About the Leeds International Chamber Series 2024/25

Each year we ask a guest Artistic Director to curate our International Chamber Series, this year it is the esteemed violinist, Jonian Ilias Kadesha. Join Jonian and his closest musical friends for a journey across Europe to explore the vibrant chamber music the continent has to offer.

A note from the Artistic Director

I’m honoured to be able to create this season’s programmes; it’s a real privilege to invite esteemed guest artists who are my closest artistic friends to join me on these European Wanderings.

Leeds International Concert Season has given me the freedom to develop artistic ideas that will lead audiences to enjoy music from a different perspective. When putting together these programmes, I thought it would be interesting to look at the music from a geographical point of view. When we think about classical music, we tend to think chronologically, but thinking in a geographical way allows us to consider the impact a location had on the music created there.

Thinking about music in this way led me to ponder the different important cities throughout Europe that influenced the course of history and how they impacted classical music, whether that was due to having a strong folk scene, or perhaps to political events. The cities we visit are all hugely significant, cultural melting-pots. It’s interesting to observe how music written by different composers through different times, but within the same borders, has changed so immensely yet can also have such strong commonalities or links.

Join me and my friends as we journey across borders and boundaries to showcase masterworks, some of which you may already love, and some that you will discover for the very first time.

Jonian Ilias Kadesha
Artistic Director