Friday Evening Music

Enjoy some free Friday Evening Music in various rooms of the National Portrait Gallery, practically every Friday starting at 6.30pm.

Imagine being surrounded by art you probably can't afford to buy, but free to enjoy the sight of whilst listening to a musical performance.

Practically every Friday evening the National Portrait Gallery, open predominantly free to the public, offers an eclectic variety of music to the public for free. Booking is not necessary, if there's room to stand or sit then you can go in and enjoy it!

Every Thursday and Friday the gallery is open until 9pm, so take a look around while your there.

Programme, Friday Evening Music: 28 November '08 - 27 February '09 (Except 19 & 26 December & 2nd January)

Friday 28 November, 6:30pm
Bridget Beraha Trio: An imaginative vocal-led modern jazz ensemble that sidesteps obvious standards to tackle lyrical material: music by Brigitte Beraha, Ivo Neame and Joe Auckland from the new album, Flying Dreams.

Friday 5 December, 6.30pm
Juice Vocal Ensemble: Vibrant a cappella music drawing from world, jazz, folk and pop genres.

Friday 12 December, 6.30pm
Concordia Foundation - Musical Portraits: Concordia International Ensemble performs a musical tribute to Gallery sitters Adelina Patti, Jenny Lind, Charles Dickens, George Bernard Shaw, Gilbert & Sullivan, Edward Elgar and John Field.

NOTE: There are no Friday music performances on 19th and 26th December 2008 and 2nd January 2009.

Friday 9 January, 6.30pm
Horses Brawl & Philip Thorby: Music from the court of the Holy Roman Emperor - Maximilian I and new pieces based on traditional English and Bulgarian folk music. Supported by the Arts Council of England's Escalator Scheme.

Friday 16 January, 6.30pm
Cellorhythmics: The WCM Orchestra (Working Classical Music Orchestra): cutting edge musicians brought together by Cellorhythmics' founder members James Hesford and Alfia Nakipbekova, featuring a new composition based on found objects.

Friday 23 January, 6.30pm
Jonathan Bratoeff Trio: F-ire collective guitarist and composer Jonathan Bratoeff presents his new quartet featuring Mark Hanslip, Tom Mason and James Maddren, playing contemporary material influenced by the New York downtown scene, Jason Moran and groove music but firmly rooted in the jazz tradition.

Friday 30 January, 6.30pm
Trinity College of Music: Trinity student Stjepan Hauser plays music for unaccompanied cello by Bach, Britten and Dutilleux.

Friday 6 February, 6.30pm
Farmyard Animals Trio: One of the UK's most intrepid alternative world jazz groups. Brendan Kelly (sax & bass clarinet), Gideon Juckes (tuba) & Pete Flood (drums).

Friday 13 February, 6.30pm
Ailsa Hunter & Stephen Bettaney: French music for violin and piano by Debussy, Ravel and Messaien.

Friday 20 February, 6.30pm
Renzo Murrone Trio: Vocal-led modern jazz, latin standards and originals. Renzo Murrone (vocals), Alex Stanford (piano) and Viktor Obsust (bass).

Friday 27 February, 6.30pm
Keziah Thomas: Award-winning harpist Keziah Thomas introduces the harp and its repertoire with music from around the world by Bach, Piazzolla, Buhr and Ortiz.

Find out more about Friday Evening Music and register for a rare and precious e-newsletter.

How to get there

The closest tube and train station to Trafalgar Square is Charring Cross.

Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Embankment and Covent Garden underground tube stations are also within walking distance.

If on the bus the 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 53, 87, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176 and the 453 all serve Trafalgar Square.