New hall, new season: newly renovated Bristol Beacon unveils its 2024/25 season of orchestral concerts

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Kirill Karabits at Bristol Beacon (Photo: Giulia Spadafora)

Bristol Beacon reopened in November 2023 following a radical transformation which has seen significant improvement in the appearance and function of the main hall and the restoration of the historic core to the building incorporating imaginative new work. Built in 1867 and opened in 1873, the halls have had a series of rebuilds during the 20th and 21st centuries, and in 2020 adopted the new name of Bristol Beacon.

The recent renovation was driven by a vision to enhance and expand the venue’s orchestral and classical programme, capitalising on Beacon Hall’s world-class acoustics and bringing the very best orchestral music to enthusiastic audiences in the South West of England.  Now, Bristol Beacon has announced its first full season of orchestral music following the renovation.

For the 2024/25 season, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is orchestra in residence with six concerts this season, including the opening and closing concert. Two of the performances are with the Orchestra’s new chief conductor Mark Wigglesworth, and their former chief conductor Kirill Karabits returns to present a folklore-inspired programme. They will also be joined by guest conductors Karl-Heinz Steffens, Valentina Peleggi and Gergely Madaras.  The London Symphony Orchestra returns as associate artists of Bristol Beacon with two concerts, the first of which is with its new chief conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, the second with Gianandrea Noseda.

The season sees Beacon Hall debuts for Sinfonia of London, with Sheku Kanneh-Mason and their conductor John Wilson, and the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Other visiting ensembles include the London Philharmonic Orchestra with Karina Canellakis and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, and the Prague Symphony Orchestra with chief conductor Tomáš Brauner. The Buenos Aires Symphony Orchestra of Colón Opera not only make their Bristol Beacon debut, but also their UK debut, conducted by Mariano Chiacchiarini, the programme includes Piazzolla’s rarely performed Bandoneon Concerto with soloist Pablo Mainetti. 

Bristol Beacon (Photo: Tim Crocker)

Before then, the BBC Proms is at Bristol Beacon for a weekend that includes the Bristol-based Paraorchestra and Charles Hazlewood, the BBC Singers celebrating their 100th anniversary and Kirill Karabits performs his last concert as Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s chief conductor and will be joined by Evelyn Glennie for a performance of Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto. Then in September, the hall hosts the grand final of BBC Young Musician 2024.

Full details from the Bristol Beacon website.

Bristol Beacon joins forces with London Symphony Orchestra once again for live broadcast to care homes in March

Simon Rattle and London Symphony Orchestra

In October 2021, Bristol Beacon (formerly Colston Hall) presented a concert by the London Symphony Orchestra at Bath Forum and broadcast it. The success has encourage Bristol Beacon to live stream the LSO and Simon Rattle's forthcoming Bath Forum concert and to make the concert available free of charge for a month to care homes across the country. This is sponsored by Bristol Care Homes, who wanted to extend the opportunity to watch the concert to all care homes across the country as many still contend with the impacts of the pandemic.

The concert takes place on 14 March 2022, and the programme is Hannah Kendall's The Spark Catchers, Dvorak's American Suite and Schumann's Symphony No. 2. 

Bristol Beacon first opened in 1867 as Colston Hall, the organisation announced its new name in 2020 and is currently mid-way through a major multi-million-pound transformation of its performance spaces, due to reopen in 2023.

Care Homes wishing to access the stream should email hello@bristolbeacon.org for information. Further information about the concert from the Bristol Beacon website.

Bristol New Music 2022

Bristol New Music, a city-wide celebration of contemporary music, returns for its fourth edition from 5 to 8 May 2022 with highlights of the programme having just been announced. International artists and collaborations include Hezarfen Ensemble performing a trans-cultural programme of commissions by top young Turkish and British composers, Chicago-based singer, and clarinettist Angel Bat Dawidin in a solo set of futuristic spiritual jazz, Berlin based Norwegian saxophonist Bendik Giske, Belgian-born Angolan producer Nazar in an uncompromising synthetic take on his native country’s Kuduro music, in dialogue with London visual artist Rob Heppell. Beatrice Dillon collaborates with British Asian composer and Bhangra pioneer Kuljit Bhamra,

Swedish composer Ellen Arkbro will perform a new organ piece on the Harrison & Harrison organ at St Mary Redcliffe, Other site-specific pieces include multimedia installation artist Kelly Jayne Jones creating a special piece for the vaults of Clifton Suspension Bridge, and Irish conceptual artist Áine O'Dwyer presenting a new commission that captures the song and instrumentation of time, place and people in the Bristol neighbourhood of Easton. 

Other artists include South London musician Mica Levy performing star star star with an ensemble at St George's Bristol, Bristol feminist interdisciplinary ensemble Viridian Ensemble, and radical noise duo Harrga,

Taking place biennially across Bristol. Bristol New Music is a collaboration between five key organisations in the city: Bristol Beacon, Arnolfini, Spike Island, St George’s Bristol and the University of Bristol. Venues this year include St George’s Bristol, Arnolfini Auditorium, Strange Brew, Spike Island, St Mary Redcliffe Church, and Clifton Suspension Bridge Vaults.

Full details from Bristol New Music website.