Barnes Music Festival
The Barnes Music Festival returns 7–22 March, with a characteristically wide-ranging programme that makes it easy to explore classical music close to home, whether you’re a regular concert-goer or simply curious to try something new. With events spread across several local venues and many tickets priced around £20, the festival continues to balance ambition with accessibility.
The festival opens on Saturday 7 March with a Come & Sing performance of Bach’s St John Passion at St Michael’s & All Angels Church. Led by Hilary Campbell and sung in English, this participatory event invites singers and listeners alike to experience one of Bach’s most dramatic choral works in a welcoming, informal setting. It’s a particularly good entry point for those who enjoy being part of the music rather than sitting back and observing. Tickets £20.
Also on Saturday 7 March, the official Opening Concert takes place in the evening with Britten’s Noye’s Fludde. This semi-staged community opera brings together professional soloists with local performers and young musicians for a vivid retelling of the Noah’s Ark story. Britten’s accessible score and the sense of shared endeavour make this a distinctive and much-loved festival opener. Tickets £35 / £25.
On Sunday 8 March, the focus turns to emerging talent with the Barnes Young Musician of the Year Final at the OSO Arts Centre. Finalists perform a varied programme judged by an expert panel, offering audiences the chance to hear exceptional young performers at an early stage in their careers. It’s a relaxed lunchtime concert and a festival highlight for many local families. Tickets £10.
Midweek brings a change of sound and setting to the Barnes Music Festival with the Natrio Trumpet Trio on Wednesday 11 March at All Saints’ Church, Putney. Nick Budd, Joseph Sykpala and Will Thomas present a lively programme that ranges from early trumpet repertoire to inventive modern arrangements, showing off the versatility and colour of the instrument. Tickets £15.
For something slightly different, Crossed Paths: Handel, Scarlatti & Dodgson takes place on Tuesday 17 March at the Barnes Wetland Centre. Harpsichordist Katarzyna Kowalik explores connections between Baroque masters Handel and Scarlatti and the music of Barnes-based composer Stephen Dodgson, combining international repertoire with a strong local thread. Tickets £20.
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