space Afrika, performed live with our musicians (click here for tickets).

Finally, we’re opening the doors of our home, The Monastery, for open rehearsals in the lead-up to our headline performance on Friday night. If you’re curious to see what goes on behind the scenes, come along and drop in – full list of dates and activities below.

Wednesday 1^st October
Open Rehearsal at The Monastery (10:30 – 16:30) – Click here to sign up

Thursday 2^nd October
Open Rehearsal at The Monastery (10:00 – 16:00) NOW SOLD OUT

Friday 3^rd October 
Open Rehearsal at The Monastery – (15:30-18:30) NOW SOLD OUT

Beethoven, Mozart & Pärt: with Gábor Takács-Nagy at The Monastery (8pm) – Tickets here

Saturday 4^th October 
Bolton Library (14.00 & 15.30): 2 x 45 min Family storytelling shows
Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre (12:00 Bloom Band/ 13;00 Camerata/ 14:00 Bloom Band/ 15:00 all together): Classical favourites and pop hits, with Bloom Music Community CIC
Stockport Stockroom (13.00-16.00): Performance in collaboration with Writing Squad, young people’s writing group
Salford Graystone Action Sports (17:00-20:00): 2 performances in the skate park in collaboration with From The Other
Manchester The Horsfall (13:00-16:00): in collaboration with 42nd Street.
Manchester Piccadilly Train Station (14:00-17:00)

Sunday 5^th October 
Wigan Old Courts (14.00 & 15.30): 2xhr long performances in collaboration with The Chubby Northerner
Tameside Stalybridge Civic Hall (12:30 Camerata performance/13:15 Tameside performance & 14:30 Camerata performance/ 15:15 Tameside performance): in collaboration with Tameside Music Service
Trafford Stretford High Street (12:00-15:00): Classical favourites and pop hits.
Bury The Met (19.15. Support act from 18:30) in collaboration with artist Toria Woof – click here for free tickets
Oldham Spindles Shopping centre supported by Oldham Coliseum (12.00-15.00): 2 x Family storytelling shows.
Manchester Aviva Studios (19:00): In collaboration with Space Afrika – Tickets here.
Manchester/Salford/Tameside Media City Tram Line (12:00-15:00)

Click here to find a full timetable of our free Music Cafés for people living with dementia and their carers

We’re hosting a series of lunchtime concerts at our home, The Monastery in Gorton, supported by our good friends at Classic FM. These intimate performances allow our community to experience incredible music in a relaxed, inspiring, and historic setting. At just one hour, it’s the perfect opportunity to step away from your day to enjoy something memorable.

Our upcoming concert features Appalachian Spring, a masterpiece by Aaron Copland, originally composed as a ballet score. The piece tells the story of a young pioneer husband and his bride beginning a life together on the American frontier. It will be brought to life by our musicians and enhanced by our collaboration with Company Chameleon, one of Manchester’s leading dance companies.

Known for their powerful and original dance theatre, Company Chameleon will interpret the music through dance, fusing sound and movement for this uplifting piece. 

This concert will also feature music by our Camerata 360° Ruth Sutton Fellows.

Tickets are £10, and concessions are £3 (Under 30s, Students, and Gorton Residents)

Programme

• Anna Meredith Two Movements for Trumpet and String Quartet
• Benjamin Britten Phantasy Quartet
• Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring

Performed by

• Manchester Camerata
• Company Chameleon

Joseph Leutgeb frequently found himself the target of his composer’s playful jokes. There’s a fun yet challenging nature to these pieces, in particular, Concerto No.4 during the 3rd movement showcases a musical game of ‘catch me if you can’, where the orchestra ‘chases’ the horn player who is always a step ahead!

Alongside Mozart’s Horn concertos, we also perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7- one of Beethoven’s more cheery and joyful pieces, showing that the composer still found reason for optimism even after the onset of deafness. 

Enjoy this engaging performance fuelled by the undeniable energy of Gábor Takács-Nagy, with Martin Owen as our horn player. Regarded as one of Europe’s leading horn players, Martin has performed with the likes of the Berliner Philharmoniker, with The Times calling his playing ‘a luxury for the ears’. We are delighted to have him with us – don’t miss this opportunity to see some of Mozart’s great works performed with a truly incredible musician.

Programme

• Mozart Concerto, Horn, No.3, K.447, E-flat major
• Mozart Concerto, Horn, No.4, K.495, E-flat major
• Beethoven Symphony No.7

Performed by

• Conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy
• Horn Martin Owen
• Manchester Camerata

Aakash Odedra unites with musical greats, Abi Sampa, Sarthak Kalyani, Rushil Ranjan and forty of our musicians for a unique live orchestral performance of Songs of the Bulbul. This one-off evening, blending captivating dance, peerless singing and orchestral mastery, will be an unforgettable experience.

Songs of the Bulbul premiered in Edinburgh in 2024 winning the prestigious ‘Best Show of the Edinburgh International Festival’. It was celebrated with an array of 5 review stars from The Guardian, The Scotsman, The List and The Herald.

‘A tribute to my mother “Kay”… my smiling bulbul who left her cage.’ – Aakash Odedra

Birdsong is ephemeral – like dance, it exists only in the moment— sung once, then lost to time.

Nightingales, or “Bulbuls”, hold a special place in Persian culture, with their song representing a spiritual seeker, yearning for union with the divine. Their passionate songs are often directed towards the rose, symbolising both earthly beauty and the divine beloved and highlighting the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.

Songs of the Bulbul, a new dance work by Aakash Odedra with choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan, is inspired by the ancient Sufi myth of a bulbul captured and held in captivity. The bird was bound ever closer and slowly perished through despair, singing more sweetly as its end drew nearer, until it uttered one final, heartbreaking and piercingly beautiful song just before it departed the mortal world. Thus ended the journey of the mythical bird, a tale of beauty born of loss and of freedom found only in the ultimate sacrifice. The beauty of this songbird’s melody serves as a metaphor for the fleeting moments of dance and an artist’s life. Rooted in the expansive music, dance, and poetry traditions of Sufism, this new work by two of the most outstanding Sufi Kathak artists performing in the world today emerges as a sensitive dialogue between the ferocious physicality of Kathak and the spiritual journey of Sufism, a path seeking unity with the Divine.

A sensitive, beautiful dialogue between Sufi Kathak, music that seamlessly blends orchestral and Indian Classical tradition, and Islamic Poetry, Songs of the Bulbul invites audiences to witness a transformation transcending physical boundaries towards enlightenment. Through a journey from Persia to the subcontinent, from freedom to captivity, and the soul’s journey towards divine love and enlightenment, Odedra poses a universal question: Will we, like the caged bird, remain bound to the material world, or will we soar towards a higher existence of liberation, and the divine. 

Programme

• Rushil Ranjan Songs of The Bulbul

Performed by

• Vocal Abi Sampa
• Vocal Sarthak Kalyani
• Choreography Rani Khanam
• Aakash Odedra
• Manchester Camerata

We’re hosting a series of lunchtime concerts at our home, The Monastery in Gorton, supported by our good friends at Classic FM. These intimate performances allow our community to experience incredible music in a relaxed, inspiring, and historic setting. At just one hour, it’s the perfect opportunity to step away from your day to enjoy something memorable.

The second concert in our lunchtime series celebrates the greats of North American music alongside pieces from our Mozart, Made in Manchester series. This programme was chosen by our Principal Oboe, Rachael Clegg. North America has a huge tradition of big wind band culture, which inspired this selection of pieces.

This concert brings together a showcase of Mozart, Made in Manchester, with the bold and expressive sounds of North American composers, a unique way to spend your lunch hour.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see this incredible programme performed by some of the best chamber musicians in the country.

Tickets are £10, and concessions are £3 (Under 30s, Students, and Gorton Residents)

Programme

• Mozart Magic Flute Overture
• Amy Beach Pastorale
• Samuel Barber Summer Music
• Valerie Coleman Umoja
• Paul Patterson Comedy for Five Winds
• Arturo Marquez Dansa de Mediodia

Performed by

• Amina Hussain Flute
• Rachael Clegg Oboe
• Mandy Burvill Clarinet
• Ben Hudson Bassoon
• Jenny Cox Horn

These playful concertos capture the close and jokey, yet unlikely friendship of Mozart and Joseph Leutgeb, one of the finest horn players of his time. When Mozart came to write concertos for Leutgeb in Vienna, he saw an opportunity to poke fun at his soloist and friend!

Alongside Mozart’s incredible Horn works, we will also perform Marianna Martines, Overture in C Major, and Haydn Symphony No.94.

Marianna, a composer also based in Vienna around the same time as Mozart, overcame gender-based obstacles to become a prominent member of the Viennese Musical scene. Her Overture in C Major is lyrical and full of spirit, and a testament to her orchestral mastery.

Marianna’s family home was actually in the same building as Haydn with him teaching her piano at an early age. It is also believed that Marianna and Mozart played piano duets together!

Enjoy this cheeky performance fuelled by the undeniable energy of Gábor Takács-Nagy, with Martin Owen as our Horn player.

Regarded as one of Europe’s leading horn players, Martin has performed with the likes of Berliner Philharmoniker, with The Times calling his playing ‘a luxury for the ears’. We are delighted to have him with us. Don’t miss this opportunity to see some of Mozart’s great works performed with a truly incredible musician.

Programme

• Mozart Concerto, Horn, No.1, K.412 & K.514
• Marianna Martines Overture in C Major        
• Mozart Concerto, Horn, No.2 K.417, E-flat Major
• Mozart Concert-Rondo, K.371, E-flat Major
• Haydn Symphony No.94

Performed by

• Conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy
• Horn Martin Owen
• Manchester Camerata

Dvořák wrote his Cello Concerto in 1894 during his final academic year in the US. It became one of his most personal, contemplative pieces filled with monumental expression.

We will also play Kodály and Bartok, lifelong friends who shared an interest in authentic folk music. Both share the homeland of Hungary, the same as our Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy.

Don’t miss Gábor, Hannah, Camerata, and RNCM Students perform these great works with infectious energy and almost telepathic communication.

We would like to thank Florian Leonhard  Fine Violins for the loan of a fine Italian Cello for this performance by Hannah Roberts.

Hannah has this to say about the instrument: ‘ Florian Leonhard has been a world-renowned expert on these magical instruments for many years and also an invaluable support to so many musicians internationally. I am deeply grateful to Florian and his expert team for the opportunity to  play the Dvořák concerto on this great  instrument, which has such stunning qualities of sound and tone colour.’

Programme

• Bartók Hungarian Sketches
• Sam Longbottom (Camerata 360° Ruth Sutton Fellow) Verse by Verse
• Kodály Dances of Galanta
• Interval
• Dvořák Cello Concerto

Performed by

• Conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy
• Cello Hannah Roberts
• Students from RNCM
• Manchester Camerata

We’re hosting a series of lunchtime concerts at our home, The Monastery in Gorton, supported by our good friends at Classic FM. These intimate performances allow our community to experience incredible music in a relaxed, inspiring, and historic setting. At just one hour, it’s the perfect opportunity to step away from your day to enjoy something memorable.

The first of our concert series has been programmed by our Principal Cellist, Hannah Roberts. Hannah is an incredible musician, Professor of Cello at the RNCM in Manchester and Jacqueline Du Pré Professor of Cello at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Join us for an hour of Purcell, Haydn & Webern in the beautiful surroundings of The Monastery.

Hannah was inspired by the Monastery itself when choosing this Programme for this show.

Designed by E.W. Pugin and built in 1872, The Monastery was a consecrated place of worship until 1989, when it fell into disrepair and was left derelict. However, thanks to a dedicated community of volunteers led by Elaine and Paul Griffiths, who bought the ruinous shell for just £1, the Grade II* listed building was saved from the brink of destruction and lovingly restored to its former glory.

The Monastery is now a cherished and welcoming venue for all, offering a place of tranquillity in the heart of Gorton. Its stunning architecture and peaceful surroundings make it a unique venue, one that is as much a part of the experience as the music itself.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see this incredible programme performed by some of the best chamber musicians in the country.

Tickets are £10, and concessions are £3 (Under 30s, Students, and Gorton Residents)

Programme

• Purcell Fantasia
• Haydn Sunrise Quartet
• Webern Langsamer Satz

Performed by

• Caroline Pether Violin 1
• Tom Aldren Violin 2
• Alex Mitchell Viola
• Hannah Roberts Cello

As part of this exhibition, we will be performing Imran Perretta’s original score for a string quartet, A Requiem for the Dispossessed. These live performances will take place on Friday, 28th Feb and Wednesday, 9 Apr, with performances at 18:00 and 19:30 on both days.Our work with visual Artist Imran Perretta, which premiered at Somerset House in late 2024, comes to HOME. To book tickets to these performances click here or the link directly below.

Book live performance >

This spring HOME will present A Riot In Three Acts an exhibition by artist, filmmaker and composer Imran Perretta, combining sound, sculpture and performance to reflect on the narratives of our urban spaces and the social inequality and racial violence that shape them.

A Riot In Three Acts is a large-scale installation using the tropes and techniques of cinema, in the form of an expansive film set and cinematic score, to consider riots and civil uprisings that have occurred in response to systemic injustice experienced by marginalised communities. The exhibition provides a stage for the complex narratives that accompany such collective actions directed against the state, often spurred by racist policing, social deprivation, youth disenfranchisement and anti-war sentiment.

Originally commissioned by and developed in residence at Somerset House Studios in London, the work evolves from Perretta’s experience as a young person during the UK riots in 2011. Initially a response to police violence in London, the riots became a national uprising brought on by an age of endless austerity, quickly spreading to Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and beyond.

A Riot in Three Acts opens with Perretta’s old Blackberry handset on which he received broadcast messages during the early days of the riots; the now-defunct Blackberry Messenger (BBM) platform was a key communication tool as one of the first end-to-end encrypted messaging services. The burning imagery of a furniture shop at Reeves Corner in Croydon presented on the handset is emblematic of the five days of civil uprising in cities across the country, following the shooting of Mark Duggan, an unarmed Black man, by police in Tottenham on 4 August 2011.

The film set, consisting of a painted scenic backdrop and props replicates Reeves Corner as it exists today — a fenced-off area of disused scrubland. The site remains a piece of highly contested land, representing at once a memorial ground to a historic family business, a haunting reminder of a community’s righteous anger, and the death of a dream for change and the end of austerity. After a decade of socioeconomic turmoil and the systematic erosion of public space and resources, it sits as one of many examples of a privately owned, suburban wasteland, forever awaiting (re)development, itself now an unofficial point of congregation for local people, a neglected location that could be in any UK city.

Central to A Riot In Three Acts is a newly commissioned score, A Requiem for the Dispossessed, composed by Perretta, arranged by William Newell and co-commissioned and performed by Manchester Camerata. Drawing on the classical tradition of the requiem, a musical composition honouring the dead, the score serves as a sonic representation of a civil uprising and its aftermath, questioning who controls the narrative around how these actions are interpreted. Presented in spatialised surround sound by producers and fellow Somerset House Studios residents Call and Response, the installation mirrors the experience of cinema sound, with the audience physically located at the centre of the action.

Perretta’s recent accolades include a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Artist Award and a Turner Prize bursary. His work has been exhibited globally from Vienna to LA.

Imran Perretta: A Riot in Three Acts runs from Sat 22 Feb until  Sun 8 Jun 2025 at HOME in their Main Gallery. 

Images Anne Tetzlaff

Programme

• A Riot in Three Acts

Performed By

• Composer/ Artist Imran Perretta
• Arranger William Newell
• Manchester Camerata

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ will be live at the Bahrain National Theatre, marking a first-of-its-kind experience in Bahrain. The Academy Award-winning blockbuster will be shown on the big screen, accompanied by a live adaptation featuring a our orchestra conducted by the acclaimed composer.

Programme

• Lorne BalfeTop Gun: Maverick

Performed by

• Conductor Lorne Balfe
• Manchester Camerata