BRITTEN SINFONIA’S SURROUND SOUND PLAYLIST: AUTUMN 2026 TOUR ANNOUNCED
Arts Council England touring grant enables spectacular, immersive concerts in five cathedrals this autumn
Tour dates:
Canterbury Cathedral - Tuesday 27 October 2026 [Canterbury Festival]
Ely Cathedral - Wednesday 28 October 2026
Norwich Cathedral - Friday 20 November 2026
Peterborough Cathedral - Wednesday 25 November 2026
Lincoln Cathedral - Friday 27 November 2026
With the confirmation of a National Lottery Touring Fund grant from Arts Council England, Britten Sinfonia’s immersive cathedral concert experience returns this autumn, with performances in five English Cathedrals: Canterbury, Ely, Norwich, Peterborough and Lincoln.
Drawing ecstatic feedback from capacity audiences in the inaugural March 2025 tour – "magical", "awesome", "phenomenal", "just the best thing ever" – Surround Sound Playlist meets head-on classical music"s widely perceived barriers to engagement. Conceived by the orchestra’s CEO and Artistic Director, Meurig Bowen, the concert format delivers pay-what-you-can pricing, multiple stages, a freer seating environment and the widest range of orchestral, choral, solo and chamber repertoire. Describing it as a "taster menu, not a three course meal", Bowen says it is like "a drivetime radio mix or eclectic playlist, but live and all around you."
The 2025 tour was a sell-out success, drawing thousands to performances in three East of England cathedrals. 36% of groups included at least one person attending a classical concert for the first time. One attendee commented: “The concert was wonderful. Myself and my 14 year old son thoroughly enjoyed our first classical experience and it was superb to be able to lay down and enjoy the lights and music. Really fabulous, thank you.”
In Peterborough Cathedral, 25% of ticket bookers came from the 10% most deprived wards in the UK. The relaxed format also opened doors for audiences who face barriers at conventional concerts. One attendee wrote: "I have a condition that means I can't sit in a chair for long. The fact I could bring my beanbag was what made me come. I'm not usually able to go to concerts.”
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"Many people have rather fixed preconceptions about classical music, and often feel that it's not for them," says Meurig Bowen. "The success of Surround Sound Playlist last year proved that by understanding and addressing these barriers, and creating something that can’t be achieved in a single-stage concert hall, you can deliver an outstanding experience for those who might otherwise have stayed away”
Breadth of repertoire is at the heart of this new concert experience. Beloved classical favourites such as Allegri’s Miserere, Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Handel’s Zadok the Priest and Prokofiev’s Dance of the Knights are carefully sequenced with music by Bartok, Ligeti, Purcell, Ravel and living composers such as Eriks Esenvalds, Morten Lauridsen, Caroline Shaw and Eric Whitacre.
With multiple performing stages around each cathedral, and with each short piece flowing seamlessly to the next, audiences are led through an unbroken musical journey aided by atmospheric lighting and projection. With many of the rows of seats removed, audiences are encouraged to bring cushions and rugs and enjoy the music in the Cathedral Nave’s Immersive Zone, sitting or lying down.
Joining Britten Sinfonia in these performances are the celebrated choir Tenebrae conducted by Nigel Short, twice Grammy-nominated saxophonist Amy Dickson, eight-time ARIA Award-winning oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros, and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee harmonica and melodeon player Will Pound. Also on stage will be local choirs and secondary school ensembles at each venue – nearly 300 community performers took part in last year’s Surround Sound Playlist performances.
Speaking about the 2025 tour, Amy Dickson commented: "The atmosphere created in each cathedral was incredible - I've rarely felt such a direct emotional connection with an audience. Walking through a sea of people lying on the floor, playing my soprano saxophone, and feeling that energy coming back at me - it exceeded all my expectations. And the feedback afterwards was overwhelming. So many people told me their whole perception of classical music had changed that evening. That means everything."
2025 audience responses also spoke for themselves:
"It was a magical evening, full of surprises alongside familiar music. So many people believe that cathedrals are formal places and that classical music is elitist - this occasion proved that neither is true."
"A fantastic immersive experience as well as some world class performances. The teenagers loved not sitting in a tiered concert hall. The early 30s loved the movement and extra production value. Us oldies appreciated the great performances."
"It was just the best thing ever."
“It’s like Classical Glastonbury.”
Tickets are Pay What You Can from £6.