ARMONICO CONSORT: THE FAIRY QUEEN

Founded by organist & conductor Christopher Monks in 2001, Armonico are one of the largest organisations of their kind in the UK. Making excellent use of authentic period instruments, the baroque consort regularly perform with some of the best solo musicians in the world. 

This latest concert sees them returning to the output of Henry Purcell, having previously earned rave reviews for their inimitable version of his Dido & Aeneas. This time out, they’re turning their attention to his famous semi-opera, The Fairy Queen - a work based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream...

Armonico are promising that their version will be ‘a modern-day retelling of both of these incredible works in one joyous evening!’  

Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa, Thursday 27 June; Malvern Theatres, Saturday 29 June

MADAM BUTTERFLY WITH CBSO & KAZUKI YAMADA

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s (CBSO) chief conductor & artistic advisor, Kazuki Yamada, is the man at the helm for this sure-to-be-impressive performance of a composition close to his heart. 
Telling the story of a geisha girl who marries an American naval officer, only to find that he soon returns home and marries another, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly has become one of the most popular operas of all time... The CBSO is joined for the concert performance by highly rated Japanese soprano Maki Mori (pictured).

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Saturday 29 June

SHREWSBURY FESTIVAL CHORUS & SINFONIA: THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS

Shrewsbury Cantata Choir and Shrewsbury Choral here come together - as Shrewsbury Festival Chorus - with Shrewsbury Sinfonia to perform Edward Elgar’s The Dream Of Gerontius. Premiered at Birmingham Town Hall in 1900 - and widely considered to be the Worcestershire-born composer’s finest choral masterpiece - the work is based on the same-named 1865 poem by John Henry Newman and recounts the journey of a pious  man’s soul after death. 
The performance is conducted by Cantata Musical Director Anthony Coupe. 

Shrewsbury Abbey, Saturday 29 June

BIRMINGHAM BACH CHOIR

One of the city’s oldest and most distinguished musical groups, Birmingham Bach Choir here presents a summer concert featuring four very different works. 

As well as David Bednall’s The Dear Bargain, which was originally performed by the choir during its centenary, the programme also features Elgar’s dramatic Give Unto The Lord and Leonard Bernstein’s ever-popular Chichester Psalms. 

The final piece is Sound The Invisible Trumps, a work composed by the choir’s conductor, Paul Spicer, in memory of much-loved chairperson Pauline Round. 

St Mary’s Church, Warwick, Saturday 29 June; St Alban’s Church, Conybere, Birmingham, Saturday 6 July

STAFFORD SINFONIA

“Our orchestra is comprised of talented musicians from across the Midlands,” explains the Stafford Sinfonia website, “and our concerts are a great way to experience the beauty of classical music. We believe in making music accessible to everyone and strive to ensure that our performances are enjoyable for all. “We hope you will join us at one of our concerts soon...”

A couple of opportunities for music lovers to do just that are available this very month, with the orchestra first performing on the 22nd, at Rising Brook Community Church, and then visiting Holy Trinity Church with this last-day-of-June offering. The concert programme features Emilie Mayer’s Faust Overture, Grieg’s Holberg Suite and Beethoven’s fifth symphony.

Eccleshall, Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall, Stafford, Sunday 30 June