Hear queer stories of joy, hope, sorrow and resilience across multiple venues this summer.
LGBTQ+ voices have always had a presence in classical music, and for Classical Pride 2025 they’ll ring loud and proud within the vocal-led programme Voices of Pride. The glittering finale of Classical Pride in London will be celebrated in the Barbican Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra, a world premiere by Jake Heggie commissioned by Classical Pride and a line-up of star soloists. Make an evening out of it and start with a free performance in the Hall by emerging musicians at 6pm on 4 July.
Classical Pride opens with a choral performance on at Wigmore Hall on 27 June, a trumpet and ensemble concert two days later at King’s Place and a staged opera double-bill at Wilton’s Music Hall on 1 July. Classical Pride goes stateside on 10 July with founder and conductor Oliver Zeffman directing the LA Phil at the Hollywood Bowl.
Classical Pride: Voices of Pride runs from 27 June – 10 July in multiple venues across London and LA. Discover the full programme www.classicalpride.uk
Classical Pride is not-for-profit. Net proceeds from concerts at the Barbican will be donated to three important LGBTQ+ charities - Rainbow Railroad, Terrence Higgins Trust and GAY TIMES’ Amplifund.
Classical Pride is promoted by Ozero Arts, an arts production charity (registered charity no. 1155338) that undertakes ambitious artistic projects - conceiving, producing and raising money for bold ideas across live and recorded music.
Classical Pride is generously supported by R. Martin Chavez
Events
Event
Classical music
Classical Pride: Voices of Tomorrow
Texts by queer poets and music by LGBTQ+ composers are brought together in this song recital that showcases some of today’s leading young classical music talent.
Ricky Ian Gordon Joy (text by Langston Hughes)
Maud Valérie White The Throstle (text by Alfred Lord Tennyson)
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky The Cuckoo, Op. 54, no. 8 (text by Christian Gellert)
Martin Bussey We two (text by Walt Whitman)
Leonard Bernstein To What You Said (text by Walt Whitman)
Edward Picton-Turbervill How can I keep from singing? (text trad.)
Judith WeirLady Isobel and the Elf Knight (text trad.)
Jonathan DoveBetween Your Sheets (text by Mary Wortley Montagu)
Reynaldo HahnA Chloris (text by Théophile de Viau)
Stephen HoughAll Shall be Well (text by Julian of Norwich)
Harriet Burns soprano
Jonathan Eyers baritone
Edward Picton-Turbervill piano
Event
Classical music
Classical Pride: Voices of Joy & Sorrow
A triumphant finale to 2025’s Classical Pride, as the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor Oliver Zeffman celebrate LGBTQ+ voices in classical music with a vibrant programme.
Camille Saint-Saëns Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila
Jennifer Higdonblue cathedral
Jake Heggie New Work (world premiere)
Camille Saint-Saëns Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix from Samson et Dalila
Harold Arlen Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz