A nervous system reset.
One minute, the sound vibrates through you, your hairs pulled on end. The next: a blissful calm descends. There’s furious amplified sound and then mysterious, holy light to slow the pulse back down…
Ever felt overstimulated by your phone screen? Ben Nobuto’s ‘SERENITY 2.0’ is a glitched-out collage of frenzied strings, percussion and electronic samples. It cycles restlessly through Japanese pop, news anchors and vocal-fried YouTubers – but the calm after the doomscrolling is worth the ride.
Musician and DJ Nabihah Iqbal has a similarly eclectic approach to art and music. Her work takes her everywhere, from Boiler Room raves to the Turner Prize. ‘What Psyche Felt’ is the artist’s first classical commission – it takes its title from a poem by John Keats, mirroring the Romantic poet’s effusive enthusiasm for the beauty of nature. The piece will be given its world premiere by the Collective, with Nabihah joining us live for all five dates.
The finale? Eric Prydz’s colossal house anthem ‘Opus’, reimagined.
‘What Psyche Felt’ is commissioned by Manchester Collective with support from our Commissioning Club.
Dates
13 Mar – Leeds – Howard Assembly Room – Book →
14 Mar – Manchester – Royal Northern College of Music – Book →
15 Mar – Liverpool — Tung Auditorium – Book →
19 Mar – Nottingham — Lakeside Arts – Book →
23 Mar – London — Southbank Centre – Book →
Check back for times, ticket prices and access info once booking links are live
Setlist
Bryce Dessner Aheym
Dobrinka Tabakova Insight
Ben Nobuto SERENITY 2.0
Nabihah Iqbal What Psyche Felt (world premiere)
Sebastian Gainsborough Squint
Eric Prydz arr. Ben Nobuto Opus
Approximate runtime: 70 mins plus interval
SERENITY 2.0 SPOTIFY PLAYLIST →
Programme notes →
Line-up
Rakhi Singh Violin
Julian Azkoul Violin
Alex Mitchell Viola
Alice Purton Cello
Beibei Wang Percussion
Nabihah Iqbal Electronics (‘What Psyche Felt’)
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We’re all about the atmosphere and immersion. You might encounter lighting to set the mood, amplified sound to deliver music straight to your eardrums, or maybe a little bit of haze.
Between pieces, our performers often share a short explanation about the music. They might chat about what to listen out for, the themes or their personal experience.
Rather than the standard black attire, our musicians wear what they feel is comfortable: whether that’s a colourful dress, or a woolly jumper if it’s chilly.
To us, music is most powerful when it’s immediate and personal, not bound by convention. Whether you’re a first-timer or veteran concert-goer, you’re invited to a new kind of classical music experience.
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From warehouses to concert halls, everywhere we play is unique.
At underground and independent venues, it’s a more intimate experience. You can expect to get up close and personal to the musicians, hear outside noise and grab a drink at the bar. Don’t forget to wrap up warm!
The “Book” links under Dates & Tickets lead to venue websites. There, you’ll be able to find specific access information. Please note that some independent venues might be standing shows, with the option to request a seat if you need one. This will be specified on the booking page.
If you have any questions at all about access, get in touch at events@manchestercollective.co.uk and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.
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Our performances aren’t formal – so you don’t have to be either! Dress in whatever style makes you feel comfortable, just as our performers do.
If you’ve never been to a classical concert before, you might be worried about rules and etiquette. That’s not what we’re about. You’re free to bring the same excitement and respect you would to any other performance.
Depending on the venue, you might be able to take a couple photos and short videos during the show. If you’re filming the entire gig, we promise we have better recordings on our YouTube channel.
All we ask is that you listen with an open mind and ears.
“Magical. Afterwards I felt like my mind had been cleansed and my heart revived.”
AUDIENCE MEMBER, THE UNFURROWED FIELD
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. It was atmospheric and mesmerising”
AUDIENCE MEMBER, HEAVY METAL