Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11

Sep 2010 to Jun 2011 at Town Hall & Symphony Hall

Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11

Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11

See the world’s greatest artists perform on the UK’s finest stages

Among the stellar line-up of concerts this season are Cecilia Bartoli, Mitsuko Uchida, Andreas Scholl, Joshua Bell, Steven Isserlis, Piotr Anderszewski, the Dresden Staatskapelle with Christoph Eschenbach, Il Giardino Armonico and the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra.

We join forces with the CBSO to present The Birmingham Mahler Cycle to mark the composer’s centenary. Visiting Birmingham are Valery Gergiev conducting the London Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Antonio Pappano the Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome.

And, you can explore the relationship between music and visuals in four remarkable concerts: Wagner’s Tristan and Thomas Adès’s In Seven Days with visuals from Bill Viola and Tal Rosner, Holst’s The Planets from the Houston Symphony and NASA, and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in an extraordinary 3D interplay between dance and real-time stereoscopic projections.

We look forward to sharing these outstanding evenings of music-making in a season which truly has something for everybody.

Save up to 30% by booking a concert package now. Phone 0121 780 3333 or download the booking form below. For more information on the discounts and benefits you can receive with a concert package, download a copy of the brochure below.

Priority booking for Friends of Town Hall and Symphony Hall and group bookers opens on Thursday 27 May at 10am, by phone, post and in person.

General booking opens on Thursday 3 June at 10am, online, by phone, post and in person.

  • Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (UK Premiere of Production with Visuals by Bill Viola) Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 23 Sep Symphony Hall

    '…The overall impact is shattering. A great occasion, no question.' The Guardian 'It could well be a very long time before something this great comes our way again.' Los Angeles Times 'One of the greatest experiences of my artistic life' Esa-Pekka Salonen This performance is, quite simply, an unmissable event that is one of the highlights of the UK cultural calendar: a partnership of three of the greatest artists of the present time - conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, artistic collaborator Peter Sellars and film artist Bill Viola. Set against the stunning backdrop of Viola’s film projections, this UK premiere promises to bring a new intensity to Wagner’s hymn to love and death. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “Wagner’s tale of forbidden love was inspired by Arthurian legend. The composer himself said that the story is ’one of endless yearning, longing, the bliss and wretchedness of love...one sole redemption - death, finality, a sleep without awakening.’” "Click here to view a lecture by Bill Viola on _Tristan und Isolde_.":http://channel.tate.org.uk/media/26708479001 Concert performance with visual projections. Sung in German with English surtitles.
    *Philharmonia Orchestra* *Esa-Pekka Salonen* _conductor_ *Gary Lehman* _Tristan_ *Violeta Urmana* _Isolde_ *Anne Sofie von Otter* _Brangäne_ *Matthew Best** _King Marke_ *Jukka Rasilainen* _Kurwenal_ *Stephen Gadd* _Melot_ *Joshua Ellicott** _Shepherd/Sailor_ *Darren Jeffery* _Helmsman_ *Philharmonia Voices* *Bill Viola* _visual artist_ *Peter Sellars* _artistic collaborator_ *Please note the change of cast from that originally advertised.
    *Wagner* _Tristan und Isolde_ 255’ There will be two 30 minute intervals and the concert will end at approximately 10.30pm. *Please note that due to video scenes with nudity, this performance is not recommended for under-14s.* _Tristan und Isolde_ co-producers: "Philharmonia Orchestra":http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/, Konzerthaus Dortmund and Lucerne Festival In association with: Southbank Centre London and Symphony Hall, Birmingham Also performed in: KKL, Lucerne (10 September), Konzerthaus, Dortmund (17 September) and Southbank Centre, London (26 September)

  • Celebrity Piano Recital: Mitsuko Uchida Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Sun 26 Sep Symphony Hall

    "Mitsuko Uchida’s":http://www.mitsukouchida.com/ ability to communicate the spirit of whatever she plays with wit, sparkle and gravitas makes her one of the world’s most admired performers. Beethoven’s popular _Moonlight_ Sonata is heard alongside music by Schumann and Chopin’s passionate, spacious Third Sonata. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “The Celebrity Piano Recital series provides an unmissable opportunity to catch some world-class players up close and personal. Hearing Mitsuko Uchida perform Beethoven’s groundbreaking _Moonlight_ Sonata (the first to begin with a slow movement rather than a fast one) will definitely be worth the ticket price alone.”

    *Beethoven* Piano Sonata, No 27 in E minor, Op 90 13’ *Beethoven* Piano Sonata in C sharp minor, Op 27, No 2, _Moonlight_ 15’ *Schumann* _Die Gesänge der Frühe_ 16’ *Chopin* Piano Sonata No 3, in B minor 28’

  • The Planets: An HD Odyssey (European Premiere) Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Fri 8 Oct Symphony Hall

    'The images . . . were often astonishing. Photographs from rovers and satellites, radar images and computer-generated graphics were combined to give the audience the impression of circling individual planets and sometimes flying over their awesomely barren landscapes.' New York Times Holst’s _The Planets_ was inspired by his interest in astrology. Nearly one hundred years later he would have been astounded by the state-of-the-art, high definition images from NASA’s exploration of the solar system. For tonight’s European Premiere, Producer Duncan Copp has brought these images together with a commentary by the world’s leading planetary scientists, all projected on a large screen above the orchestra. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “Classical music reaches for the stars in this unique project between the "Houston Symphony":http://www.houstonsymphony.org/ and NASA no less. Premiered in the Space Agency and Orchestra’s home city in January 2010, this will be your chance to watch some extraordinary images of our solar system alongside Holst’s astrological masterpiece”. Part of the "Sounds of Space":http://thsh.co.uk/soundsofspace weekend at Town hall and Symphony Hall.
    *Houston Symphony* *Hans Graf* _conductor_ *Ladies of the City of Birmingham Choir*
    *Stravinsky* _Fireworks_ 5’ *Adams* _Dr Atomic_ Symphony 25’ *Holst* _The Planets_ 65’ Sponsored by University of Birmingham.

  • MacMillan Lunchtime Concert Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Fri 15 Oct Town Hall

    Four short pieces by MacMillan share a programme with a new work by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and Shostakovich’s mighty Piano Quintet. This is part of the James MacMillan Day, which also includes "MacMillan Conducts MacMillan and Beethoven":http://www.thsh.co.uk/view/macmillan-conducts-macmillan-and-beethoven at 7.30pm at Town Hall.
    *Britten Sinfonia*
    *James MacMillan* _For Max; 25 May 1967; Walfrid, on his arrival at the gates of Paradise; For Sally_ 12’ *Peter Maxwell Davies* New work 5’ *Shostakovich* Piano Quintet 34’

  • MacMillan Conducts MacMillan and Beethoven Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Fri 15 Oct Town Hall

    In this first of two ‘Composer Conducts’ concerts, James MacMillan premieres his Oboe Concerto with soloist Nicholas Daniel. It is heard alongside two pieces by composers who both struggled with ideas of revolution and change: Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony (an arrangement of his searing String Quartet No 8) and Beethoven’s sunny and genial Second Symphony. "James MacMillan blog":http://brittensinfonia.blogspot.com/2010/08/continuing-relationship-by-james.html "Click here to view a short film with Nicholas Daniel":http://vimeo.com/13802567 6.15pm Pre-concert conversation with James MacMillan. This is part of the James MacMillan Day, which also includes "MacMillan Lunchtime Concert":http://www.thsh.co.uk/view/macmillan-lunchtime-concert at 7.30pm at Town Hall.
    *Britten Sinfonia* *James MacMillan* _conductor_ *Nicholas Daniel* _oboe_
    *Shostakovich* Chamber Symphony 20’ *James MacMillan* Oboe Concerto (world premiere) c.20’ *Beethoven* Symphony No 2 34’

  • Monteverdi's Vespers Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Sun 17 Oct Town Hall

    Composed 400 years ago and dedicated to Pope Paul V, Monteverdi's sumptuous and monumental Vespers gained him the appointment of maestro di cappella at St Mark’s in Venice. The sparkling vocal and instrumental acrobatics of the work are performed by 10 outstanding singers and an ensemble of some of the UK’s finest period instrument performers. This magnificent work never fails to make an impression and is performed here by Birmingham’s own "Ex Cathedra":http://www.excathedra.co.uk/, the internationally acclaimed Town Hall Associate Artist. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “Town Hall provides the perfect setting for one of the most extraordinarily beautiful works for voices ever written. A work of such scale had never been heard before in the seventeenth century. No wonder then that this landmark in religious music has stood the test of time.” 2.45pm Pre-concert talk.
    *Ex Cathedra Consort & Baroque Ensemble* *His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts* *Jeffery Skidmore* _conductor_
    *Monteverdi* 1610 Vespers 100’ There will be one interval and the concert will end at approximately 6pm.

  • Bach's Brandenburg Concertos Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Tue 26 Oct Town Hall

    Bach’s Six _Brandenburg_ Concertos are overflowing with music of supreme energy, tunefulness, good humour and invention. For nearly forty years the Academy of Ancient Music has been at the forefront of Baroque performance, playing 'always with a scholar’s attention to accuracy and a rock musician’s joyous zeal' (Fort Worth Star-Telegram). Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “The Brandenburg Concertos were so named for an ungrateful Marquis who didn’t particularly care for them. Perhaps the minor royal was having a bad day because each of these jewels has something exceptional to offer the listener.” 6.15pm Pre-concert talk: Richard Egarr in conversation with Lyndon Jenkins.
    "*Academy of Ancient Music*":http://www.aam.co.uk/ *Richard Egarr* _director/harpsichord_
    *J S Bach* The Six Brandenburg Concertos 96’ There will be one interval and the concert will end at approximately 9:30pm.

  • Takács Quartet Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 11 Nov Town Hall

    Generally regarded as Europe's pre-eminent string quartet, the "Takács":http://www.takacsquartet.com return to Town Hall with quartets by Haydn and Shostakovich alongside Schubert’s gravely beautiful _Death and the Maiden_ Quartet. 'This is chamber-music playing of overwhelming intensity, insight and intelligence, simply the best I have ever heard in concert', wrote the critic of The Guardian recently. BBC Music magazine’s Editor Oliver Condy explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert: “The Takács Quartet were the first ever winners of the BBC Music magazine’s Disc of the Year award back in 2006. I’ve since seen them live several times and have never yet failed to be entranced by their ability to breathe new life to into well-worn masterpieces.”

    *Haydn* String Quartet, Op 74, No 3 18’ *Shostakovich* String Quartet No 2 33’ *Schubert* String Quartet, _Death and the Maiden_ 40’

  • Beethoven's Eighth Symphony Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Sun 21 Nov Town Hall

    Two piano concertos by composers who conducted their own music at Town Hall - Mendelssohn’s intensely dramatic First Concerto and Saint-Saëns’s sparkling Second. The legend of a falling chandelier that left the audience unharmed at the premiere of Haydn’s Symphony No 96 earned it the nickname ‘Miracle’ - a title that might also be used to describe the good-humoured genius of Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “Howard Shelley is something of a firm favourite with Classic FM listeners whether he’s playing the piano or conducting. Tonight he’ll be wearing both hats on the concert platform.” 6.15pm Pre-concert talk.
    "*English Chamber Orchestra*":http://www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk/ *Howard Shelley* _conductor/piano_
    *Haydn* Symphony No 96, _Miracle_ 27’ *Mendelssohn* Piano Concerto No 1 20’ *Saint-Saëns* Piano Concerto No 2 24’ *Beethoven* Symphony No 8 28’

  • Jurowski Conducts Mahler 4 Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 2 Dec Symphony Hall

    Few conductors have received the plaudits that have been awarded to Vladimir Jurowski, Chief Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Described as 'the most creative force in London's orchestral life' (Financial Times), his concert contains Mahler’s Fourth Symphony, one of the composer’s most relaxed works - classical, song-like and culminating in a representation of a child’s view of heaven. Steven Osborne is the soloist in the gentle lyrical poetry of Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto. 6:15pm Pre-concert talk. Part of "The Birmingham Mahler Cycle":http://www.thsh.co.uk/the-birmingham-mahler-cycle
    "*London Philharmonic Orchestra*":http://www.lpo.co.uk/ *Vladimir Jurowski* _conductor_ *Steven Osborne* _piano_ *Christine Schäfer* _soprano_
    *Beethoven* Piano Concerto No 4 32’ *Mahler* Symphony No 4 54’

  • Cecilia Bartoli: Sacrificium Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Sun 5 Dec Symphony Hall

    'Confirmation that Bartoli remains one of today’s greatest artists...music of exceptional beauty and passion' BBC Music magazine on _Sacrificium_ CD Join "Cecilia Bartoli":http://www.ceciliabartolionline.com for one of the highlights of the season: a journey through the extraordinary world of eighteenth-century castratos, whose dazzling vocal virtuosity held their contemporaries spellbound. Her latest album, _Sacrificium_, concentrates on the music of Nicolò Porpora, whose pupils were the most famous castratos of all time. Experience this music brought to life again, by one of today’s leading singers. BBC Music magazine’s Editor Oliver Condy explains why he has recommended this afternoon's concert: “To experience Cecilia Bartoli live in concert is as much about seeing her as hearing her. Bartoli’s musicianship, sense of drama and entertainment is of a calibre matched by a tiny handful of singers today. A unique afternoon for those lucky to grab a ticket!” 1:45pm Pre-concert talk with David Owen Norris: Everything you wanted to know about the castrato but were afraid to ask.
    *Cecilia Bartoli* _mezzo soprano_ *Kammerorchester Basel*
    Rare and beautiful music by *Porpora*, *Caldara* and *Handel*.

  • Russian Patriarchate Choir of Moscow Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Tue 7 Dec Symphony Hall

    The Russian Patriarchate Choir of Moscow evokes the authentic sound of ancient Russia. These 12 male singers are dedicated to the repertoire of Russian Orthodox Church music and traditional folk songs, much of which lay in obscurity for centuries and was suppressed by the Soviet regime. Their deep and sonorous singing evokes haunting images of the ancient Russia of a bygone age: gold-encrusted cathedral domes, rich sacred iconography, and the dark snowy nights of Russian folklore. 'The fine male voices of the choir - unaccompanied, as Russian Church law dictates - create a powerful atmosphere of energy and devotion, of fluency and a spontaneity that effectively blends refinement with rawness.' The Daily Telegraph


  • Celebrity Piano Recital: Piotr Anderszewski Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 9 Dec Town Hall

    'Anderszewski is unquestionably one of the outstanding and most fascinating pianists of our day'. The Daily Telegraph Polish pianist "Piotr Anderszewski’s":http://www.anderszewski.net pursuit of perfection brings a special intensity to his playing, and his unique musical insights make him one of the world’s most individual artists. Appearances by this inspirational musician are increasingly rare, and lovers of great piano playing should not hesitate to book immediately. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “Space must be short on the mantelpiece at the home of this Polish virtuoso due to the many awards he’s collected through the years, including a Classic FM Gramophone Award for Best Instrumental Disc and the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Best Instrumentalist Award. Anderszewski is nothing short of a remarkable player - an evening to be relished.”

    Programme includes *Schumann* Six Etudes in Canonic Form 16’ *J S Bach* English Suite No 5 in E minor BWV810 21’ *J S Bach* English Suite No 3 in G minor, BWV808

  • Andreas Scholl Sings Purcell Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Sun 16 Jan Town Hall

    Andreas Scholl is one of the most sought-after of singers, with a powerful countertenor voice of the purest gold. At the Last Night of the Proms in 2005, Richard Morrison wrote in The Times, 'during his three Handel arias some 6,000 people scarcely dared breathe ... I would have backed him to have walked on water.' Don’t miss this afternoon recital of some of Purcell’s most attractive music.
    *Andreas Scholl* _countertenor_ *Accademia Bizantina* *Stefano Montanari* _conductor_
    Music by Purcell, including _Sweeter than Roses_, _Music for a while_, _Evening Hymn_ and Airs and Dances from _King Arthur_.

  • Pavel Haas Quartet Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 20 Jan Town Hall

    'Take note: this is one of the most polished and musically exciting young string quartets in the world today,' announced The Washington Post last year. The Pavel Haas Quartet play the best-loved of Dvořák’s quartets alongside the urbane lyricism of Ravel and pieces by Schubert and Britten. BBC Music magazine’s Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert: “Since being part of the BBC New Generation scheme a few years back, the Pavel Haas Quartet has been making waves in the UK and Europe. Undoubtedly the most talented of all the fine chamber groups to emerge recently from the Czech Republic, this young quartet has proved themselves to be one of the most versatile quartets on the scene.”

    *Britten* Three Divertimenti 10’ *Ravel* String Quartet 29’ *Schubert* Quartettsatz 10’ *Dvořák* String Quartet, Op 96, _American_ 29’

  • Uri Caine meets Mahler  

    Sat 5 Feb Town Hall

    Uri Caine’s inspired re-imaginings of Mahler’s music have won plaudits from classical and jazz audiences alike. Part of the "Birmingham Mahler Cycle":http://www.thsh.co.uk/the-birmingham-mahler-cycle
    *Uri Caine Ensemble*

  • Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Fri 11 Feb Town Hall

    Two of Britten’s most popular works alongside music by his hero, Henry Purcell, and the latter’s other great admirer, Sir Michael Tippett. Tenor Mark Padmore and horn player Stephen Bell will serenade audiences in Britten’s magical evocation of twilight and nightfall, before Britten Sinfonia close the concert with Britten’s dazzling Frank Bridge Variations, a miraculous achievement for the 23 year-old composer. 6.15pm Pre-concert conversation with Mark Padmore.
    "*Britten Sinfonia*":http://www.brittensinfonia.com/ *Jacqueline Shave* _director_ "*Mark Padmore*":http://www.markpadmore.com _tenor_ *Stephen Bell* _horn_
    *Tippett* Little Music for strings 10’ *Purcell* Overture and Prelude from _Abdelazar_ 5’ *Britten* Serenade for tenor, horn and strings 24’ *John Woolrich* Another Staircase Overture (newly revised) 9’ *Purcell (arranged Woolrich)* Three Songs 10’ *Britten* Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge 25’

  • Purcell's The Fairy Queen Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 17 Feb Town Hall

    London audiences in the 1690s revelled in the spectacle of _The Fairy Queen_ - a maverick combination of Purcell’s glorious music, acting, costumes, and ‘machines and decorations’. This new production uses innovative stage direction and circus performers to recreate something of the colourful, fantastical spirit of the original. BBC Music magazine’s Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert: “Purcell’s opera contains his finest music. Based on Shakespeare’s _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_, _The Fairy Queen_ is a dramatic and musical masterpiece that delights and moves in equal measure. This fun-filled, circus-inspired production features a superb line-up of artists.” 6.15pm Pre-concert conversation with the artists.
    *New London Consort* *Philip Pickett* _conductor_ *Joanne Lunn* _soprano_ *Dana Marbach* _soprano_ *Faye Newton* _soprano_ *Christopher Robson* _countertenor_ *Tim Travers-Brown* _countertenor_ *Ed Lyon* _tenor_ *Joseph Cornwell* _tenor_ *Michael George* _bass_ *Simon Grant* _bass_ *Neil Wallace* _director_ *Ace McCarron* _lighting designer_
    *Purcell* _The Fairy Queen_ 130’ There will be one interval and the concert will end at approximately 10pm. A co-production de Doelen Rotterdam and The Sage Gateshead, in collaboration with Circus Space

  • Bach Toccata - Widor Toccata Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Wed 2 Mar Symphony Hall

    Feel the force of the King of Instruments at its best in iconic works by Bach and Widor. John Scott is one of the world’s finest organists, previously at St Paul’s Cathedral and now at New York’s St Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue. Tonight he plays Bach’s exuberant Toccata in F and Widor’s mighty work of the same name, the climax of the composer’s complete Fifth Symphony. 6.15pm Pre-concert talk: John Scott in conversation with Graeme Kay.
    *John Scott* _organ_
    *J S Bach* Fantasia in G 8' Six Schübler Chorales 20' Toccata and Fugue in F 9' *Schumann* Fugue No 1 on BACH 5' *Widor* Symphony No 5 in F minor 38'

  • Bell and Isserlis Play Brahms Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Sat 5 Mar Symphony Hall

    Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis join forces in the radiant lyricism of Brahms’s Double Concerto. In addition Joshua Bell directs Mendelssohn’s exuberant _Italian_ Symphony, and Steven Isserlis conducts Haydn’s Symphony No 13 - a delightful exercise in youthful high spirits. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “A musical tour de force with two celebrated soloists who are also accomplished at conducting and directing. The Brahms Double Concerto should be a treat to behold.”
    "*Academy of St Martin in the Fields*":http://www.asmf.org/ "*Joshua Bell*":http://www.joshuabell.com/ _violin_ *Steven Isserlis* _cello_
    *Haydn* Symphony No 13 20’ *Mendelssohn* Symphony No 4, _Italian_ 28’ *Brahms* Double Concerto for Violin and Cello 32’

  • Adès conducts Adès and Reich Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Fri 11 Mar Symphony Hall

    '...a dazzling fantasy of colour and semi-abstraction...[the work]could hardly be more alluring. The music was just as dazzling as the visuals. One left the hall lost in a kaleidoscope of colour, touched by an exquisitely decorative experience.' The Sunday Times Thomas Adès is one of today’s most eagerly watched composers: his music has enthralled audiences the world over. _In Seven Days_ is a collaboration with artist and filmmaker Tal Rosner, based on the Creation. It is heard next to the pulsing, trance-inducing rhythms of Steve Reich’s _Music for 18 Musicians_, a 1970s minimalist masterpiece. 6.15pm Pre-concert conversation with Tal Rosner.
    "*London Sinfonietta*":http://www.londonsinfonietta.org.uk/ *Thomas Adès* _conductor_ *Nicolas Hodges* _piano_ "*Tal Rosner*":http://www.talrosner.com/in-seven-days/index.html _video artist_ "*Synergy Vocals*":http://www.synergyvocals.com
    *Thomas Adès* _In Seven Days_ 30’ *Steve Reich* _Music for 18 Musicians_ 56’

  • Pappano Conducts Mahler 1 Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Sat 19 Mar Symphony Hall

    One of Italy’s most celebrated orchestras contributes the First Symphony to Birmingham’s Mahler Cycle under the inspiring baton of its Music Director Antonio Pappano (also renowned as Music Director of the Royal Opera House). Joyous and optimistic, opening with an evocation of dawn, it closes with a roof-raising finale. And, to open the concert, there is a rarity: the orchestral Sinfonia that Verdi made from his ever-popular Aida - music that is in the very blood of these players. BBC Music magazine’s Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert: “Who better than the fiercely talented Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia to tease the sunshine out of these exciting masterpieces? And who better, too, to bring the passion to Liszt’s mighty First Piano Concerto than the fiery Russian virtuoso Boris Berezovsky?” 6.15pm Pre-concert talk. Part of "The Birmingham Mahler Cycle":http://www.thsh.co.uk/the-birmingham-mahler-cycle
    "*Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome*":http://www.santacecilia.it/scw/ *Antonio Pappano* _conductor_ *Boris Berezovsky* _piano_
    *Verdi* _Aida_ Sinfonia 12’ *Liszt* Piano Concerto No 1 20’ *Mahler* Symphony No 1 53’ Finmeccanica is the main sponsor or Orcestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome.

  • Gergiev Conducts Mahler 7 Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Fri 25 Mar Symphony Hall

    The combination of Valery Gergiev, the London Symphony Orchestra and Mahler have wowed audiences and had critics reaching for superlatives. 'Raw energy and white hot climaxes' is how The Guardian described their revelatory performances. Tonight Gergiev turns his attention to the Seventh Symphony: an epic journey from darkness to overwhelming joyous affirmation, taking in two eerie and fantastical night-music movements along the way. 6.15pm Pre-concert talk. Part of "The Birmingham Mahler Cycle":http://www.thsh.co.uk/the-birmingham-mahler-cycle
    "*London Symphony Orchestra*":http://lso.co.uk/home/ *Valery Gergiev* _conductor_
    *Mahler* Symphony No 7 78’ There is no interval and the concert will end at approximately 8.50pm.

  • Celebrity Piano Recital: Freddy Kempf Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 7 Apr Symphony Hall

    Freddy Kempf’s big break came when he _didn’t_ win the 1998 Tchaikovsky Piano Competition. The audience complained, the Russian press protested and he shot to prominence overnight. Since then he has been acknowledged as one of the world’s leading pianists. Tonight his programme ranges from the irresistable energy of Beethoven’s _Waldstein_ to Schumann’s fantastical _Kreisleriana_ and includes a real novelty in Rachmaninov’s Bach arrangement.

    *Beethoven* _Eroica Variations_ 24’ *Beethoven* Piano Sonata No 21 in C, Op 53, _Waldstein_ 22’ *Bach-Rachmaninov* Partita in E major 9’ *Schumann* _Kreisleriana_, Op 16 30’

  • Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, 3D Performance Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 21 Apr Symphony Hall

    'The experience is mind-altering.' The Independent 'Obermaier conjures a world where the real and virtual intermingle . . . The Matrix-like effects are truly dazzling.' The Times This spectacular musical event, in which groundbreaking technology meets the primeval world of Stravinsky’s _The Rite of Spring_, will be one of the most remarkable experiences you will ever have in a concert hall. Experience an astonishing interplay between reality and fantasy as dancer Julia Mach’s extraordinary live performance interacts, through the magic of digital wizardry, with real-time, computer generated stereoscopic projections, translated into a virtual reality space with the aid of 3D spectacles for the audience. "Click here for more information on the project":http://www.exile.at/sacre/
    "*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra*":http://www.cbso.co.uk Conductor tbc *Julia Mach* _dancer_ *Klaus Obermaier* _artistic direction_ *Ars Electronica Futurelab* _interactive design_ *Alois Hummer* _sound design_ *Wolfgang Friedinger* _lighting design_
    *Stravinsky* _The Rite of Spring_ Each performance will last approximately 45 minutes. A production of Brucknerhaus Linz and Ars Electronia Futurelab Management: Karsten Witt Musik Management / Shaksfin Asia

  • Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, 3D Performance Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 21 Apr Symphony Hall

    'The experience is mind-altering.' The Independent 'Obermaier conjures a world where the real and virtual intermingle . . . The Matrix-like effects are truly dazzling.' The Times This spectacular musical event, in which groundbreaking technology meets the primeval world of Stravinsky’s _The Rite of Spring_, will be one of the most remarkable experiences you will ever have in a concert hall. Experience an astonishing interplay between reality and fantasy as dancer Julia Mach’s extraordinary live performance interacts, through the magic of digital wizardry, with real-time, computer generated stereoscopic projections, translated into a virtual reality space with the aid of 3D spectacles for the audience. "Click here for more information on the project":http://www.exile.at/sacre/
    "*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra*":http://www.cbso.co.uk Conductor tbc *Julia Mach* _dancer_ *Klaus Obermaier* _artistic direction_ *Ars Electronica Futurelab* _interactive design_ *Alois Hummer* _sound design_ *Wolfgang Friedinger* _lighting design_
    *Stravinsky* _The Rite of Spring_ Each performance will last approximately 45 minutes. A production of Brucknerhaus Linz and Ars Electronia Futurelab Management: Karsten Witt Musik Management / Shaksfin Asia

  • Good Friday St Matthew Passion Birmingham International Concert Season 

    Fri 22 Apr Symphony Hall

    'The Ex Cathedra performance is superb...' BBC Music magazine ***** review of Ex Cathedra's live Symphony Hall recording in 2009. Birmingham’s Good Friday performances of Bach’s monumental _St Matthew Passion_ are a hallowed tradition. One of the UK's finest choirs, Ex Cathedra’s trailblazing performances and critically acclaimed recordings have put it at the forefront of early music. BBC Music magazine’s Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert: “J S Bach’s re-telling of the St Matthew gospel is awe-inspiring and beautiful with its exquisite arias and impassioned choruses. It was not performed outside Bach’s Leipzig until 1829 when Mendelssohn, himself a regular in Birmingham, rediscovered it and brought it back to life. This will doubtless be an unforgettable evening.”
    "*Ex Cathedra Choir and Baroque Orchestra*":http://www.excathedra.co.uk/ *Jeffrey Skidmore* _conductor_ *Jeremy Budd* _Evangelist_ *Eamonn Dougan* _Christus_ *Greg Skidmore* _Pilate_
    *J S Bach* _St Matthew Passion_ 180’

  • Russian Music from the Bolshoi Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Tue 3 May Symphony Hall

    With a history stretching back to 1776, the outstanding Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra is the oldest in Russia and has acted as midwife to many of Russia’s most famous ballets and operas. Join us for a truly authentic performance of two of the most popular and stunning Russian ballet scores, displaying the full range of emotion, lyricism, pathos, humour, and glittering orchestral colours. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “Direct from Moscow, the players of the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra travel to Birmingham to bring us a wealth of riches from back home. Russian composers, it seems, always perform well in the annual Classic FM Hall of Fame, thanks to listeners’ votes. Here’s to a great evening - za vashe zdorovye!”
    *Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra* *Alexander Lazarev* _conductor_ *Ivan Rudin* _piano_
    *Khachaturian* Suite from _Spartacus_ 21’ *Shostakovich* Piano Concerto No 2 20’ *Tchaikovsky (arranged Mravinsky)* Music from _The Nutcracker_ 22’

  • Celebrity Recital: Natalie Clein Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Fri 6 May Town Hall

    Few British performers have caught the public’s imagination as much as cellist Natalie Clein. Her programme includes Rachmaninov’s great Sonata, one of his most passionate and poetic works. BBC Music magazine’s Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert: “A natural, charming musician, Natalie Clein is the foremost cellist of her generation. She came to prominence after winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in 1994 with a spell-binding performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, a work she recorded with great acclaim for EMI Classics.”
    *Natalie Clein* _cello_ *Katya Apekisheva* _piano_
    *J S Bach* Solo Cello Suite No 2 in D Minor 18' *Shostakovich* Cello Sonata in D Minor 29' *Sibelius* _Malinconia_ 13' *Rachmaninov* Cello Sonata in G Minor 33'

  • Staatskapelle Dresden Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Fri 13 May Symphony Hall

    The unbroken history of the Staatskapelle Dresden reaches back to 1548: its rich pedigree led Richard Strauss to call it “the best orchestra in the world” and it is still a strong contender for the title. This concert includes music by three composers with whom the orchestra was associated, with Tchaikovsky's loveable Rococo Variations complemented by the heroic grandeur and warmth of Brahms’s First Symphony.
    *Staatskapelle Dresden* *Christoph Eschenbach* _conductor_ "*Leonard Elschenbroich*":http://www.leonard-elschenbroich.com _cello_
    *Schumann* Overture, _The Bride of Messina_ 9’ *Tchaikovsky* Rococo Variations 17’ *Brahms* Symphony No 1 45’

  • Handel from Il Giardino Armonico Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Thu 19 May Town Hall

    'As Italian as the music itself', wrote Gramophone of Il Giardino Armonico, 'brightly coloured, individualistic, confident, stylish, arrestingly decorated, bubbling with enthusiasm.' They are one of Europe’s leading Baroque ensembles, at the top of their game, their revelatory performances packed with freshness and pizzazz. Their Town Hall concert includes the sparkling Concerti Grossi of Handel and music by his Italian contemporaries. "Click here to see a promotional video of Il Giardino Armonico and Handel 12 Concerti grossi, op.6":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyNDC4lVTaA&feature=related
    *Il Giardino Armonico* *Giovanni Antonini* _director_
    *Handel* Concerto Grosso Op 6, No 1 12’ *Geminiani* Concerto Grosso Op 5, No 12, _La Follia_ 11’ *Handel* Concerto Grosso Op 6, No 12 11’ *Handel* Concerto Grosso Op 6, No 6 15’ *Vivaldi* Concerto in F for Strings and Recorder, _La Tempesta Di Mare_ 7’ *Handel* _Concerto Grosso Op 6, No 7_ 11’

  • CBSO Midsummer Mendelssohn  

    Thu 23 Jun Symphony Hall

    It takes some doing to improve on Shakespeare - but not even the Bard himself could top the magic that the young Felix Mendelssohn sprinkled all over his ravishing music for _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_. It’s some of the loveliest music ever inspired by poetry - and just wait until you hear the famous _Wedding March_ played the way Mendelssohn intended, by a jubilant full orchestra. The same enchantment makes Mendelssohn’s ever-popular Violin Concerto sparkle and dance, so we’re lucky to have a true magician of the violin, the incomparable Arabella Steinbacher, as soloist. And then guest conductor Cornelius Meister sweeps away the cobwebs with a stirring blast of Beethoven’s Seventh. If ever a symphony had the freshness and power of a summer thunderstorm, it’s this one. Breathtaking.
    *Cornelius Meister* _conductor_ *Arabella Steinbacher* _violin_
    *Mendelssohn* _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_ - Overture and Incidental Music 25’ *Mendelssohn* Violin Concerto 27’ *Beethoven* Symphony No. 7 36’

  • Wagner's Ring: Das Rheingold Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11 

    Fri 24 Jun Symphony Hall

    'Opera North is now recognised as the most interesting UK opera company outside of London' Financial Times 'Whichever other Ring cycles you go to, Opera North's will, I'm sure, offer rich musical and dramatic rewards' The Spectator 'Richard Farnes’s superb, impassioned conducting leaves you in no doubt that you are hearing a masterpiece, and his excellent orchestra respond magnificently to his inspirational baton, whetting the appetite for his Ring.' Sunday Times _Das Rheingold_ is the first part of _Wagner’s Ring_, one of the world’s greatest musical epics: a brooding mythological tragedy of love, power and vengeance. There is no greater challenge for any opera company, and this new production by Opera North is their first. Artistic Consultant John Tomlinson will supervise a cast that blends artists experienced in this repertoire with the best of new talent. Each of the four parts will be performed at Symphony Hall over the next four years. Join us for an unforgettable journey through one of the world’s greatest sagas. Sung in German with English surtitles.
    "*Opera North*":http://www.operanorth.co.uk *Richard Farnes* _conductor_ *Charles Edwards* _concert staging and lighting design_ *John Tomlinson* _artistic consultant_
    *Wagner* _Das Rhinegold_ 150’ There will be no interval and the concert will end at approximately 10pm. A collaboration of Opera North, The Sage Gateshead and Symphony Hall, Birmingham. With the financial support of The Future Fund.

  • CBSO Friday Night Classics: Puttin' on the Ritz  

    Fri 1 Jul Symphony Hall

    Pick yourself up and dust yourself off at the end of the week, and indulge in an evening of great music from the golden age of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Conductor John Wilson has a real passion for these songs, and it’s easy to see why, with hit after hit by George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern - brought to you by star vocalists Kim Criswell and Gary Williams. Top hat, white tie and tails are optional, but expect smooth glamour and tuneful exuberance perfect for an uplifting summer’s night. That’s entertainment!
    *John Wilson* _conductor_ *Kim Criswell* _vocalist_ *Gary Williams* _vocalist_
    Including: _Cheek to Cheek_, _Pick Yourself Up_, _The Way You Look Tonight_, _Top Hat_, _Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off_, _They Can’t Take That Away From Me_, _Fine Romance_, _That's Entertainment_, _Walking the Dog_, _Shall We Dance_, _They All Laughed_, _The Continental_, and lots more!