New Frontiers: From Dusk ’til Dawn - City of London Sinfonia

New Frontiers: From Dusk til Dawn is a journey through sound, sleep, and starlight

Nightfall. Moonrise. First light. 

A journey through sound, sleep, and starlight. 

City of London Sinfonia transforms the beautifully restored Hackney Church, Hackney’s iconic 18th-century church-turned-contemporary arts venue, into a space of shifting light and shadow for From Dusk Until Dawn, part of its New Frontiers season. 

This atmospheric programme drifts through starry skies and moonlit reflections. From William Herschel’s Symphony No.2, written by the astronomer who discovered Uranus, to Messiaen’s Interstellar Call and Debussy’s Clair de Lune, the music carries us through night’s quiet mysteries. 

Experience bold voices like Eleanor Alberga, Hannah Kendall, and Dobrinka Tabakova, alongside Vivaldi’s haunting La Notte and Mozart’s glimmering Serenata Notturna. Music made for moonlight, performed in one of London’s most immersive spaces. 

Why come out? Because this isn’t music behind a screen, it’s a live, living encounter. At Hackney Church, every note resonates through timeworn stone and contemporary stillness. The night becomes sound. The dawn becomes real. 
Step out into the night. Step into something extraordinary.

Alexandra Wood director
Elliot Griggs lighting designer

JS Bach: Prelude from Suite No.5 in C minor for cello solo 
Herschel: Movement 1 from Symphony No.2 in D
Balmages: Lullaby to the moon 
Messiaen: 'Interstellar call' from Des canyons aux étoiles... 
Debussy: 'Clair de Lune' from Suite bergamasque 
Charlotte Bray: 'A match with the moon' from Caught in treetops
Mozart: Serenade No. 6 in D major, K. 239, "Serenata notturna" 
Alberga: Succubus Moon 
Hannah Kendall: Weroon Weroon 
Vivaldi: Bassoon Concerto RV 501, 'La notte' excerpts 
Dobrinka Tabakova: 'Dawn' from Sun tryptich 

City of London Sinfonia’s New Frontiers season is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Foyle Foundation and Resonate, a PRS Foundation initiative in partnership with Association of British Orchestras and BBC Radio 3

Ages 7+ (Under 16s to be accompanied by an adult 18+)

Please note that tickets are sold as Ground Floor Unreserved Seating and Balcony Unreserved Seating respectively. Ground floor ticket holders may not access the Balcony area and vice versa.

Concession tickets are available to eligible individuals, including senior citizens, students, those who are unwaged, and individuals with additional access needs. Proof of eligibility may be required upon request. Please get in touch prior to making a booking by emailing events@hackney.church

We welcome anyone with accessibility requirements and will endeavour to accommodate any needs you may have. Please get in touch prior to making a booking by emailing events@hackney.church
 
About Hackney Church
Located in the heart of East London, Hackney Church, officially known as St John at Hackney, is the historic parish church of Hackney, dating back to 1792. Today, the church is part of SAINT, a thriving church meeting across multiple East London locations. Following a multi-million-pound restoration, part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the church has undergone a substantial transformation, driven by a vision to create a 'cathedral of creativity' to serve the local community and beyond. This project was spearheaded by an acclaimed team including world-renowned minimalist architect John Pawson CBE, visual artist Es Devlin, and conservation experts Thomas Ford & Partners. The renovation not only improved the church’s accessibility but also meticulously preserved its historical integrity, establishing it as an impressive centre for community engagement. Hackney Church functions as a premier venue for live music, arts and culture, intertwined with Hackney's cultural and social landscape.

About Lighthouse
Lighthouse is the dedicated social outreach arm of SAINT, started in 2016 to provide support and services to local people in need across East London. Supported by hundreds of volunteers, and funded by community donations, grants and live shows at Hackney Church, Lighthouse provides holistic support to individuals and families in need, spanning a range of services designed to combat poverty, homelessness, loneliness and social exclusion. Key initiatives have included a food bank that has distributed almost half a million meals since 2020, the provision of delicious hot community meals in partnership with restaurant Moro, and comprehensive homeless outreach that provides essential support services and signposting. Lighthouse also engages in extensive community support efforts, employment assistance, finance courses, and skills development workshops, all aimed at helping those in crisis and pointing towards a hope-filled future.