25th Anniversary Season: Autumn 2025
The Engegård Quartet
The Old Forest Path: Jamie Catto Book Launch
The Old Forest Path: Jamie Catto Book Launch
Friday 19 September, 8pm
St Andrew's Church, Fingringhoe
Norway's incredible Engegård Quartet open the 25th Anniversary Roman River Festival in the church that hosted the first performance back in 1999. Featuring Grieg, Mozart, and a collection of Norwegian folk melodies, with the Festival's first Artistic Director, Juliet Jopling, on viola.
The Old Forest Path: Jamie Catto Book Launch
The Old Forest Path: Jamie Catto Book Launch
The Old Forest Path: Jamie Catto Book Launch
Saturday 20 September, 4.15pm
CODA, 63 High Street, Colchester
British musician, filmmaker, author, and transformative coach, Jamie Catto, performs songs and reads from his new book, The Old Forest Path – a children's book with evocative illustrations by Kanako Wakabayashi that intertwines themes of music, magic, and liberation.
Quartet for the End of Time
The Old Forest Path: Jamie Catto Book Launch
Free String Masterclass with Sijie Chen
Saturday 20 September, 8pm
St Mary's Church, Dedham
Festival regulars Sijie Chen and Sacha Rattle lead this performance of Messiaen's revolutionary statement of faith and art – inspired by the declaration in the Book of Revelation that “there shall be time no longer...”
Free String Masterclass with Sijie Chen
Free String Masterclass with Sijie Chen
Free String Masterclass with Sijie Chen
Sunday 21 September, 10 am to 12 noon
The Old Library, W. Stockwell Street, Colchester CO1 1HE
Violinist Sijie Chen returns for a third year to lead a workshop in partnership with Play Strings Colchester. Sign up for yourself or bring a young musician to seize this wonderful opportunity to learn from a former BBC Young Musician finalist, s
Sunday 21 September, 10 am to 12 noon
The Old Library, W. Stockwell Street, Colchester CO1 1HE
Violinist Sijie Chen returns for a third year to lead a workshop in partnership with Play Strings Colchester. Sign up for yourself or bring a young musician to seize this wonderful opportunity to learn from a former BBC Young Musician finalist, soloist, and one of the leading lights of period chamber performance.
Bach to Baby: It's a String Thing!
Free String Masterclass with Sijie Chen
Armonico Consort: Rachmaninov's Vespers
Sunday 21 September, 11am
Layer Marney Tower, near Colchester
The wonderful Bach to Baby return to Layer Marney Tower with a concert aimed towards the little ones. Tickets include admission to this stunning Tudor gatehouse (and its sheep, goats and café!).
Armonico Consort: Rachmaninov's Vespers
Free String Masterclass with Sijie Chen
Armonico Consort: Rachmaninov's Vespers
Sunday 21 September, 7pm
St Mary's Church, Ardleigh
The acclaimed Armonico Consort perform Rachmaninov's radiant 1915 Vespers in the Medieval and Victorian-Gothic surrounds of St Mary's, Ardleigh. William Butterfield's lavish gold interior offers the perfect backdrop for this unaccompanied pinnacle of Russian sacred music.
Orlando Jopling: Cello Suites (Part I)
Shostakovich Piano Trios: Alissa Firsova, Daniel Rowland and Yoanna Prodanova
Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Chloë Vincent, and Olivia Jageurs
Monday 22 September, 12 noon
Jaywick Martello Tower, Jaywick
The first of three lunchtime recitals from Roman River's Artistic Director, Orlando Jopling – bringing out the rich, resonant voice of the cello through suites by Bach and Britten, alongside lively Corelli variations. Limited to just 50 tickets in the intimate Jaywick Martello Tower.
Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Chloë Vincent, and Olivia Jageurs
Shostakovich Piano Trios: Alissa Firsova, Daniel Rowland and Yoanna Prodanova
Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Chloë Vincent, and Olivia Jageurs
Monday 22 September, 7.30pm
St Mary's Church, Wivenhoe
A mellow Monday evening of relaxing music, performed by candlelight in Wivenhoe's St Mary's church by mezzo-soprano Marta Fontanals-Simmons, flautist Chloë Vincent, and harpist Olivia Jageurs. An exploration of sound, mood, and storytelling, our trio weave together folk tradition, contemporary work, and lyrical reflection.
Shostakovich Piano Trios: Alissa Firsova, Daniel Rowland and Yoanna Prodanova
Shostakovich Piano Trios: Alissa Firsova, Daniel Rowland and Yoanna Prodanova
Shostakovich Piano Trios: Alissa Firsova, Daniel Rowland and Yoanna Prodanova
Tuesday 23 September, 8pm
St Lawrence Rowhedge
Journey through Russian and post-Soviet musical landscapes, celebrating Shostakovich's astonishing Piano Trios on the 50th anniversary of his death. Alissa Firsova, Daniel Rowland, and Yoanna Prodanova perform music by Shostakovich and Rachmaninov.
Orlando Jopling: Cello Suites (Part II)
Piano Recital with Martin James Bartlett
Piano Recital with Martin James Bartlett
Wednesday 24 September, 12 noon
St Osyth Priory Chapel
The second of three lunchtime recitals from Roman River's Artistic Director, Orlando Jopling – journeying through light, shadow, and reflection; Bach’s joyful Suite No. 1, Britten’s intensely expressive Second Cello Suite, and a transcription of the Chaconne in D minor from Bach’s Violin Partita.
Piano Recital with Martin James Bartlett
Piano Recital with Martin James Bartlett
Piano Recital with Martin James Bartlett
Wednesday 24 September, 8pm
All Saints Church, Fordham
Acclaimed pianist Martin James Bartlett returns after an incredible performance during the Roman River Festival in 2022, leading us on an expressive voyage through different eras, cultures, and emotional landscapes – from Rameau, Byrd, and Couperin, to Beethoven and Debussy, and to Lisz
Wednesday 24 September, 8pm
All Saints Church, Fordham
Acclaimed pianist Martin James Bartlett returns after an incredible performance during the Roman River Festival in 2022, leading us on an expressive voyage through different eras, cultures, and emotional landscapes – from Rameau, Byrd, and Couperin, to Beethoven and Debussy, and to Liszt's astonishing arrangement of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde.
Jordan Ashman Percussion
Piano Recital with Martin James Bartlett
Orlando Jopling: Cello Suites (Part III)
Thursday 25 September, 8pm
Colchester Arts Centre
A concert unlike any other this year, stand-out rising star Jordan Ashman, praised for his ability to blend tradition with innovation, comes to the vibrant Colchester Arts Centre, one of East Anglia’s premiere venues.
Orlando Jopling: Cello Suites (Part III)
Triple and Titan: Tom Poster, Elena Urioste and Laura Van der Heijden
Orlando Jopling: Cello Suites (Part III)
Friday 26 September, 12 noon
St John's Church, Mount Bures
The third of three lunchtime recitals from Roman River's Artistic Director, Orlando Jopling – featuring Bach’s Suite No. 5 in C minor, Giovanni Sollima’s Lamentatio, and Britten’s Third Cello Suite, with each piece chosen to reveal a different facet of the cello’s character.
Sujata Banerjee Dance Company
Triple and Titan: Tom Poster, Elena Urioste and Laura Van der Heijden
Triple and Titan: Tom Poster, Elena Urioste and Laura Van der Heijden
Friday 26 September, 8pm
Old Garrison Gymnasium, Colchester
Founded in 1985, the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company create, produce, and tour new choreographic works, and nurture the next generation of young artists in South Asian music and dance. Invited by our artistic director after their recent collaboration with the RPO, which he conducte
Friday 26 September, 8pm
Old Garrison Gymnasium, Colchester
Founded in 1985, the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company create, produce, and tour new choreographic works, and nurture the next generation of young artists in South Asian music and dance. Invited by our artistic director after their recent collaboration with the RPO, which he conducted, they are bringing Kathak dance and music to the stage of a venue we haven't visited since it was renovated, once an army sports facility – the Old Garrison Gymnasium.
Triple and Titan: Tom Poster, Elena Urioste and Laura Van der Heijden
Triple and Titan: Tom Poster, Elena Urioste and Laura Van der Heijden
Triple and Titan: Tom Poster, Elena Urioste and Laura Van der Heijden
Saturday 27 September, 8pm
St Peter ad Vincula Church, Coggeshall
One of the most ambitious evenings that Roman River Music has ever produced: the Wild Arts Ensemble playing two of the classical canons' greatest works – Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C major (with leading soloists Tom Poster, Elena Urioste, and Laura Van der Heijden) and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1.
Roman River 2025: Free Family Event
Roman River 2025: Free Family Event
Roman River 2025: Free Family Event
Sunday 28 September, 4pm
Firstsite, Colchester
Iconic family music from a selection of the Wild Arts Ensemble players (who will be on a musical high after playing the night before at our Triple & Titan concert in Coggeshall!) and an astonishing young performer.
Triple and Titan at Saffron Hall
Roman River 2025: Free Family Event
Roman River 2025: Free Family Event
Friday 3 October, 7.30pm
Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden
A repeat performance as part of Saffron Hall's classical music programme to celebrate the Roman River Festival's 25th anniversary.
Spring Concerts 2025
Concert I - Beauty and the Bass: Dvořák, Rossini, and Mendelssohn
Concert I - Beauty and the Bass: Dvořák, Rossini, and Mendelssohn
Concert I - Beauty and the Bass: Dvořák, Rossini, and Mendelssohn
Friday 28 March, 7.30pm
The Girling Room, The Minories, Colchester
The Bloomsbury Players return to Roman River's Spring Concerts with a programme showcasing Dvořák's double bass quintet, alongside quartets by Rossini and Mendelssohn.
Concert II - Nathaniel Mander plays Bach's Goldberg Variations
Concert I - Beauty and the Bass: Dvořák, Rossini, and Mendelssohn
Concert I - Beauty and the Bass: Dvořák, Rossini, and Mendelssohn
Wednesday 23 April, 7.30pm
The Old Library, Colchester
Prize-winning, internationally acclaimed harpsichordist Nathaniel Mander performs Bach’s iconic tour de force for solo keyboard.
Concert III - Jonathan Leibowitz: Sonatas for Clarinet
Concert I - Beauty and the Bass: Dvořák, Rossini, and Mendelssohn
Concert III - Jonathan Leibowitz: Sonatas for Clarinet
Thursday 22 May, 7.30pm
The Girling Room, The Minories, Colchester
Classic FM “Rising Star” Jonathan Leibowitz performs works by Debussy, Brahms, Poulenc, and more.
The Roman River Festival 2024
Bach to Baby Family Concert: Fiesta!
Bach to Baby Family Concert: Fiesta!
Bach to Baby Family Concert: Fiesta!
Sunday 22 September
Layer Marney Tower, near Colchester
The wonderful Bach to Baby return to Layer Marney Tower with a concert aimed towards the little ones. Tickets include admission to this stunning Tudor gatehouse (and its sheep, goats and café!).
The Madrigal Reimagined
Bach to Baby Family Concert: Fiesta!
Bach to Baby Family Concert: Fiesta!
Tuesday 24 September
St Mary's Church, Wivenhoe
The Monteverdi String Band explore the 16th and 17th century madrigal, and reimagine it for the modern day. Includes a special appearance by Ben Vonberg-Clark and the Wivenhoe Youth Choir in one of the madrigals.
Ariel Lanyi Piano Recital
Bach to Baby Family Concert: Fiesta!
Ariel Lanyi Piano Recital
Wednesday 25 September
All Saints Church, Fordham
Schubert, Bartók, and Reger, played by rising star Ariel Lanyi.
The Solem Quartet
Huw Watkins, Sijie Chen, and Orlando Jopling
Ariel Lanyi Piano Recital
Thursday 26 September
St Andrew's Church, Fingringhoe
The incredible Solem Quartet make their debut at the Roman River Festival, playing Debussy and Lili and Nadia Boulanger.
Huw Watkins, Sijie Chen, and Orlando Jopling
Huw Watkins, Sijie Chen, and Orlando Jopling
Huw Watkins, Sijie Chen, and Orlando Jopling
Friday 27 September
St. James the Great, East Hill, Colchester
Piano trios by Ravel, Bonis, and pianist-composer Huw Watkins himself.
Space and Nature: The Hermes Experiment
Huw Watkins, Sijie Chen, and Orlando Jopling
Huw Watkins, Sijie Chen, and Orlando Jopling
Saturday 28 September
Firstsite, Colchester
The Hermes Experiment lead us on an immersive journey through genres, eras, and styles from Cécile Chaminade to Errollyn Wallen and Caroline Shaw.
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony
Saturday 28 September
St Peter ad Vincula Church, Coggeshall
A Classic FM Rising Star 2023, sensational young violinist Hana Chang debuts at the Roman River Festival. Orlando Jopling conducts the Wild Arts Ensemble.
Notes in the Sky: Ant Roberts and Orlando Jopling
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony
Sunday 29 September
Jumbo Water Tower, Balkerne Gate, Colchester
Director of Colchester Arts Centre, Ant Roberts, revisits some of his most popular lockdown poetry, with music from Roman River’s own Orlando Jopling. Performed inside Colchester's iconic Grade II* listed water tower.
Masterclass at The Old Library, Colchester
Sunday 29 September
The Old Library, Colchester
Violinist Sijie Chen returns to The Old Library in Colchester to deliver our first free Masterclass workshop of 2024.
Catching Voices: Faith, Nature and Love
Catching Voices: Faith, Nature and Love
Sunday 29 September
St Peter ad Vincula Church, Coggeshall
The finale of the Roman River Festival 2024 - glorious five voice ensemble Catching Voices perform music by Britten, Vaughan Williams, Judith Weir and more.