RIOT! Symphony
RIOT! Symphony
Composed by Conor Mitchell
Libretto by Sophie Scholl & Pussy Riot
Commissioned by Ulster Orchestra
Next Performance: Helsinki Festival August 2026
Belfast Ensemble join forces with the Finnish National Opera & Ballet Orchestra at Helsinki Festival this August.
ROT! Symphony unleashes a spirit of energy, revolution and political activism through a multi-media orchestral experience. This critically acclaimed work, first performed by Belfast Ensemble & Ulster Orchestra, fuses Conor Mitchell’s symphonic and operatic style with songs from Pussy Riot, the writings of Sophie Scholl (from the White Rose Movement), and a newly commissioned film design by the award-winning Nicky Larkin.
In a world dominated by dictators and oligarchs, RIOT! Symphony demonstrates that the act of art making is fundamentally rebellious and political.
This 50 minute orchestral audio visual experience blends the political writings of boundary pushing revolutionaries with symphonic colour and stunning visuals, creating an explosive, high-concept protest work that refuses to be defined.
Performance Diary
2026
Thursday 20 August 2026 - Helsinki Festival
2024
Ulster Orchestra - Ulster Hall, Belfast - May 2024
Reviews
★★★★★
“loud, energetic, and relentless””
★★★★
“A marriage of music and political defiance”
Fiona Maddocks - The Guardian [2024]
Simon Thompson - The Times [2024]
“explosive, high concept protest work
Alan Meban - Alan In Belfast [2024]
“Mitchell emphasises that classical music has a history of political protest. Riot Symphony demonstrates that this holds true today.”
Jane Coyle - The Even Hand [2024]
TRAILER
MUSIC
Conor Mitchell
Andrew Hume
Beki Bateson
Helena Howie
Bethany Simpson
Film Maker
Conductor
Soprano
Tenor
Symphony
Film Maker
Stage Manager
SM Support
Sound
Projection
Lighting
Studio Provision
Andrew Gourlay
Aurora Marthens
Ric Furman
Finnish National Opera & Ballet Orchestra
Conductor
Soprano
Tenor
Symphony
STAGING
Credits: 2026
MANAGEMENT
Artistic Director
Executive Producer
MANAGEMENT
Producer
Producer (UO)
Company Manger
Nicky Larkin
Credits: 2024
MUSIC
Andrew Gourlay
Rebecca Murphy
Michael Bell
Ulster Orchestra
STAGING
Gavin Peden
Jonathan Rainey Reid
Caoimhe McGee
Oliver Gastinel
Barry McCusker
Michael Jervis
Mary Tumelty
Rocky O’Reilly
Credits: 2026
MUSIC
Andrew Gourley
Aurora Marthens
Ric Furman
Finnish National Opera & Ballet Orchestra
Conductor
Soprano
Tenor
Symphony
STAGING
Nicky Larkin
Film Maker
MANAGEMENT
Conor Mitchell
Andrew Hume
Artistic Director
Executive Producer
Credits: 2024
MUSIC
Andrew Gourley
Rebecca Murphy
Michael Bell
Ulster Orchestra
Conductor
Soprano
Tenor
Symphony
STAGING
Nicky Larkin
Jonathan Rainey Reid
Caoimhe McGee
Oliver Gastinel
Barry McCusker
Mary Tumelty
Michael Jervis
Rocky O’Reilly
Film Maker
Stage Manager
SM Support
Sound
Lights
Projection
Studio Provision
MANAGEMENT
Beki Bateson
Helenna Howie
Bethany Simpson
Producer
Producer (UO)
Company Manager
Supported by
