Belfast Ensemble and Ulster Symphony Orchestra to debut Conor Mitchell's Riot Symphony

The Ulster Orchestra and the award-winning Belfast Ensemble have joined forces for one special night in the city’s Ulster Hall to premiere Conor Mitchell’s Riot Symphony.

The world premier of Riot Symphony will take place at Ulster Hall on Friday May 10 2024. Tickets are available for purchase from the Ulster Orchestra's website and range from £10-£34.

Riot Symphony promises to be an explosive new work which combines soprano, tenor, orchestra and video installation.

The debut performance will see the symphony make the texts of condemned 1940s student activist Sophie Scholl, whose leaflets were distributed as part of the anti-Nazi ‘White Rose’ movement in Munich University, ultimately costing her life as well as the lyrics of Russian anti government band Pussy Riot.

Conor Mitchell’s fascination with music as politics brings the 1940s text right up to date, blending it with the contemporary punk vocals of Russian group Pussy Riot - using their anarchist anthem PUTIN LIGHT UP THE FIRES as an orchestral texture, standing as in contemporary relief to Scholl’s words.

Presented by two of Northern Ireland’s finest young soloists - soprano Rebecca Murphy and tenor Michael Bell - and played by its national symphony orchestra, this new work aims to ask "Can young people challenge our leaders?’".

Composer Conor Mitchell has said of the piece:  “In a time of international conflict, and with a specific lens on the Russian/Ukrainian war, the question of how we protest seems even more important: How do we question? And can art, words and youth change the world?

We are living in a time when governments are cracking down on protests and on people’s voices against injustices. It has never been more important for artists to speak up.”

Conor Mitchell is known for taking politically charged subjects and exploring them through music, visual media and the stage. His previous work has tackled themes as diverse as the Disappeared of the Northern Irish Troubles, homophobia in Irish political discourse and the Umbrella Riots in Hong Kong.

The Riot Symphony premiere will be conducted by Gabriel Bebeşelea, who is Principal Conductor of the “George Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra in Bucharest and Artistic Director of the period instrument ensemble and festival Musica Ricercata.

The debut performance of Riot Symphony is set to take place on May 10 at the Ulster Hall at 19.45. Tickets are available for purchase here. 

Tickets are also available from the Ulster Orchestra box office open weekdays from 12pm-6pm. You can phone at +44 (28) 9033 4455.