Our music and performance programme provides regular public performances in key waiting areas around The Royal London and Barts Hospitals for the enjoyment of patients and visitors. Concerts feature a range of leading musicians from around the world.
"You're doing a great job of cheering everyone up. We've got nothing else to do. You get really bored in here so this is just lovely."
Lynn, Patient enjoying a ward concert
Rahere Summer Concert Series
We're delighted to announce renowned cellist Matthew Barley is returning to deliver a series of intimiate, presented concerts for patients at Barts this spring. As part of Around Britten, Matthew's ambitious tour to celebrate the centenary of composer Benjamin Britten, Matthew will be visiting patients in wards and treatment areas, an auspicious beginning for the Rahere Summer Concert Series.
Matthew Barley - 'probably the world's most adventurous cellist' – was a popular visitor last summer as part of Spitalfields Music's Summer Festival, improvising and performing pieces from Bach to Saint-Saëns to 170 in-patients across 6 wards. As one patient aptly put it:
"Marks out of 10? I'll give you 11."
Nicola, Patient
City Of London Festival
We have a wonderful series of lunchtime concerts at Barts, in partnership with the City Of London Festival each summer. This year we welcome:
Friday 5 July, 1 - 2.30pm
Oriole
Friday 12 July, 1 - 2.30pm
Salvation Jane
Friday 19 July, 1 - 2.30pm
Branco Stoysin Trio
These concerts are free, open to the public and there's no need to book.
Barbican Centre
Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig
Vital Arts were thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning Department. We invited members of Barbican's international family of orchestras - the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig - to perform 'pocket concerts' at Barts Hospital. Concerts were held around Barts Hospital in waiting areas and treatment lounges to provide patients with respite from their daily treatments and care. Musicians performed Mendelssohn's String Quartet Op. 13 and Strauss' Perpetuum Mobile.
The Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig can boast the title of world's oldest symphony orchestra and has an enviably prestigious roll-call of conductors including today's highly acclaimed chief conductor Riccardo Chailly.
You can view press from the day on our youtube channel, and our press page.
