Lily Allen's live return, Charli xcx's Wuthering Heights and Simon Rattle's Janáček: music to listen out for in 2026

Here is the list of concerts and events mentioned in the article:

**Classical Music and Opera**

* The Makropulos Affair (12 Jan, Barbican, London)
* The Makropulos Affair (15 Jan, Barbican, London)
* Siegfried (17 Mar - 6 Apr, Royal Opera House, London)
* Aurora Orchestra: The Rite by Heart (11 Apr, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh; 16 Apr, Royal Festival Hall, London)
* The Flying Dutchman (Touring, starting at Wales Millennium Centre)

**Ballet and Dance**

* Abél Selaocoe's Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend (23-26 Apr, Barbican, London)

**Festivals and Anniversaries**

* Wigmore Hall 125th anniversary festival (25 May - 7 Jun, Wigmore Hall, London)
* L'Orfeo (dates TBC, Aviva Studios, Manchester)
 
The music scene is just so alive right now 🎵👏. I mean, who wouldn't want to experience a Makropulos Affair at the Barbican? The opera vibes are always so intense and dramatic 💥. And then there's the Royal Opera House with Siegfried – it's like the ultimate classical music event 🙌.

But what really catches my eye is that Aurora Orchestra is putting on this 'Rite by Heart' thing, which sounds like it could be super emotive 🤗. Not to mention Abél Selaocoe's Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend – I've heard great things about his work and it'll be awesome to see him perform live 🎨.

Festivals are always a highlight too. The Wigmore Hall 125th anniversary festival is going to be massive, with so many talented artists on the lineup 🎶. And for dance fans out there, Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend and the Flying Dutchman tour promise to be unforgettable 💃.

I'm also super excited about L'Orfeo in Manchester – have you heard of it? Apparently, it's going to be a real treat for opera lovers 🎭.
 
just saw this & i'm kinda bummed 🤕 think its gonna be a pretty pricey year for london's arts scene. all these awesome concerts & events are comin up but might not be super accessible for everyone. got any ideas how to make these more affordable tho? maybe some sort of student discount or lottery system?
 
can't believe its almost summer and already have so many epic events lined up 🌞🎟️ first off love the wigmore hall 125th anniversary festival, sounds like a must attend for any music lover - been thinking of trying out that famous wigmore hall sound system 💥 got my fingers crossed they'll have some outdoor concerts this year too! 🌳 would also love to see more events celebrating black british culture and contributions to music, but overall stoked for the arts scene in london this year 🎨👏
 
OMG, I'm so stoked for all these epic events coming up! 🤩 First of all, can you imagine attending a performance of Siegfried at the Royal Opera House? That's like, opera heaven right there! And The Makropulos Affair is going to be performed not once but TWICE - that's just amazing! 😍 I'm also really looking forward to Aurora Orchestra's The Rite by Heart concert - have you ever heard of this piece before? It's supposed to be super powerful and emotional. 🌟 And what about Abél Selaocoe's Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend? That sounds like an incredible opportunity to connect with some amazing dance and music from around the world! 💃🏽
 
just saw the lineup for wigmore hall 125th anniversary festival 🎵🔥 and i'm low-key excited!!! been to a few events there before but never one of that caliber... think its gonna be epic! they're celebrating the whole history of classical music which is like, super cool... should def check out abél selaocoe's mohopolo/ancestral memory weekend too 🕊️
 
🎵 just heard the lineup for classical music events in London this year and I'm super stoked! 🤩 The Makropulos Affair is going to be a real challenge for opera singers, gotta give it up for those vocalists. Also, Aurora Orchestra's Rite by Heart performance at Snape Maltings sounds mesmerizing... have you tried their concerts? 🎶 I'm really looking forward to the Wigmore Hall 125th anniversary festival too - all that music over one weekend is gonna be an experience! 🌟
 
Can't believe how pricey these classical music events are 🤑. I mean, £50-£100+ for a concert? That's like asking my kid to buy their own dinner every night 🍔👦. And it's not just the ticket price, it's also the cost of getting there, parking, and grabbing some food before/after the show. Not exactly accessible for most families or on a budget 💸. I love classical music as much as the next person, but come on, let's make these events more affordable so more people can enjoy them 🎵👍
 
omg i'm so excited for the wigmore hall festival 🎉🎶! been waiting for this event for ages 👀 and it's gonna be their 125th anniversary 🤩 that's crazy to think about 🤯 anyway gotta check out abél selaocoe's mohopolo too 🔥 sounds like an amazing weekend 🌞 barbican is such a great venue 🏙️ can't wait for siegfried at the royal opera house 🎭😍
 
can you believe how many times the same opera is happening in london?? 🤯 The Makropulos Affair is gonna kill me, can't they mix it up a bit? 🎵 I'm more excited for Aurora Orchestra's The Rite by Heart though, love their unique sound. And Abél Selaocoe's Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend sounds super intense, need to check that out! 😲 What's the deal with L'Orfeo in Manchester? Aviva Studios is not even that big... hoping for a bigger venue for such an epic opera 🎶
 
Just saw the lineup for that classical music fest at Wigmore Hall and I'm super excited! I mean, who wouldn't want to see The Makropulos Affair performed twice in one week? 🤣 But seriously, it's amazing how they're celebrating their 125th anniversary with a whole festival. It's a great chance for the community to come together and appreciate all that classical music has to offer.

And I love that they have Aurora Orchestra performing The Rite by Heart at Snape Maltings... that's like the ultimate British classical music experience right there! 🌿 Also, Abél Selaocoe's Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend sounds like a really powerful event - can't wait to see it live. Maybe we'll even get some new talent discovered? 🎵
 
🎵 Ah man, it's like they're bringing back the good old days of classical music 🙌! The Makropulos Affair is performing at Barbican for two nights only, I wish I could make it to London for that 😔. And the Aurora Orchestra's Rite by Heart concert sounds so epic, I love the idea of a full orchestra performing this piece 💥.

But you know what's even more amazing? The Wigmore Hall 125th anniversary festival 🎉! It's like they're celebrating a century of classical music and that's just incredible. And I'm curious to see what the L'Orfeo production in Manchester will be like, I've heard it's a great opera 🎶.

The thing is, though... some of these concerts feel so exclusive, like only people with deep pockets can afford to attend 😳. Like, I get that classical music isn't for everyone, but shouldn't there be more options for people who are interested but don't know where to start? 🤔 Still, I'm excited to see what other amazing performances this season has in store 🎵👏
 
I'm not sure about the whole classical music thing. Like, why are they having like two different shows of The Makropulos Affair in one week? Are they trying to get a bigger crowd or something? 🤔 I'd love to see some source on that, actually.

And what's with the Aurora Orchestra's Rite by Heart? That sounds like a great show, but how many people attend these events anyway? Like, are they even profitable for the venue? 📊

I'm also kinda curious about Abél Selaocoe's Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend. What's that all about, then? Is it just another dance show or is there something deeper to it? I need some more info on this one! 💃
 
omg have u guys heard the lineup for wimbledon this year? 🎾 i'm beyond hyped for the new rafael nadal rackets btw i mean have u seen his vids with those insane forehand shots he's still gonna be the king of grass courts no doubt 😎
 
Ugh, I'm so done with the Barbican's concert lineup 🤯. It feels like they're just copying and pasting events from last year and expecting us to be excited 😒. The Makropulos Affair is literally performing twice in one week? Can't they mix it up a bit? And what's with all the London-centric events? I get that it's convenient for the organizers, but it feels like they're neglecting other cities entirely 🤷‍♀️.

And have you seen the festival schedule? It's just a bunch of classical music and opera events strung together without much variety. Where are the indie rock concerts or electronic dance parties? I know some people love that stuff, but can't we get a little more diversity in our event lineup? 🤔
 
🤔 Concert season is coming up and I'm thinking... why all the classical music events? Like, what's with the obsession? I mean don't get me wrong, The Makropulos Affair is a classic, but can't we mix it up a bit? 🎵 There are so many other genres to explore. And don't even get me started on ballet... I'm not saying it's bad, but it's just not my cup of tea 😴. I wish there were more events for all the different kinds of music lovers out there. Maybe that's what the Wigmore Hall festival is trying to do, bring together some cool stuff? 🤷‍♂️
 
Wow 😍 just saw that there's an Abél Selaocoe's Mohopolo/Ancestral Memory Weekend at the Barbican in April and I'm already getting hyped for it 💃🏽🕺! Their work is so unique and thought-provoking, can't wait to see what they have in store for us 🤔. And on a different note, Wigmore Hall 125th anniversary festival sounds like an amazing celebration of music and history 🎶📚. They're really doing something special with that one 😊.
 
just saw that the royal opera house is hosting siegfried in march april 🤩 can't wait to see this classic opera, been wanting to check it out for ages. and also super stoked about the aurora orchestra's the rite by heart concert at Snape maltings... have heard amazing things about their performances 💥 anyone else going to any of these events? 🎵
 
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