RNCM Autumn Season
Johnny James, Managing Editor
You can always count on the RNCM to deliver an electrifying Autumn Season. From soul legends to fantastical opera, live art to dance’s cutting edge, we select our highlights below, alongside a separate round-up of the College’s brand new Inspirational Artists series.
Two of our highlights tap into the same theme of Dance:Music — one the RNCM will explore in depth over their 2024/25 season, exploring the symbiotic relationship between these two art forms. The RNCM Symphony Orchestra’s performance in November takes an alternative look at symphonic dance works, while in December, ArkEnsemble and dancers from Company Chameleon collaborate on an immersive experience that transcends the ordinary.
Talking of cross-arts collaboration, a must for families is the next Young Explorers event, A Symphony of Stories, which sees renowned author and artist James Mayhew bring his illustrations to life live on stage, against the backdrop of orchestral favourites by Holst, Stravinsky and Ravel.
Another feast for the senses comes with the RNCM’s latest opera: Emmanuel Chabrier’s L’étoile. Expect a rollercoaster of humorous happenings, mistaken identities, and comical disguises, with a score that takes all kinds of delicious twists and turns. Finally, a legend takes to the RNCM stage in the form of soul singer Madeline Bell. Working with everyone from Dusty Springfield to Scott Walker, The Rolling Stones to Elton John, Bell – despite now being in her 80s – remains a tour de force on stage, her voice shining as brightly as ever.
