Concerts & Recitals
at the Temple Church

This recital will be live-streamed on the Church's YouTube Channel.

Pipa virtuoso and composer Gao Hong reaches a striking new artistic pinnacle with Symphony of Self, a suite of four original concertos that showcase the remarkable expressive range of the pipa. Drawing on the ancient Pudong pipa tradition while embracing the breadth and colour of a full Western orchestra, Gao crafts a richly textured sound world where centuries-old artistry meets bold contemporary imagination.

Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, these concertos reimagine the Chinese lute for the modern symphonic stage, offering a fresh and dynamic perspective on an instrument rarely heard in this context.

Symphony of Self reflects Gao Hong’s lifelong dedication to innovation, cultural connection, and musical storytelling, celebrating a career defined by curiosity, artistry, and boundary-crossing creativity.

More information and booking.

Temple Singers

Thomas Allery (conductor)

The Temple Singers return with a compelling programme reflecting sacred mysticism across centuries and Christian traditions. At its centre is Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Choir, a powerful and private statement of faith, heard alongside works by Hildegard von Bingen, Josquin des Prez, Stravinsky, Tavener and Messiaen. Eric Whitacre’s Sainte-Chapelle, inspired by the glowing stained glass of the Parisian chapel, imagines a young girl stepping inside and hearing the voices of angels softly singing the Sanctus, a vision that resonates with the divine encounters explored throughout the programme.

Duration: One hour (no interval)

More information and booking.

Paul Bentley-Angell (tenor)

Rebekah Nießer-Jones (mezzo-soprano)

Ben Rowarth (bass-baritone)

with Professor Emma Dillon

Lonesome lovers. Beguiling songsters. Provocative nightingales. Friends at play. These are a just few of the characters you will encounter in this programme of songs from the courts of twelfth-century France. As well as giving voice to feelings of universal appeal, tonight’s selection tells the story of a medieval love-affair with the medium itself – one forming joyful and creative connections among song-makers, performers and audiences, near and far. 

Performed in the Round Church, the programme is the second in a series of an innovative collaboration between singers from Siglo de Oro (dir. Patrick Allies) and scholars from the UKRI-funded Musical Lives project at King's College London. Join us as our singers breathe new life into songs rarely heard today, performing an eclectic sample from one of Europe’s earliest surviving traditions of love song.

Duration: One hour (no interval)

More information and booking.