Our summer season for 2019 saw the Hallé Orchestra return to Harrogate, bringing the quality and excitement they did under the baton of Sir Barbirolli, however, this time they were accompanied by a new man in town. Casino Royale in Concert opened the season with Bond on the big screen supported by the full force of the Hallé. From the Leeds International Piano Competition winner Eric Lu, to the youngest ever joint winner of the Junior 1st Prize at the Menuhin Competition in 2018, Christian Li, travelling all the way from Australia, this summer we really did ‘welcome the world’.

Christian was joined on the Young Musicians platform by the Solem String Quartet, BBC Young Musician Finalist Rob Burton, and Leeds International Piano Competition Third Prize Winner Xinyuan Wang.

One of our summer favourites returned as Oddsocks offered a fresh take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, whilst the Concert by Candlelight with the Gesualdo Six was presented with a twist under the Museum of the Moon installation. Our orchestral finale featured the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic with a past Young Musician in Julian Bliss performing Mozart’s farewell to instrumental music.

“…takes the good name of Harrogate around the world in a way no amount of advertising could achieve.”  Yorkshire Post