Spitalfields Music Festival 2026 Opening

Fri 26 Jun 2026

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Five artists come together bringing their own perspectives to contemplate: What does peace look like?

In a world ever more shaped by uncertainty and unrest, the need for space to reflect on peace feels urgent. This year, we join the opening concert of the 50th anniversary of Spitalfields Music Festival, which was founded by City of London Sinfonia’s founder, Richard Hickox. That shared legacy lives on in a mutual commitment to dialogue between art forms and among contemporary voices, drawing on the rich intersection of music and language to face the complexities of the world around us.

Four newly commissioned poems from Matt Abbott, Malika Booker, Simon Mundy, and Reshma Ruia weave through a programme that guides the audience through a journey of reflection, featuring a specially commissioned piece by composer Philip Herbert, sprung from a fitting quote from UN Secretary António Guterres: ‘Peace is the missing piece’.

George Walker Lyric for Strings
Piet Swerts Elegia
Arvo Pärt Silhouan’s Song
Philip Herbert
Lingua Pacis (World premiere)
Reena Esmail Testament
Jean Sibelius Andante Festivo

Artists

City of London Sinfonia
Jonathan Berman Conductor
Matt Abbott Poet
Malika Booker
Poet
Simon Mundy
Poet
Reshma Ruia
Poet

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Meet the Orchestra

City of London Sinfonia (CLS) is a chamber orchestra. We believe that music - making it, sharing it, enjoying it - can change a person's relationship to the world around them.

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