We’re broadcasting from Cheltenham Music Festival – here’s everything you need to know

21 June 2019, 07:00 | Updated: 3 July 2019, 07:54

Classic FM will be broadcasting live from the Cheltenham Music Festival
Classic FM will be broadcasting live from the Cheltenham Music Festival. Picture: Cheltenham Festival

On Friday 5 July, Classic FM will be broadcasting from the Cheltenham Music Festival, building to a brilliant live concert featuring the London Symphony Orchestra.

Classic FM is proud to partner with the Cheltenham Music Festival, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, to broadcast the first day of the festival live on Friday 5 July.

Listen live to Classic FM >

As the festival's media partner, Classic FM will be broadcasting live from the Cheltenham Festival site throughout the first day of the event, with all your favourite presenters bringing you a wealth of classical music.

We're most excited about the 75th Cheltenham Festival Opening Concert, which Catherine Bott will be presenting from 8pm. The programme includes a brand new, roof-raising work commissioned by Classic FM from 26-year-old composer, Dani Howard, and a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto by remarkable young violinist Emmanuel Tjeknavorian and the London Symphony Orchestra (see full details below).

The festival runs from 5 to 14 July, and this year is the first under the leadership of new Artistic Director, trumpeter Alison Balsom. Many international stars will perform, including violinist Nicola Benedetti and soprano Danielle de Niese, with more than 20 world premieres taking place over the festival fortnight.

Listen to Classic FM, live from the Cheltenham Music Festival

9am – 1pm: John Suchet

1pm – 5pm: Classic FM Requests with Anne-Marie Minhall

5pm – 7pm: Classic FM Drive with John Brunning

7pm – 8pm: Smooth Classics at Seven with John Brunning

8pm – 10pm: The 75th Cheltenham Festival Opening Concert: A Classic FM Exclusive presented by Catherine Bott

On Friday 5 July, Classic FM gives listeners the chance to hear the opening concert of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, in this exclusive live broadcast from Cheltenham Town Hall.

Dani Howard
Gates of Spring
Elim Chan conducts the London Symphony Orchestra

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto in D major
Violin: Emmanuel Tjeknavorian
Elim Chan conducts the London Symphony Orchestra

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade
Elim Chan conducts the London Symphony Orchestra