A blaze of energy and brilliance for eight players
Date and time
Saturday 7 November 2026, 7.30pm
The programme
Featured musicians
Director: Zoë Beyers
Concert highlights
- Two pieces, two completely different moods
Shostakovich’s Two Pieces for String Octet move from a dark, reflective Prelude to a sharp-edged Scherzo full of wit and bite. - Hear a brand-new work for the very first time
Manchester-based composer Nicholas Simpson’s Octet receives its world premiere, bringing together music that is lyrical, funny, touching, sinister and impassioned. - A musical conversation across two centuries
Simpson wrote his Octet as a companion to Mendelssohn’s much-loved masterpiece, creating a link between a work written today and one composed almost 200 years ago. - A teenage masterpiece
Mendelssohn was just 16 when he wrote his Octet, a work bursting with memorable melodies, energy and exhilarating exchanges between eight string players.
Explore the programme
Please note: Recordings are examples and may differ from the live performance.
Book your ticket
It is easiest to book online via the ‘Book now’ button. Though if you’d prefer to speak to us, or have an enquiry about access, please call 0161 706 1990. We can take your payment by phone as well, so make sure you have your card details at hand.
The office is staffed part-time, so if you can’t reach us, please leave us a message and we will get back to you.
Our concert sponsor
This concert is sponsored by Dr Barbara Broadbent, in memory of Bevan
Date and time
Saturday 7 November 2026, 7.30pm
Ticket Prices
Standard £32
Under 30s £10
Students £5
Under 18s £2
Save with a season ticket
Get 1 concert for free with a full season ticket. Or receive 10% discount on a part season ticket (4-7 concerts).
Duration
2 hours, including a 20 minute interval
Venue
The King’s School in Macclesfield
Alderley Road
Prestbury, Cheshire
SK10 4SP
(For more info and directions, see Access info)
