Every two years MIF brings exciting artists from all corners of the globe to the city of Manchester to create ambitious new work and open new possibilities. This year’s event sprawled across the city, with pop-ups in theatres, music halls and galleries.
The 2023 programme saw Yayoi Kusama’s largest-ever immersive environment, Yayoi Kusama: You, Me and The Balloons; a groundbreaking mixed-reality concert KAGAMI, and an iconic performance by Alison Goldfrapp of her electrifying solo project.
“Manchester International Festival is a major highlight in the UK cultural calendar. This year's world class programme will thrill and entertain thousands of people over the coming weeks. We’re proud to invest in MIF through our support for Factory International as one of our national portfolio organisations.”
For perhaps one of the most anticipated performances of the MIF calendar, powerhouse composer Anna Meredith joined forces with the Royal Northern College of Music Festival Orchestra for a one-off spectacle at Depot Mayfield.
As a composer, producer and performer, Anna has taken the orchestral world by storm with her boundary-blurring work. Swapping concert halls for the iconic Depot Mayfield, in July Anna and her band were joined by the Royal Northern College of Music Festival Orchestra for a sensational performance of the Mercury Prize-shortlisted album FIBS.
The genre-bending show conducted by Robert Ames brought together contemporary classical, art pop, techno and experimental rock for an exhilaratingly emotive journey. With new arrangements by Ben Corrigan and Robert Ames, this is music made for a giant space - what better place to showcase it than in the vast main space of Depot.
