2025 Newport Classical Music Festival offers 29 concerts in July. What you need to know
- The 2025 Newport Classical Music Festival will take place from July 4-22 and feature 29 concerts at 11 different venues.
- Tickets for the festival go on sale to the general public on April 9.
- Highlights of the festival include performances by Broadway star Jessica Vosk, pianist Inon Barnatan, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
From July 4-22, the Newport Classical Music Festival offers an unparalleled experience, combining 29 intimate concerts featuring over 100 artists with the grandeur and opulence of 11 iconic venues, making the City by the Sea an ultimate summer destination for live music. For 56 years, Newport Classical has united artists and audiences to experience the joy of music and the connections it inspires, offering concertgoers the opportunity to discover new composers or experience timeless works offered from a fresh perspective.
“We can all agree that this festival is so much more than three weeks of concerts. It’s an unforgettable celebration of artistry, community, and the thrill of live performance, set against the one-of-a-kind backdrop of Newport’s iconic venues. This summer’s array of programs captures the expansive range of artistic expression within classical music," Newport Classical Executive Director Gillian Fox said.
Here's a look at what you need to know about this year's festival.
When do 2025 Newport Classical Music Festival tickets go on sale?
Tickets go on sale to the general public on April 9.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit newportclassical.org/music-festival
Highlights of the 2025 Newport Classical Music Festival
- Opening Night featuring Two Pianos with Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung.
- Two evenings with Broadway star Jessica Vosk, best known for her lead role in "Wicked."
- Performances by extraordinary pianists Inon Barnatan, Sara Davis Buechner and Wynona Wang.
- Celebrated soprano Karen Slack's African Queens project co-commissioned by Newport Classical with a national consortium.
- The U.S. premiere of a new work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang co-commissioned by Newport Classical with an international consortium.
- Performances by world-class artists including violinist Leila Josefowicz, The Westerlies, Third Coast Percussion, harpist Emily Levin, guitarists Ziggy and Miles, Palaver Strings, Attacca Quartet, Twelfth Night, The Gesualdo Six, Tallā Rouge, Empire Wild and more.
- Opera Night: An American Tapestry.
- Closing Night with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and violinist Stefan Jackiw.
- Sunrise Concerts at 5:15 a.m.
- A concert inspired by nature at Norman Bird Sanctuary
- A free Fourth of July concert at King Park.
- This year’s young professional Newport Classical Festival Artists in seven performances.
A commissioned piece on the Wampanoag tribe
For the fifth year in a row, Newport Classical has commissioned a brand new work to be premiered at the Festival. This year's Composer-in-Residence is Cris Derksen, a Juno-nominated Indigenous cellist and composer, who is writing a new work for the Galvin Cello Quartet. Derksen researched the history of Aquidneck Island, and her new piece "First Light" focuses on the Wampanoag, a Native American People known as the “People of the First Light,” as well as the story of John Anthony, an enslaved boy, as reimagined by the composer.
A look at some of the 2025 Newport Classical Music Festival concerts
The full 2025 schedule includes more than two dozen concerts. Here's a look at 10 that stand out.
The 2025 Newport Classical Music Festival kicks off on July 4 at 8 p.m. with a free, outdoor Fourth of July Patriotic Pops concert preceding the fireworks at King Park featuring Fenway Brass & Percussion, one of Boston’s most esteemed professional brass ensembles, in a joyous program celebrating America's birthday. This family-friendly concert, with views of the Pell Bridge, is part of the 2025 BankNewport Community Concerts Series.
Newport Classical Music Festival’s Opening Night concert on Saturday, July 5 at 8 p.m. at The Breakers features Two Pianos with Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung. Together they present a program of abundant artistic chemistry, passion and stunning virtuosity in music by Busoni, Poulenc, Schubert, Debussy and Piazzolla, showcasing the duo’s seamless synchronicity and musical artistry in the stunning setting of The Breakers.
July 6 at 8 p.m., "Opera Night: An American Tapestry" will showcase a captivating selection of arias, duets, and ensemble numbers from American English operas. Complete with a red-carpet photo experience, Opera Night promises a dazzling evening of timeless music and storytelling in a setting as beautiful as the performances.
July 10 at 8 p.m. at The Breakers, Third Coast Percussion marks 20 years of genre-defying, award-winning music. Third Coast’s program features selections from five albums with four Grammy nominations and one Grammy Award, along with exciting new works commissioned for the ensemble’s 20th anniversary, including music by Clarice Assad, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Jlin, Jessie Montgomery, and Tigran Hamasyan.
On July 11 at 5:15 a.m. audiences can start their day with a stunning, panoramic sunrise over Newport’s iconic Cliff Walk and the Atlantic Ocean as the Festival Artists present a meditative and uplifting journey in this Sunrise Meditations concert. Set on the terrace of Rosecliff, with its breathtaking views and serene atmosphere, this year’s Sunrise Meditations concert offers a unique opportunity to enjoy music in a peaceful, outdoor setting.
July 15 and July 16 at 8 p.m. at The Breakers, Newport Classical presents two Evenings with Broadway Star Jessica Vosk. Vosk is a celebrated singer and actress known for electrifying roles in musical theater and on concert stages, including a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut in 2021. Best known for her star turn as Elphaba in Wicked – first on tour and then for the show’s 15th anniversary on Broadway – Vosk played the iconic green witch for two years.
July 18 at 2 p.m. at Newport Classical Recital Hall. The Newport Classical Festival Artists offer a Free Open Rehearsal as they finalize preparations for their performance "French Quintets: Revivals" taking place the following day.
July 19 at 8 p.m. at The Breakers, Attacca Quartet brings its exceptional artistry to an evening that pairs celebrated classical works with engaging contemporary compositions. The Attacca Quartet is known for their innovative approach to chamber music, has collaborated with artists such as Caroline Shaw and Billie Eilish, and has contributed to soundtracks for films like Ken Burns’ new documentary, "Leonardo da Vinci."
July 20 at 11 a.m. at the Colony House. After an energetic and memorable Newport debut last season, Empire Wild returns for a performance on Sunday, that pushes musical boundaries with its inventive fusion of genres.
The 2025 Newport Classical Music Festival ends on a high note on July 22 at 8 p.m. as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra returns to The Breakers for the Festival’s Closing Night performance, joined by acclaimed violin soloist Stefan Jackiw. Orpheus performs Arensky’s Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with Jackiw, and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.