Curious about classical music?

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Start your journey into classical music and get inspired with Classical Bristol

January’s here – you’ve resolved to hit the gym or cut the booze, and the beloved cheeseboard has finally been replaced with quinoa Buddha bowls.

But January doesn’t always have to be about giving up guilty pleasures or punishing pursuits – what about a cultural new year’s resolution instead?

If you’ve ever harboured a desire to get into classical music but didn’t know where to start, then signing up to the Classical Bristol is your first step.

Classical Bristol is a monthly e-newsletter dedicated to all things classical music in Bristol, produced jointly by Colston Hall and St George’s Bristol.

As well as features, reviews and concert listings for both venues, the monthly email features short video lectures, presented by experts in classical music, Jonathan James and BBC Music Magazine Editor Oliver Condy.

Stars of the classical world explain why listening to classical music live in a concert hall is so special

Maybe you’ve been tempted to dive into the world of classical, but been hampered by the thought of needing to know your crotchets from your crescendos, or your Beethoven from your Brahms before you start. Classical Bristol aims to break things down for you: you don’t need to have a music degree before you can start appreciating the music, you can build up your knowledge little by little.

Guided by experts Oliver and Jonathan, discover what made the great composers tick, and decipher the secrets that lie between the barlines.

Classical music journalist Oliver gives the background behind the music, be it the lives of the great composers, or how the classical world has changed over the centuries. Find out about Beethoven’s gradual descent into deafness, or Tchaikovsky’s tormented soul. Or maybe you’re wondering about concert etiquette – is it really so important? Or, why do different sections of the orchestra sit where they do?

Editor of BBC Music Magazine Oliver Condy explains how the orchestra came into being

Meanwhile music educator Jonathan James tackles the notes by picking out key moments from different works and using the piano to unpack them, to reveal the genius behind the music.

Music educator and conductor Jonathan James uses the piano to show how Vivaldi paints pictures with his music

Armed with your newfound knowledge, the next step is to experience the real thing in the space for which it was intended – the concert hall. Jonathan explains why experiencing classical music live is so special:

“Listening to live classical music can be like act of meditation, where minutes flow like seconds. And at the opposite end of the scale, when else can you experience a hundred professional musicians playing full tilt on one stage? It’s such an intense acoustic phenomenon, one that still gives me goosebumps. Whether you’re hearing a great work of art for the first or fiftieth time, the impact of the sound and the story of the music are somehow always just as fresh and just as transporting.”

So what are you waiting for? Feed your curiosity with Classical Bristol and start your journey into classical music.

To sign up to Classical Bristol go to classicalbristol.com.
Special January offer: Sign up to Classical Bristol by 20 January to receive a special introductory offer of 50% off your next classical booking at Colston Hall or St George’s Bristol (T & Cs apply).