Manchester Camerata x RNCM: Beethoven’s Eroica / Tue 29 Sept

RNCM conducting fellow, Jacobus de Jager, leads Manchester Camerata in a performance that travels from the Classical period to the present day, with orchestral works from Tchaikovsky and Beethoven, and featuring a UK premiere by Arthur Feder.

Tchaikovsky, though composing in the late 19th century, admired the elegance and clarity of the Classical style, particularly drawing inspiration from Mozart, whom he described as ‘a sunny genius’. During a period of personal turmoil, he turned to the serenity of 18th century music for emotional refuge. His Variations on a Rococo Theme exemplify this influence, showcasing an ornate yet refined style that reflects the Rococo aesthetic. RNCM musician Chloe Chen joins the orchestra as cello soloist.

Beethoven’s celebrated Eroica Symphony is widely regarded as a landmark in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras, breaking boundaries within the symphonic form. Subtitled ‘composed to celebrate the remembrance of a great man’, the work was originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, whom Beethoven believed embodied the ideals of the French revolution. However, after Napoleon became Emperor, a disillusioned Beethoven reportedly tore up the title page. The ‘Eroica’ title may therefore refer to Napoleon as he once was, or more broadly to the concept of heroism.

Manchester Camerata is the UK’s most relentlessly pioneering orchestra, known for constantly innovating – redefining what an orchestra can be.

Whether performing with the Pet Shop Boys live on MTV to over 300 million people worldwide, or touring international concert halls with the greats of classical music, Manchester Camerata exists to transform lives through exceptional music.

Led by their Music Director, Gábor Takács-Nagy, and their artistic partners, they have hosted orchestral raves, brewed beers, released award-winning short films, made sportswear, and have attracted millions of streams worldwide. They are also proud to be Classic FM’s only partner in Greater Manchester.

Camerata believe in the transformative power of music – on or off the stage. This belief has led them to become leaders within music, health and wellbeing, hosting the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia. Here they impact thousands with their award-winning Music in Mind programme, backed by over 12 years of research in partnership with The University of Manchester. Their vision for this work is to embed creative music-making within the dementia pathway.

Camerata are fierce champions for the future of their art form. Their ABO Award-winning Camerata 360° Ruth Sutton Fellowship programme is designed for musicians in the North, setting new standards by equipping them with skills in all the ways music can make an impact.

They achieve all of this from their home, The Monastery, Manchester, a stunning 19th-century monastery in Gorton, working closely with the local area, engaging with schools, youth zones and care homes to create social connections across the community.

At the heart of all their work is an orchestra of exceptional musicians. Led by Caroline Pether, their players are known for their incisive empathy, which they apply to every aspect of their work.

Through their wide-ranging work, Camerata break down barriers and make orchestral music more accessible, connecting with people from all walks of life and creating new ways to engage with the art form.

Manchester Camerata consistently questions and challenges what a 21st-century orchestra should be, pushing the envelope of the orchestral sector.

Find out more at manchestercamerata.co.uk

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South African conductor Jacobus de Jager is the 2025/26 Junior Fellow in Conducting at the RNCM and a conducting fellow on the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Conducting Programme. He was recently one of the final seven conductors in the 2026 Mahler Competition in Bamberg and has been selected as one of four conductors for the Lucerne Festival’s Contemporary Conducting Programme. He has worked with leading orchestras including the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Manchester Camerata, The Hallé, Orchestre national de Metz Grand Est, and Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chloe is a cellist from Singapore and is currently studying at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Hannah Roberts. In her second year of studies at the RNCM, she was awarded the John Barbirolli Memorial Prize for Cello and was also awarded the Amy Lindley Prize for cello in her first year of studies. Chloe is a keen chamber musician and is currently part of the ONYX Ensemble, frequently giving performances across the UK and was part of the Spirit Trio which won the RNCM Nossek Prize in 2024. She has played with various orchestras in Singapore, including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and was appointed principal in the National Youth Orchestra.