The Cheltenham Music Festival has announced its 2021 edition, which will feature 10 days of performances, 21 world premieres, and several “free stage concerts.”

The festival is set to take place between July 2-11 and will allow socially distanced audiences into venues.

“I am tremendously proud that our team will bring world-class performances to Cheltenham this summer. For those who love classical music, whether professional or amateur performers, creators or audiences, it has felt that the industry is standing on a precipice,” said Camilla King, Head of Programming at Cheltenham Music Festival, in a press release. I have no doubt that, as the first note sounds in our beautiful Cheltenham Town Hall for the first time in nearly 18 months, it will be an unforgettable experience.”

The Carice Singers and George Parris will present “Songs of Travel,” which features music by Sibelius, Rautavaara, Bax, Freeman, Moore, and Whittall.

Performance Date: July 3, 2021

Imogen Cooper and Dame Sarah Connolly present a program of music by Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, Holst, Gurney, and Howells.

Performance Date: July 4, 2021

Soprano Donna Lennard, countertenor Ralph Thomas Williams, baritone Felix Kemp, and tenors Christopher Bowen and Bradley Smith present the world premiere of Luke Styles and Benjamin Britten’s “Awakening Shadow” alongside Nova Music.

Performance Date: July 4, 2021

The festival will also feature a continued partnership between BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists with four lunchtime recitals at Cheltenham Town Hall, including performances by mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska and tenor Alessandro Fisher.

Performance Date: July 7, 2021