Living Legend John Adams conducts a three-day celebration of his music in Manchester
American composer and conductor, John Adams, will make a special visit to Manchester from 30 October - 1 November to conduct the Hallé orchestra in a celebration of his music at The Bridgewater Hall and Royal Northern College of Music.
The festival forms part of ‘The Hallé Presents ..’ series which has welcomed audiences to exciting celebrations of Steve Reich and Philip Glass in previous seasons.
The first concert takes place at The Bridgewater Hall on Thursday 30 October with a performance of Harmonium – a surging poetic soundscape regarded as one of the composer’s key minimalist compositions – brought to life by the Hallé, Hallé Choir and outstanding soprano Mary Bevan.
On Friday 31 October, the festival moves to the Royal Northern College of Music, for an intimate lunchtime chamber concert followed by a RNCM Symphony Orchestra concert.
Back at The Bridgewater Hall on Saturday 1 November, the concert begins with Scheherazade.2, a dramatic symphony for solo violin and orchestra performed by the sensational violin soloist Leila Josefowicz, for whom the piece was written.
John Adams Festival
In October 2025, the Hallé presents a three-day celebration of the music of composer, conductor and creative thinker, John Adams.
Find out moreJohn Adams
“I'm very proud of my history with the Hallé orchestra. I first conducted them in the days before The Bridgewater Hall opened. I'm especially looking forward to having the Hallé Choir perform my choral symphony, ‘Harmonium’, to having my longtime collaborator Leila Josefowicz play ‘Scheherezade.2’ (written for her) and to ending these concerts with the UK premiere of my most recent orchestra piece, The Rock You Stand On.”