Richard Strauss’s prankster Till Eulenspiegel’s capers get the festival off to a witty start, after which we visit a Ravel masterpiece in the composer’s 150th anniversary year and Saint-Saëns’ epitome of French sophistication.

Nielsen’s ‘humorous trifle’ on a failed courtship attempt makes way for the intense masterpiece of Brahms’ horn trio. Then, after the fascinating soundscape conjured by the first of the 2025 festival commissions, we hear the quintet by Hummel which inspired his friend Schubert to write the famous Trout Quintet

An uplifting selection of baroque gems juxtaposed with intriguing masterworks of our time, presented in a relaxed manner with cafe style seating.

2025 marks the 1350th anniversary of St. Wilfred’s founding of our glorious venue, St. Andrew’s Church. In celebration, we have planned a special day of events that starts in the magnificent Hexham Abbey .

Two blockbusters of the classical chamber music repertoire are preceded by Jorg Widmann’s haunting work for horn, in the hands of superstar soloist Ben Goldscheider.

After Concert 4 we continue with our special day of events celebrating 1350 years of St. Andrew’s.

St. Wilfrid sent his monks from Hexham to Corbridge to establish what has now become St. Andrew’s. Much like the monks we will walk from Hexham Abbey to St. Andrew’s. Our walk, organised in partnership with Hexham Ramblers, will be in the company of some of our festival musicians and our resident musicologist, Richard Wigmore.

Composers Piers Hellawell and Diana Burrell, together with artist Jo Westgate in conversation with Richard Wigmore and Robert Plane.

Free event lasting approximately 40 minutes

A spiritually enriching programme ranging from early Beethoven to a brand new work from Piers Hellawell (including optional audience participation!) celebrating St. Wilfrid and the very building that now stands in Corbridge on the site of his ancient monastery.

Flutes and Frets

A fascinating journey through the 500-year long history of the flute and the guitar, featuring a myriad of instruments, ancient and modern, in a selection of the Flutes and Frets Duo’s favourite repertoire.

Explore the secrets of the work that closes our 2025 festival in the company of our resident musicologist Richard Wigmore, whose insights are illustrated with live musical examples from the festival musicians.

The festival comes to a melodious conclusion with the work of the romantic Swedish composer Berwald, having revisited Richard Strauss in the form of a yearning early work as well as Mozart’s sparkling Sonata for two pianists sharing one piano.