The festive season can often be a hectic time of year. Wintering is a balm for the soul, where we’re invited to slow down, to reconnect with the land and one another, as we usher in the winter solstice.
Beautiful harmonies and voices, both traditional and contemporary, resonate together. Inspired by Katherine May’s bestselling book ‘Wintering’, a new piece from composer Samantha Fernando asks: what if we made peace with the cold, dark days instead of running away?
Known for their unique blend of cutting-edge music and classical masterpieces, Manchester Collective join forces with The Marian Consort – a vocal ensemble with a penchant for imaginative and eclectic programming.
Expect a restorative and intimate evening.
About Manchester Collective
Known for their imaginative programming, daring collaborations and engaging performances, the work of Manchester Collective has expanded at break neck speed since their formation in 2016. The Collective’s vision is to reshape the future of classical music by creating radical artistic work from their base in the north of England.
The shape-shifting ensemble performs a combination of cutting-edge contemporary music, classical masterpieces and staged work nationally and internationally, in spaces ranging from concert halls to warehouses, nightclubs to festivals. They collaborate with an exciting array of award-winning artists, pushing at the boundaries of how classical music is presented and experienced. Notable previous projects include The Oracle with South African cellist Abel Selaocoe, Rosewood with guitarist Sean Shibe, The Unfurrowed Field with jazz pianist Fergus McCreadie and a multimedia performance of Michael Gordon’s ‘Weather’ with an installation by sound recordist Chris Watson.
New music is of vital importance to the Collective. Crossing different musical genres, in recent years they have commissioned major works by composers including Edmund Finnis, Ben Nobuto, Hannah Peel, Oliver Leith, Kelly Moran, Moor Mother, Lyra Pramuk, Laurence Osborn, Isobel Waller-Bridge and Alice Zawadzki. In 2021, Manchester Collective made their Royal Albert Hall debut as part of the BBC Proms Festival and are currently artists-in-residence at the Southbank Centre in London. In 2023, they won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Ensemble award. They have released three studio albums on the Icelandic label Bedroom Community.
Image credit: Gaelle Beri
