St. John’s Smith Square has announced that it will be resuming public concerts, after a successful pilot concert with a live audience in July.

The Westminster-based church currently plans on staging 63 concerts between now and the end of 2020, with 50 digital events coming as part of the organization’s Digital Exchange program.

“Since we closed our doors at the end of the concert on 16^th March we have been focussing our energy and efforts on finding a route back towards live music taking place in St John’s Smith Square once again,” writes Director Richard Heason. “We are delighted that we are able now to safely welcome audiences back, albeit in a measured and controlled way, and that we can share the joy of live music. We are immensely grateful to all those who have supported us so generously throughout the period of lockdown including individuals who made donations or gifted the value of tickets they were holding for events no longer able to happen…

“The health and safety of our audience, artists and staff is of paramount importance and we have worked extensively to ensure St John’s Smith Square is a ‘COVID Secure’ venue for all those attending events. In line with the latest Government guidance, we have carried out a thorough risk assessment and made changes to the way we operate.  Our aim is to minimize exposure to risk as far as possible so that everyone can focus on enjoying the music.”

“Songs from St. John’s” features soprano Sian Dicker and pianist Krystal Tunnicliffe, the selection of works includes Beethoven, Fanny Mendelssohn, Brahms, Warlock, Barber, Price, and Porter.

Performance Date: October 1, 2020.

“Entente Musicale: I. The Masked Ball” stars Baritone Roderick Williams, who will be joined by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Jan Latham-Koenig, for a program of Poulenc and Satie.

Performance Date: October 2.

Bass James Platt will be joined by pianist Michael Pugh for Mussorgsky’s “Songs and Dances of Death,” and Brahm’’ “Vier ernste Gesange, Op. 121” in another “Songs from St. John’s” concert.

 Performance Date: October 5.

“Purcell – Odes for a Queen” will be presented with the music department of the University of Manchester. This program includes soprano Julia Doyle, countertenors Christopher Lowrey and James Lain, tenors Anthony Gregory and Hugo Hymas, and bass Ashley Riches.

Performance Dates: October 6, 7.