London's Classical Pride Festival Returns for Second Edition

Celebrating LGBTQ+ composers, the expanded five-day festival culminates in a London Symphony Orchestra concert hosted by Nick Grimshaw and conducted by Oliver Zefferman

London's Classical Pride Festival, which in 2023 marked the first time that any major orchestra or concert hall in Europe had celebrated Pride, will return to the Barbican in 2024 for its second edition. The expanded five-day festival is curated by conductor Oliver Zefferman, and will take place from July 3-7, 2024.

The festival opens with Classical Pride: Classical Drag! Framed as a competition, this event features stars of the London drag scene, backed by an orchestra of LGBTQ+ musicians and allies. The drag artists will perform big numbers from operas like Carmen, La bohème and Tosca, and there will be a drag queen Philip Glass tribute, as well as a 'Violin For Your Life' section.

On Friday 5 July, My Beloved Man is a choral concert presented by Fourth Choir, London's LGBTQ+ classical choir. The theme celebrates the relationship between composer Benjamin Britten and tenor Peter Pears, and the choir is conducted by Nicholas Chalmers.

On Saturday 6 July, Classical Pride: A Proud Future features the star performers and composers from the LGBTQ+ student bodies of London’s conservatoires. LGBTQ+ students from the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance will give a series of concerts of LGBTQ+ music that has personal meaning for them.