About this Event
On 28th November 2026, within the historic walls of Stoke Minster, Red Events presents a luminous Stoke-on-Trent premiere — Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, performed by the acclaimed Mystery Ensemble, featuring soprano Abigail Barker and countertenor Gleb Zakharov as soloists.
Written in the final weeks of Pergolesi’s life and premiered after his death, Stabat Mater has long been regarded as one of the most beautiful works of the Baroque era — a piece whose emotional radiance transcends time, faith, and genre.
A hymn of sorrow and celestial beauty, it has inspired composers from Bach to Vivaldi, and performers from Montserrat Caballé and Barbara Hendricks to other legendary interpreters as Cecilia Bartoli, Renée Fleming, Philippe Jaroussky, Nathalie Stutzmann, and Andreas Scholl — artists whose performances over the past century have elevated Pergolesi’s masterpiece to the highest international acclaim.
Now, in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ancient mother church of the Potteries, this profound meditation on compassion and human fragility receives a new, intimate staging — conceived specifically for the sacred acoustics of Stoke Minster. A subtle, carefully crafted lighting design will shape the space throughout the performance, offering a contemporary visual reading that enhances rather than distracts, illuminating the emotional and architectural depth of Pergolesi’s masterpiece.
This one-night-only Stoke premiere offers a rare opportunity to experience three sections of Pergolesi’s masterpiece exactly as it would have sounded in his own time — performed in the authentic Neapolitan church pitch used in 18th-century Naples, in lower, warmer tuning which lends the music a darker, more velvety colour.
The concert organised by Red Events & Distribution Ltd. — the creative agency which makes exceptional cultural events in ancient mansions, on rooftops, in greenhouses and in other most atmospheric venues of Europe, United Kingdom, Georgia, Armenia and other countries. Also in the repertoire – a collection of concerts by candlelight and with complete immersion in the space of video art and sound.
Mystery Ensemble
Mystery Ensemble is a group of professional musicians performing unique programs on non-standard venues around the world.
Experience outstanding works from different eras, experimental music, tributes, and world soundtracks of films and series, as well as absolutely unique programs and immersive shows. All music presented in author’s arrangements. With the possibility of independent choice of the program, unexpected locations, and flexibility of the format, our team of professional musicians is inspired to bring their favorite music to life.
Founded in 2021, our studio of contemporary music has grown rapidly, with over 40 shows in the UK in its first year of performing. Our founder, Almin Alexander, has devoted more than 12 years of his life to the music industry and the development of cultural initiatives around the world, working with many outstanding musicians and musical groups.
The ensemble’s repertoire contains an incredible amount of music. Just look at some of the programs so dearly loved by our viewers: these are tribute concerts of such great composers as Ludovico Einaudi, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Ólafur Arnalds, Joe Hisaishi, or the minimalists’ John Cage and David Lang, along with At the same time, the ensemble performs popular soundtracks from sensational TV shows and movies: Wednesday, The Young Pope, Harry Potter, a variety of Disney and Pixar films, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit saga, Spencer, Star Wars and others. There is also the unique music of Enigma, Enya, combined with neoclassical music, or world rock hits, and tributes to the legendary Michael Jackson, Queen and the Beatles. For lovers of the classics, the ensemble collection contains music by W.A. Mozart, J.S. Bach, L.V. Beethoven, R. Wagner, I. Strauss, P.I. Tchaikovsky, S.V. Rachmaninov, and all key composers — classics. And much more. Every month the studio releases new programs and updates the existing repertoire.
For some projects, the team gathers as part of a chamber or small symphony orchestra.
Join us and experience the creative energy and passion that drives our team to bring music to life in unforgettable ways!
Gleb Zakharov (countertenor)
Gleb Zakharov is a London-based countertenor currently continuing his artistic development at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he works with Marcus van den Akker and Raymond Connell, alongside his long-standing mentor Patricia Rozario, OBE.
Gleb has further refined his artistry through studies with Professor Faltin at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule in Berlin and through masterclasses with Sonia Prina, Carmen Santoro, Ailish Tynan, Ashley Stafford, and other leading artists and coaches.
His recent and upcoming operatic roles include Pisandro in Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria and the title role in Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto, which he will perform in Trieste in the summer of 2026. He regularly appears in concerts and productions across Europe and recently performed a series of Stabat Mater concerts in five different countries.
Gleb performs a wide range of repertoire spanning Baroque, Romantic, and contemporary music. His concert appearances have taken him throughout the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Italy.
With his warm, dark timbre and instinctive sensitivity to sacred repertoire, Gleb brings profound emotional depth to Stabat Mater, staying true to Pergolesi’s original intention to express raw human suffering, tenderness, and devotion through music.
Beyond the stage, Gleb maintains a strong digital presence with over 50k followers on Instagram, where he collaborates with major cultural institutions and brands, including Decca Classics and Medici TV, creating engaging educational content that introduces classical music and opera to new audiences.
Abigail Barker (soprano)
Abigail Barker, a 24-year-old soprano from Nottingham, recently graduated with first-class honours in Vocal Studies (BMus) from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She is currently enriching her vocal study with Marcus van den Akker and Raymond Connell, ahead of commencing her studies at Masters Level at the Royal Academy of Music in September.
Abigail has performed widely across the UK and Europe. Recent highlights include touring Pergolesi's Stabat Mater across various prestigious venues, including Southwark Cathedral and Queens Hall Edinburgh. She has also sang for Lord of the Rings in Concert at St George’s Hall, Liverpool, and toured Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands alongside Gleb, exploring connection in recital between the Soprano and Countertenor voices. She spent the summer with Opera de Bauge, appearing in the choruses of 'Don Giovanni' and 'Der Rosenkavalier', and singing Minerva in 'Orpheus in the Underworld'. At Trinity Laban, she performed as Prima Nereidi in Monteverdi's 'Il ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria'.
As a frequent competitor, Abigail was a semi-finalist in the Leach Vocal Competition and took part in the Eastbourne International Singing Competition. She won the Trinity Laban English Song prize, was a finalist in the Lilian Ash French Song and Elisabeth Schumann Lieder Competitions, won the Nottingham-based Liz Chant Bursary, and was selected for the Kathleen Ferrier Bursary Competition.
Abigail has sung with the Old Royal Naval College Chapel Choir under Ralph Allwood, appearing on BBC songs of Praise and also the Rodolfus Choir, where she had the chance to perform Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall. She has also honed her craft in masterclasses with Ailish Tynan, Pascal Rogé, Janis Kelly, Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Lynne Dawson.
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi — Stabat Mater (Complete performance, approx. 40 minutes)
Additional baroque selections by Mystery Ensemble will complete the evening
Event venue & nearby stays
Stoke Minster, Glebe St, Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke On Trent, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.