Now in its third year, the Newcastle Music Festival returns in August with a bumper program featuring its first ever performers in residence, the Omega Ensemble. With 35 events and a line up including violinist Ray Chen, pianist Julien Quentin, soprano Elena Xanthoudakis, pianist Tamara-Anna Cislowska, mezzo Deborah Humble and baritone David Greco, this year’s Festival is not to be missed.

David Rowden, Alexandra Osborne, Maria Raspopova, Paul Stender. Photos © Keith Saunders

The Omega Ensemble will be bringing its acclaimed rendition of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time to the Festival in its concert Beyond Time. The work is joined by Bach’s Suite in D Minor for Cello and his Contrapunctus VIII from The Art of Fugue, as well as the world premiere of Festival co-Artistic Director David Banney’s Meditation for clarinet and piano.

Clarinettist David Rowden and pianist Maria Raspopova of the Omega Ensemble will also partner soprano Elena Xanthoudakis in recital. She will be performing Spohr’s 6 German Songs, Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock and arias from Bellini’s La Sonnambula, with Mendelssohn’s Rondo Capriccioso and Poulenc’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano also on the program.

Rowden will also take part in...