Viennese Christmas Spectacular - London Concertante

London Concertante bring the Viennese Christmas Spectacular to a West Midlands venue in Birmingham on Saturday 5 December. It's a festive programme that takes a look at the musical traditions of Vienna during the holiday season, and they've put it together as an ideal entry point for first-time classical concert-goers.

The set pairs well-loved Viennese favourites with works by Shostakovich, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky. The Viennese side of things comes from Strauss II, whose waltzes and polkas are the heart of the city's Christmas sound. Around that, you'll hear the more modern, northern European voices of Shostakovich and Sibelius, and the big, romantic melodies Tchaikovsky is known for. It's a broad mix that pulls from a few different traditions rather than sticking to one corner of the repertoire.

London Concertante is the ensemble behind it, and they're touring this as part of their autumn-winter 2026 season. The whole thing is billed as the Viennese Christmas Spectacular, a festive evening that puts those Viennese holiday traditions front and centre. If you've never been to a classical concert before, this is exactly the kind of thing they've aimed it at — a mix of familiar melodies and a few names you'll recognise, all tied together around the Christmas season.

It's on Saturday 5 December at a West Midlands venue in Birmingham, so it's a proper Saturday night out. The programme runs through Strauss II, Shostakovich, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky, and the whole thing is presented as the Viennese Christmas Spectacular.