Robert Plane and the Gould Piano Trio are pleased to announce the 2026 edition of the Corbridge Chamber Music Festival.
Taking place annually since 1999, the Festival brings world-class chamber music to Northumberland each summer. The festival welcomes audiences for a ‘long weekend’ of concerts catering for all tastes, inviting enjoyment of the festival’s programming in the area’s beautiful and richly historical surroundings. Outstanding guest artists and composers join the artistic directors, whose leadership has previously led to the festival’s inclusion in The Guardian’s Top 5 concert listings.
A focal point of the festival’s programming is the counterpoint of beloved masterpieces and lesser-familiar works. During the course of this year’s festival, the Gould Piano Trio traverse the complete Schumann Piano Trios, and perform Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time with Robert Plane. For their performance of this work, which first brought them together over thirty years ago, they are joined by poet Michael Symmons Roberts, who will discuss his book Quartet for the End of Time: On Music, Grief and Birdsong in a special event as part of the festival. This year’s festival also celebrates composers Benjamin Britten and György Kurtág, each of whom have significant anniversaries in 2026.
Larger scale chamber works including Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, Brahms’ String Sextet No. 2 in G major and Schubert’s Trout Quintet see Robert and the Trio joined by collaborators Sini Simonen, violists Rachel Roberts and Emma Wernig, cellist Kate Gould and double bassist Levi Andreassen. Amy Yule, who serves as principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra, is featured in ‘Flute Focus’, a programme of music by Beethoven, Clarke, Messiaen and Saint Saëns, and will offer a workshop during the festival. Young listeners and their families are invited to ‘Corbridge Safari’, a family concert that leads them on an adventure through the savannah.
This year for the first time, the festival presents performances on the Hungarian cimbalom and the Norwegian hardanger fiddle in two late-night concerts. ‘Under Nordic Skies’ explores the music and folk traditions of Scandinavia, while ‘Café Magyar’ conjures the atmosphere of a Hungarian café with renowned cimbalom player Ed Cervenka.
The festival takes place from 23rd – 26th July, and general booking opens on May 18th at 10am. Complete programme information can be found by visiting the festival’s website.
