About Paraorchestra and The Breath present Symbiosis
Following its debut at BBC Proms Bristol in August 2025, Symbiosis - a dynamic collaboration between Paraorchestra and Ríoghnach Connolly and Stuart McCallum - receives its London Premiere at the Barbican Centre this April.
Better known as award-winning duo The Breath, Connolly and McCallum’s musical horizons are boundless. Fearlessly traversing the realms of cinematic trad folk, they build towering walls of sound.
A rich tapestry of compositions for voice, guitar, flute, and shruti are supercharged and lifted by ‘responding composer’ Oliver Vibrans, who has orchestrated parts for an array of rare and unusual instrumentation for Paraorchestra.
Conducted by Charles Hazlewood, Symbiosis invites you to observe the 20-piece ensemble as an ecosystem of musical forces, transforming and expanding The Breath’s songs into new landscapes that are lush, unpredictable, and emotionally resonant.
Watch highlights from the BBC Proms premiere
This was a totally magical performance… mesmerising, skin-tingling stuff
Audience member
Credits
Creative team

Charles Hazlewood
Artistic director and Conductor
Ríoghnach Connolly
Voice, flute, and shruti
Stuart McCallum
Guitars
Oliver Vibrans
Responding composer
Musicians
Flute (dbl bass fl and picc)
Holly Melia
Lila Bhattacherjee
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
Lloyd Coleman
Matthew Scott
Recorders
James Risdon
Saxophone
Fliss Gorst (alto/tenor)
Jason Yarde (tenor/baritone)
Flugelhorn/cornet
Sarah Campbell
Jonny Abraham
Euphonium
Sion Jones
James Hobbis
Percussion
Meadow Brooks
Harmonium/Rhodes/Synthesiser/Percussion
Ross Hughes
Violin I
Tzu-Fan Tang
Violin II
Siobhan Clough
Viola
George White
Tilly Chester (dbl elec vla)
Cello
Josh Mountford
Hattie McCall Davies
Double Bass
Patrick Phillip
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