FIGURE Ensemble Announces Packed June Season: Vivaldi, Gluck Preview, and Countertenor Stars

London's chamber music scene is in for a treat this June as FIGURE, the innovative ensemble known for bold reimaginings of classical repertoire, launches a trio of exciting concerts across the capital. From a candlelit Vivaldi psalm setting with one of Britain's finest countertenors to a sneak preview of a radical new chamber opera, here is everything you need to know about their upcoming season.

VESPERS: Vivaldi's Nisi Dominus with Iestyn Davies

The month opens on 2nd June at Smith Square Hall with VESPERS, a programme centred on Vivaldi's exquisite psalm setting Nisi Dominus. The star attraction is countertenor Iestyn Davies MBE, widely regarded as one of the most captivating voices in early music today. Joining him is the Idrîsî Ensemble, specialists in the music of the ancient Mediterranean world.

The concept is atmospheric and ambitious. FIGURE is weaving Vivaldi's Baroque psalm into a tapestry of ancient Mediterranean music, evoking the cosmopolitan spirit of Venice and charting a journey from dusk to dawn, from separation to communion. It promises to be an immersive experience that blurs the boundaries between historical periods and musical traditions.

There are two performances on the night: one at 7pm (which has already sold out) and a second at 9pm. The performance runs for under an hour, making it a beautifully concentrated evening of music. Anyone hoping to catch Davies in this intimate setting should act quickly on the remaining 9pm tickets.

A Preview of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice with Hugh Cutting

On 24th June, the action moves to Stone Nest for a preview concert featuring another outstanding countertenor, Hugh Cutting. This event offers a tantalising first look at FIGURE's forthcoming November production of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, reimagined as a new chamber version for mixed ensemble.

The significance of Gluck's 1762 opera in the history of the art form cannot be overstated. Before Gluck, opera often treated narrative as little more than a vehicle for showcasing vocal acrobatics and musical set pieces. With Orfeo ed Euridice, Gluck reversed this relationship, placing the music firmly in service of the drama. It was a revolutionary shift that changed the course of opera forever.

The ancient Greek myth at the opera's heart is one of the most enduring love stories ever told. Orpheus, a musician of supernatural talent, descends to the underworld to rescue his beloved Euridice. The gods grant him permission to lead her back to the living world on one devastating condition: he must not look back at her during the journey. At the final, agonising moment, Orpheus cannot resist the temptation and turns around, losing Euridice for eternity.

FIGURE's approach to the piece is characteristically bold. Rather than presenting Gluck's score as an 18th-century museum piece, the ensemble is reworking it with a modern sound palette. The aim is to honour Gluck's original reformist spirit by making the opera feel like the contemporary, psychologically intense drama he intended it to be.

Hugh Cutting brings impeccable credentials to the role. He is the winner of the 2025 International Opera Rising Star Award and made history as the first countertenor to win the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Award. The production is created by Laura Hounsell, winner of the 2025 Nicky Creed Award at Garsington Opera. This June preview is a rare opportunity to see the creative process in development before the full staging arrives in November.

Rhythm of the Seasons: Vivaldi Reimagined with James Larter

The very next evening, on 25th June, FIGURE presents the first public performance of an expanded and reworked version of their acclaimed Rhythm of the Seasons at Barts Great Hall, Smithfield. This inventive reimagining of Vivaldi's Four Seasons for percussion and strings features the sensational percussionist James Larter.

The original version premiered at Stone Nest last year and drew considerable attention. The Times described it as a "high-risk, high-reward" venture, while critics praised how the arrangement breathed new life into one of classical music's most familiar works. As one reviewer noted: "Every one of Vivaldi's familiar imitations, from barking dog to birdsong to drunken dance, sounded different, newly exposed, each vertebra tapped and rattled yet lovingly authentic."

Since that premiere, the arrangement has been significantly expanded for a larger ensemble, and this new version has been recorded with Delphian Records for an album due for release in March 2027. The Barts Great Hall concert on 25th June marks the first time audiences will hear this bigger, bolder incarnation performed live. The performance begins at 7pm.

A Month of Countertenors and Creative Ambition

What makes FIGURE's June programme so compelling is the way it balances the familiar with the unexpected. Vivaldi's Four Seasons and his psalm settings are well-known repertoire, yet FIGURE consistently finds ways to present them through a fresh lens. The addition of Mediterranean music to the Vivaldi psalm, or the integration of percussion into the Four Seasons concertos, transforms listening experiences that audiences might think they already know inside out.

The countertenor voice is the thread running through the entire month. With Iestyn Davies opening proceedings and Hugh Cutting offering a glimpse of the Gluck production to come, these concerts showcase two of the most exciting singers working in this vocal range today. For fans of the countertenor voice, or anyone curious about its expressive power, June offers a rare double bill of talent.

It is also worth noting the creative team behind these projects. Laura Hounsell's involvement in the Gluck Orfeo signals serious artistic intent, and FIGURE's partnership with Delphian Records for the Vivaldi recording suggests a growing profile and ambition. This is an ensemble that is building something substantial, concert by concert.

Practical Information and How to Book

Here is a summary of the three concerts:

VESPERS: Vivaldi's Nisi Dominus
Date: 2nd June
Venue: Smith Square Hall
Times: 7pm (sold out) and 9pm
Duration: Under one hour
Featuring: Iestyn Davies MBE, Idrîsî Ensemble

Orfeo ed Euridice Preview Concert
Date: 24th June
Venue: Stone Nest
Featuring: Hugh Cutting

Rhythm of the Seasons
Date: 25th June
Venue: Barts Great Hall, Smithfield
Time: 7pm
Featuring: James Larter (percussion)

FIGURE has also recently been approved by the Charities Aid Foundation, meaning supporters can now easily contribute with Gift Aid on donations. For an ensemble producing work of this calibre, that is welcome news.

If you are looking for more live entertainment in London this season, browse our full list of London shows currently booking, or explore the latest theatre news and features on BritishTheatre.com.