World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens announces its new concert series, Season of the Song, from September through to December 2025. This inspiring and immersive season celebrates the human voice in all its expressive beauty—across opera, jazz, folk, world, and contemporary music.
All concerts will take place at World Heart Beat’s groundbreaking boutique concert hall, which is enriched by a state-of-the-art d&b Soundscape system. This system is specially designed for the intimacy, nuance, and emotional power of the voice, offering audiences a deeply connected and personal experience.
This comes on the back of the recent announcement that acclaimed Classical Pianist, Cyrill Ibrahim, will be the new Artist in Residence at World Heart Beat from September 2025. A firm believer in bringing classical music into the mainstream, Cyrill will support the charity’s mission to make music accessible to all, enriching lives. He will be performing Baudelaire’s poem Harmonie du Soir, interweaving solo piano works by Liszt, Debussy, and Philip Glass with Soprano Simona Mihai on Friday, September 26.
For further details on the Season of the Song concert series, please visit https://worldheartbeat.org/whats-on/season-of-the-song/
September
EyiTemi
Friday, September 12, 2025, 7:30pm (Jazz)
British-Nigerian singer-songwriter and 2x innovation panel judge on the BBC Jazz Awards, EyiTemi, begins her new three-part series with an intimate exploration of her Afro roots, marking the release of her latest single “Fighter” (2025). This performance—the first of three venue immersive shows—blends soul, afro, jazz, spoken word, and gospel. Supported by her 8-piece band and special guest Chase Morton, EyiTemi showcases her honest storytelling style through new music and reimagined tracks spanning three albums.
Michael Csányi -Wills – Sonatas and Songs
Saturday, September 13, 2025, 7:30pm (Chamber)
An unforgettable evening of world premieres by celebrated composer and pianist Michael Csányi-Wills, violinist and violist Charles Mutter (Leader of the BBC Concert Orchestra), and internationally renowned soprano Ilona Domnich. Csányi-Wills' deeply personal compositions explore themes of memory, loss, resilience, and hope. The program includes two major sonatas, three evocative Pushkin poem settings for soprano, violin, and piano, and two intimate interludes for viola and piano—works praised for their emotional depth and expressive power.
Harmonie du Soir: Cyrill Ibrahim & Simona Mihai
Friday, September 26, 2025, 7:30pm (Classical)
Drawing on Baudelaire’s poem Harmonie du Soir, this recital interweaves solo piano works by Liszt, Debussy, Philip Glass, and two new commissions. Soprano Simona Mihai performs Liszt’s Tre sonetti di Petrarca, creating a seamless tapestry of poetry, voice, and music.
October
Frida Touray: Homebody EP Launch
Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 7:30pm (Soul/Folk/Jazz)
Known for her soulful voice and heartfelt storytelling, London-based singer and songwriter Frida invites you into a space where vulnerability meets strength. This one-off performance is a chance to experience new music up close from her highly anticipated second EP, Homebody, as well as music from her debut EP, Mending.
The 286 (Holocene opener)
Saturday, October 4, 2025, 7:30pm (Rock)
The 286 are a genre-spanning rock orchestra from London, blending guitar-driven rock with the elegance of classical music. Their unique symphonic sound fuses British invasion-era pop, classic rock, and the sweeping drama of classical music. Holocene is the alias for frontwoman Sian Kelly, an artist and songwriter from Southwest London who pairs cinematic soundscapes and heavy guitars with a voice that celebrates the darker qualities of the female range.
Infinitesimal
Thursday, October 9 & Friday, October 10, 2025, 7:30pm (Contemporary Opera)
Based on groundbreaking research about near-death experiences, Infinitesimal blurs the boundaries between science, memoir, theatre, and music. This contemporary chamber opera pushes the expressive limits to reimagine the singer-pianist duo, showcasing gay and female voices through the shared experiences of its central characters. Dancing at the threshold between our existence and what lies beyond it, Infinitesimal is directed by Kevin Newbury and composed and performed by pianist Nicole Brancato and baritone Jeremy Weiss.
In Our Voices: Moira Smiley Vocal Workshop & Concert
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Workshop: 3:00 - 5:00pm (Vocal)
Concert: 6:00pm (Vocal)
Join Grammy-nominated singer and composer Moira Smiley for an afternoon of harmony singing. Known for inspiring singers of all backgrounds, Moira will lead warmups, musical games, and the singing of new and old folk songs. The workshop is open to all levels and ages. Later, Moira will perform with Ben & Dom, who weave their voices around songs old and new, creating intricate and heartfelt harmonies.
Around the World of Opera: National Opera Studio
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 7:30pm (Opera)
Prepare to be swept away by the passion, drama, and humor of opera by stars of the National Opera Studio, featuring works by Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, and others.
Marc Robit: Map of a Blue City
Wednesday, October 29 & Thursday, October 30, 2025, 7:30pm (Jazz/Folk)
Most renowned as a wildly inventive guitarist who has collaborated with Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Robert Plant, Marc Ribot presents his newly released album, Map of a Blue City. This album is his first to prominently feature his plaintive, wise voice, showcasing songs that blend diverse traditions, including roots, bossa nova, no wave, noise, and free jazz.
November
Operation Forest (Leah Wing Opening)
Friday, November 7, 2025, 7:30pm (Young Musicians/Jazz)
Operation Forest is directed and curated by Ava Joseph, a rising star and World Heart Beat alumna known for her genre-crossing talent. As a gifted singer-songwriter, she will be joined by Leah Wing, a rising musician also nurtured by World Heart Beat. Leah began as a flautist and has since evolved into a soulful singer-songwriter, blending indie folk with pop and jazz influences.
Çigdem Aslan
Saturday, November 8, 2025, 7:30pm (Folk/Global)
A concert that promises to stir the soul and ignite the senses. Hailed as “a lioness and nightingale” by the Evening Standard, Aslan brings the raw passion of Rebetiko to life with a voice described by Jazz Weekly as “rich, earthy and penetrating.” A master of emotional storytelling, her performances blend haunting beauty with fierce energy.
Ribbons Album Launch: Rebecca Nash + Sara Colman
Sunday, November 23, 2025, 2:30pm (Jazz)
The beauty, intimacy, and creativity of the duo come to the fore in this exquisite combination of singer Sara Colman and pianist Rebecca Nash. Their long-standing relationship has honed a musical intuition that produces the misleadingly easy-sounding but musically adventurous storytelling of all good singer-musician relationships.
Mishra & Deepa Shakthi: Album Release Tour
Friday, November 28, 7:30pm (Global/Indian)
Mishra is a collective of musicians with a growing reputation for forging a distinctive path through music rooted in diverse traditions. Founded as a duo of Kate Griffin on banjo and vocals and Ford Collier on low whistle and percussion, the pair are joined by some of the finest musicians exploring the meeting points of world, folk, and jazz.
December
Eliane Corea: Cuban Sextet
Friday, December 5, 2025, 7:30pm (Cuban)
Inspired by the modern-day large timba orchestras of Havana, Eliane Correa's Cuban Sextet brings a high-octane mix of Cuban classics, contemporary Cuban repertoire, and some small-format adaptations of Eliane's original pieces for her supergroup La Evolución.
World Heart Beat Christmas Community Concert
Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 6:30pm (Young Musicians/Christmas)
Join World Heart Beat for Christmas cheer with carols and festive classics from its very own lineup of exciting talent. Each ticket sold will help give children and young people, particularly those living in difficult circumstances, an opportunity to learn music by removing barriers through the provision of bursaries and free instruments to all those who need them.
Christmas with Julian Joseph: Supporting World Heart Beat
Friday, December 12, 2025, 7:30pm (Jazz/Christmas)
Celebrate the majesty of the season with internationally renowned jazz maestro Julian Joseph in an evening of unforgettable festive sophistication, dazzling jazz, winter elegance, and Christmas cheer. Julian and his trio will be joined by special guests to celebrate the holiday season on the World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens stage with a great selection of songs for Christmas!
