WHATS ON
AT THE NCEM
NCEM Spring Season 2026
Sunday 18 January 6.30pm – 7.40pm
Monday 19 January 6.30pm – 7.40pm
£50 | £35 | £15
DEATH OF GESUALDO
THE GESUALDO SIX with TABLEAUX VIVANTS
Created and Directed by Bill Barclay Choreographed by Will Tuckett Produced by Concert Theatre Works
The madrigalist Carlo Gesualdo may be most famous for murdering his wife and her lover in an explosive fit of jealousy, but among composers he is revered for anticipating chromaticism by 200 years. Gesualdo’s tortured mind led him into a life of suffering, concluding in astonishing tales of witchcraft and malfeasance. However macabre his biography surely is, the Prince of Venosa’s malignant narcissism can be traced to key incidents from his dark upbringing in the zero sum game of Catholic politics.
Following 25 cities of largely sold-out performances, The Gesualdo Six reunite with director Bill Barclay to create a follow-up to the hit international immersive tour, Secret Byrd. Six dancers enact stunning tableaux vivant, filled with iconography to superimpose Gesualdo’s psyche onto his most chilling music. The result will be the boldest look yet at how the life and music of this enigmatic prodigy must function together for the true Gesualdo to emerge from the shadows.
Commissioned by The Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, The National Centre for Early Music in York, and Music Before 1800 in NYC.
Monday 8 June 6pm
Free entry, booking required
Join countertenor Guy James, a core member of The Gesualdo Six, as he introduces G6’s new Emerging Ensembles project – presented in association with the NCEM.
Monday 2 February 7.30pm
£23 (£21 concessions | £8 under 35)
ANDA UNION
Nars Morin Huur, Tobshuur, Hoomei (throat singing), ikil & guitar Urgen Morin Huur, Hoomei (throat singing) Chinggeltu Bass Morin Huur Saikhannakhaa, Uni Morin Huur, Tobshuur, Hoomei (throat singing) Urgen Drums Chinggel Moadin Chor (Mongolian flute) Biligbaatar, Tsetsegmaa Urtyn Duu (longsong)
As Anda Union celebrate 20 years of music-making, the band have become a cultural phenomenon in the East. Winners of the 2024 popular reality show The Big Band, they wowed audiences by singing in their mother tongue, rocketing into the limelight and bringing their Mongolian sound to the masses. Anda Union have since starred in many commercial campaigns and headlined festivals and stadiums across China.
Anda Union all trained in traditional Mongolian music from a young age and are part of a revivalist movement finding inspiration in traditional music. Their haunting harmonies and vibrant strings evoke the endless beauty of the Mongolian grasslands. Combining throat singing and long song with horse head fiddles and two stringed lutes they bring this powerful ancient music to life as never heard before. Driven by their thirst to revitalize their traditions and culture, they have been stunning people all over the world for the past two decades.
Saturday 28 February 7.30pm
SOLD OUT
MARTIN & ELIZA CARTHY
This powerhouse pair are still making music together, as they always have. Together, they perform an eclectic range of songs and tunes from their vast family repertoire, drawing from the traditional canon as well as selections from a more contemporary songbook. In this duo format, each artist showcases their unique individual musical talents, as well as highlighting their symbiotic bond, with instinctive and sensitive arrangements and accompaniment for each other.
transformmethenintoafish.com | eliza-carthy.com
Sunday 1 March 6.30pm
£23 (£21 concessions | £8 under 35)
FROM BUKHARA TO YORK
ALONG THE GLOBAL SILK ROAD OF ARTS AND CULTURE
Ilyos Arabov, Farangiz Makhmudova, Vosidjon Mahmudov, Nasimkhon Muzaffarov accompanied by the prominent dancer Dilorom Madrakhimova
The soulful and captivating centuries-old music and dance from Bukhara - the jewel of the Silk Road, in Central Asia - finally crosses the York City Wall and onto one of the world’s most fitting stages for classical art forms from across the globe.
The Shashmaqom artists are some of the world’s most celebrated artists in this genre.
Shashmaqom, meaning six modes in Persian, is a suite of vocal and instrumental music pieces, performed predominantly in Bukhara and it’s wider surrounding regions. In 2008 it was listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Preserved, shared, and passed on by many generations of musicians, Muslims, and Jews alike, Shashmaqom is a testiment that we have far more in common to celebrate than differences to keep us apart.
Presented in association with Nava Arts
Saturday 7 March
UNIVERSITY OF YORK BAROQUE+ DAY
12noon – c.1pm | £12 (£10 concessions | £5 students)
ENSEMBLE HESPERI
A GIFT FOR YOUR GARDEN
2.30pm – c.3.30pm | £10 (£8 concessions | £3 students)
JOHAN LÖFVING MUSICAL MATINEE:
THE FORGOTTEN WORLD OF CATHERINA PRATTEN
7.30pm – c.8.45pm | £14 (£12 concessions | £5 students)
UNIVERSITY OF YORK BAROQUE ENSEMBLE & ENSEMBLE HESPERI
WELCOME TO THE DEVIL’S TAVERN
Thursday 12 March 7.20pm
£23 (£21 concessions | £8 under 35)
IG4 FEATURING CLAIRE MARTIN
iG4 is a new intergenerational band of 4 of the UK’s finest jazz talent sharing their love of great songs and composers.
Vocalist Claire Martin OBE joins multi-award-winning pianist and composer Nikki Iles, much-in-demand saxophonist Karen Sharp and rising star bassist Ewan Hastie who won the BBC’s Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 2022. Brand new arrangements written for this project by Nikki will shine a light on classic repertoire from Tom Waits to Burch Bacharach, Anthony Newly and Joni Mitchell, as well as stylish reworkings from the great writers of the American songbook including Cole Porter and Johnny Mandel.
clairemartinjazz.co.uk | nikkiiles.co.uk karensharp.co.uk | ewanhastie.com
The NCEM is proud to work with young jazz players across the city and our developing relationship with York Music Forum. Students will be working with iG4 earlier in the day and sharing their work with us on stage 7.20pm – 7.40pm.
Saturday 14 March 7.30pm
£23 (£21 concessions | £8 under 35)
BAROQUE ALCHEMY
Piers Adams recorders
Lyndy Mayle keyboards
Following their debut concert in 2022, Baroque Alchemy have shared their dazzling performance skills at sell-out performances at festivals, music clubs and theatres throughout the UK.
Melding recorder wizard Piers Adams - frontman of the acoustic baroque super-group Red Priest - with keyboardist partner Lyndy Mayle – Baroque Alchemy turns the traditional early music recital on it’s head by blending the simplicity and natural expressive power of the recorder with modern-day synthesiser technology.
A perfect blend of ancient and modern in a truly dazzling and moving performance.
piersadams.com/baroque-alchemy
Friday 20 March 7.30pm
£23 (£21 concessions | £8 under 35)
BUDAPEST CAFÉ ORCHESTRA
Christian Garrick violin, darbuka Eddie Hession accordion Kelly Cantlon double bass Adrian Zolotuhin guitar, saz, balalaika, domra
The NCEM is delighted to announce the return of Budapest Café Orchestra. Refreshingly unconventional and snappily attired boutique ensemble, Budapest Café Orchestra bring you folk-flavoured music in their own fresh and surprising way. From Balkan and Russian traditional pieces to artful distillations of the masterpieces by the great Romantic composers to Gaelic folk anthems their infectious music will get into your veins and stay there forever.
“The music is magic in their hands.” Sean Rafferty BBC Radio 3
“Not so much a band name as a whole genre of its own, Budapest Café Orchestra embraces an encyclopaedia of music and mischief.” Scotsman
Thursday 16 April 7pm
Free entry, booking required
YOUNG COMPOSERS AWARD CONCERT
Friday 17 April 7.30pm
£23 (£21 concessions | £8 under 35)
KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN
Duos come and duos go, and some nurture and fine tune their art and watch it grow into something totally original and captivating.
For three decades Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman’s partnership has proved personal, permanent and pivotal.
From their roots in 90’s folk supergroup ‘Equation‘ through to becoming a revered duo in the folk music scene this multi award-winning folk music couple continue to exude timeless class with their exquisite brand of traditional and contemporary acoustic music.
2025 saw them celebrate 30 years of their musical partnership with the release of their first live concert album. Titled ‘Another Day At The Circus’ it perfectly encapsulates the intimate poignancy of an evening with a couple at the top of their game.
Kathryn and Sean have twice been voted BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Duo as well as winning Best Duo honours from both Spiral Earth and Fatea Magazine.
“These guys are something very special” Acoustic Magazine
kathrynrobertsandseanlakeman.com
Wednesday 29 April 7.30pm
£10 (£8 concessions | £3 students)
GAMELAN SEKAR PETAK
Gamelan Sekar Petak invites you to join them for a relaxed, intimate performance at the National Centre for Early Music. From playful popular dolanan songs to majestic explorations of the ‘inner melody’, experience the joys of our bronze gongs as we go through a spirited celebration of traditional Javanese songs and contemporary compositions by Indonesian and York based composers.
Friday 1 May 7.30pm
£23 (£21 concessions | £8 under 35)
AHMED DICKINSON & EDUARDO MARTIN
TWO GENERATIONS, ONE GUITAR
Experience Cuba’s most internationally acclaimed guitar duo, featuring the trailblazing collaboration between Grammy-nominated composer Eduardo Martín and virtuoso guitarist Ahmed Dickinson Cárdenas. Their intergenerational partnership celebrates the depth and diversity of Cuban guitar music, weaving together classical, Afro- Cuban, jazz, rock, and cinematic influences into a vibrant and emotionally rich dialogue.
Together, Dickinson Cárdenas and Martín embody a powerful artistic synergy. This collaboration is more than a concert—it is a sonic journey where generations meet, traditions evolve, and Cuban identity resonates on a global stage.
Wednesday 6 May 7.30pm
£28 (£26 concessions | £10 under 35)
DERVISH
Legendary Irish folk music band Dervish, are one of Ireland’s best known traditional bands and are described by the BBC as “an icon of Irish music”.
Dervish have a line-up which includes some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, fronted by one of the country’s best-known singers, Cathy Jordan. Regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest front-woman in Irish traditional music today – the instrumental line-up of fiddle, flute, bouzouki, mandola, bodhran and accordion draw from seemingly limitless depths of talent, finesse, subtlety and fiery energy. Exceptional musicianship, breath-taking vocals, vibrant sets of tunes and instantly compelling songs all come together to make Dervish as complete a band as are to be found anywhere in the tradition.
“Dervish are simply brilliant … they carry Irish history with them” The Guardian
Tuesday 19 May 7.30pm
£21 (£19 concessions | £8 under 35)
MAGIC AND MOTION: GEORGES MÉLIÈS AND BUSTER KEATON IN CONCERT
Jonny Best piano Susannah Simmons violin Liz Hanks cello Trevor Bartlett percussion
Step into the cinematic dreamworlds of George Méliès and Buster Keaton with the improvised music of Frame Ensemble.
Two pioneers of visual fantasy meet in a specially created cine‑concert. To set the stage, we celebrate Georges Méliès, whose imagination and technical ingenuity carried cinema beyond the simple recording of everyday life and opening up its magical possibilities for the first time.
Frame Ensemble, Northern Silents’ resident quartet, brings films to life with music created in the moment. No two performances are ever the same: each score emerges spontaneously as the musicians respond to the film in real time alongside the audience. This immediacy makes each Frame Ensemble screening a vivid, one‑of‑a‑kind experience where sound and image become thrillingly alive.
Friday 29 May 7.30pm
£23 (£21 concessions) | £8 under 35)
JOHN MCCUSKER TRIO
The John McCusker Trio is led by John McCusker, one of the most revered and decorated traditional musicians of his generation. A multi award-winning fiddle player, producer and composer, John has been at the heart of the UK folk scene for over three decades. His distinctive, emotionally charged playing and masterful compositions have made him a linchpin of contemporary Celtic music. Together with Sam Kelly and Toby Shaer, the Trio brings a thrilling combination of instrumental brilliance, heartfelt songs, and unforgettable live energy.
Their performances, a rich tapestry of original compositions, traditional melodies, and contemporary folk songs, captivate audiences with warmth, humour, and sheer musical class.
“One of the UK’s most gifted and versatile musicians in any genre, John McCusker is equally in demand as a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer” The Guardian
Friday 5 June 7.30pm
Reserved seating: £35/£25/£15
OLIVIA CHANEY: SONS OF ART
Olivia Chaney is one of the most distinctive singer-songwriters of her generation. A Grammy-nominated artist, she has built a reputation for her unmistakable voice, bold arrangements, and genre-defying songwriting. Performing everywhere from Glastonbury to the Royal Albert Hall, Chaney has carved out a rare space between folk, classical, and contemporary music.
Olivia Chaney’s deep connection to the music of Henry Purcell runs throughout her life. Sons of Art is her latest project highlighting the deep affinities between Purcell and the modern singer-songwriter: a shared immediacy, a delight in word-setting, and a fearless mix of high art and street culture. For Olivia, this is not classical crossover but a radical reclamation—a conversation across centuries that feels startlingly fresh. This show is part of a tour launching Olivia’s new Purcell album, featuring a star-studded chamber ensemble. Come and hear a modern English songwriter at the height of her powers interpreting one of England’s great composers in a refreshingly natural and contemporary way.
‘A version of Purcell’s “O Solitude” shows how easily the British singer-songwriter flits between past and present. If there’s a hint of Joni Mitchell, Chaney establishes her own voice from the outset…Rare beauty’ The Times
Friday 19 June 7.30pm
£23 (£21 concessions | £8 under 35)
RANT
A decade on from their first performance - and with 4 acclaimed albums under their belt - RANT remain at the forefront of the Scottish fiddle scene.
Bethany Reid from Shetland, Anna Massie and Lauren MacColl from the Highland peninsula of the Black Isle, and latest member Gillian Frame from Arran join forces to showcase the combined resonance of their instruments with repertoire unearthed from both old collections and their own contemporary writing.
RANT create a sound which is both spacious and lush yet retaining all the earthy bite and spark synonymous with a Scottish fiddle player. Their 2024 album ‘Spin’ is a homage to the music and influences that shaped their early careers. An affectionate ‘covers’ project, it draws on influences from across the global fiddle scene,
“This is powerful and evocative music that is invigorating, bewitching and beautiful.” Folk Radio UK
FAMILY FRIENDLY CONCERTS AT THE NCEM
Saturday 17 January 2pm & 3.15pm
£8 adults | £5 children
OPERA NORTH: LITTLE LISTENERS
A FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCERT FOR ALL AGES
In this relaxed, interactive concert, singing and movement is not just encouraged – it’s expected! Join us to experience the magic of orchestral music up close, whatever your age.
Sunday 25 January 1.30pm & 3pm
SOLD OUT
BBC PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: MUSICAL STORYLAND
Sean Chandler presents a live and interactive performance of The Enormous Turnip from the CBeebies series Musical Storyland.
Saturday 31 January 11.30am & 2.30pm
£8 adults | £5 children
MISHMASH: RUBY’S WORRY
Ruby had always been happy, perfectly happy….. until one day……. she discovered a worry….
Ruby tries and tries to get rid of her worry, which grows bigger and bigger! Eventually she meets a boy who has a worry too. Together they discover that everyone has worries, and that if you talk about them, they never hang around for long!
Told through live music, song, puppetry and physical theatre, Ruby’s Worry takes the audience on a delightful musical adventure.
COMING UP IN THE AUTUMN
MONEY SAVING OFFER
Book for two concerts in the same transaction and save £5, book for 3 and save £9.
Sunday 4 October 6.30pm
£24 (£22 concessions | £8 under 35)
MARTIN TAYLOR
Multi-award-winning guitarist Martin Taylor MBE has been described by Jeff Beck as “the best guitarist in the world” and by Pat Metheny as “one of the most awesome solo guitar players in history.”
Whether you’re a long-time jazz lover or discovering Martin’s music for the first time, this show promises an intimate, uplifting concert experience from one of the true greats of our time.
Monday 12 October 7.30pm
£24 (£22 concessions | £8 under 35)
TIM GARLAND & GEOFFREY KEEZER
This award-winning sax/piano duo got together 25 years ago with Garland’s ‘Made by Walking’ album on Chick Corea’s label and continued with three albums with the “Storms/Nocturnes” trio (also featuring Joe Locke).
Both seasoned players have globe-trotted with some of the most famous players in music and show their crystalline lyrical maturity as well as incendiary virtuosity in a set that features one new and rare instrument after which the album is named.
Tuesday 20 October 7.30pm
£24 (£22 concessions | £8 under 35)
MARTIN SIMPSON
One of England’s most revered folk performers, widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, Martin’s interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling.
His remarkable solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving. Always prolific, and never one to rest long without a guitar in his hands and a song in his head, Martin Simpson continues to travel the length and breadth of the UK and beyond giving rapt audiences passion, sorrow, love, beauty, tragedy and majesty through his remarkable intimate solo performances. Martin has been nominated an astounding 32 times in the 18 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards – more than any other performer – and has won numerous awards.