What's On — All events

CBSO Tuned In: The Firebird
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Thu 25 Mar 7:30pm Symphony Hall

The CBSO presents a performance of _The Firebird_ with a difference, as broadcaster Stephen Johnson gives a guided tour of Stravinsky’s famous score. Discover how the composer creates his astonishing sounds, hear how the music works, and learn the story of how Stravinsky only got the gig because his teacher Liadov was too lazy! - all illustrated with live music from Andris Nelsons and the full CBSO. Then, after the interval, enjoy a complete performance of _The Firebird_. A real eye (and ear) opener - perfect for aficionado and novice alike.
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Andris Nelsons* _conductor_ *Stephen Johnson* _presenter_
*Liadov* Baba Yaga 3’ Introduction to _The Firebird_ - with live orchestral examples 45’ _interval_ *Stravinsky* _The Firebird_ (1910 version) 44’
Reach For The Sky
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Thu 25 Mar 7:30pm Town Hall

This exciting evening celebrates the exceptional talents of young dancers and musicians from the West Midlands. Part of a national series of ‘Excellent!’ showcases, highlighting the success of the DCSF Music and Dance Scheme, this event includes unique music and dance collaborations for a truly inspiring show.
*Birmingham Conservatoire Junior Department* *Elmhurst School for Dance* *Regional choir schools represented by Lichfield Cathedral Choristers and School Girls’ Choir* *Centres for Advanced Training based at DanceXchange and Dance4*
Rush Hour Blues - Annual Poll Winner's Concert
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Fri 26 Mar 5:30pm Symphony Hall Foyer Bars

The annual audience poll celebrates the diverse range of artists who perform at Rush Hour Blues. The winner's concert sees one lucky group take to the stage for a second time. Presented in association with Birmingham Jazz.
Passion for Life Friday Events Phatfish
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Fri 26 Mar 7:00pm Town Hall

A Passion for Life is a set of events organised at Easter 2010 by local churches and are an opportunity for people of all faiths and none to consider the relevance of Jesus Christ for today. Rico Tice will be giving a number of talks on various topics. Tonight, well-known Christian band, Phatfish will be playing and Rico will be speaking. Also throughout the weekend there are smaller events aimed different sections of the community such as an interactive Easter Family Praise concert and a pre-school Lost Sheep Party. On the Saturday there will also be a number of talks on issues with opportunities for Q&A. Full info at "A Passion For Life":http://www.apassionforlife-brum.org.uk
Passion for Life Saturday Events Henry Olonga, Stilltime, Rico Tice
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Sat 27 Mar 7:00pm Town Hall

A Passion for Life is a set of events organised at Easter 2010 by local churches and are an opportunity for people of all faiths and none to consider the relevance of Jesus Christ for today. Rico Tice will be giving a number of talks on various topics. Saturday features an evening with Henry Olonga, the Zimbabwean cricket captain who made a stand against President Mugabe. There's also a jazz group, Stilltime and a talk by Rico Tice. Also throughout the weekend there are smaller events aimed different sections of the community such as an interactive Easter Family Praise concert and a pre-school Lost Sheep Party. On the Saturday there will also be a number of talks on issues with opportunities for Q&A. Full info at "A Passion For Life":http://www.apassionforlife-brum.org.uk
Sinfonia Of Birmingham: Schubert, Brahms, Stravinsky
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Sat 27 Mar 7:30pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
Last Night Of The Spring Proms
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Sat 27 Mar 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Welcome the new season with this superb concert bursting with popular classics and a rousing finale of all your Proms favourites. With Proms Favourites including Rule, Britannia! Nessun Dorma Land of Hope and Glory Colonel Bogey March Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines There’ll Always Be An England
Jonathan Stoughton _tenor_ James McOran-Campbell _baritone_ Stephen Bell _conductor_ LONDON CONCERT ORCHESTRA
*ROSSINI* Barber of Seville Overture Largo al factotum *BIZET* Duet _from The Pearl Fishers_ Farandole _from L’Arlesienne_ *SUPPE* Light Cavalry Overture *ELGAR* Chanson de Matin *GRIEG* Morning and In the Hall of the Mountain King *STRAUSS* Blue Danube Waltz *MENDELSSOHN* Spring Song *DI CAPUA* O Sole Mio *TCHAIKOVSKY* Polonaise _from Eugene Onegin_
Passion for Life Sunday Events Easter Praise, Rico Tice
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Sun 28 Mar 7:00pm Town Hall

A Passion for Life is a set of events organised at Easter 2010 by local churches and are an opportunity for people of all faiths and none to consider the relevance of Jesus Christ for today. Rico Tice will be giving a number of talks on various topics. Sunday will see an Easter Praise concert with a local gospel choir and a talk from Rico. Also throughout the weekend there are smaller events aimed different sections of the community such as an interactive Easter Family Praise concert and a pre-school Lost Sheep Party. On the Saturday there will also be a number of talks on issues with opportunities for Q&A. Full info at "A Passion For Life":http://www.apassionforlife-brum.org.uk

3pm Easter Family Praise 7pm Rico Tice
Lunchtime Organ Concert Roland Maria Stangier
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Mon 29 Mar 1:00pm Town Hall

*Franck* Final from Six Pièces *Holst* Selections from The Planets Mars , the Bringer of War; Venus, the Bringer of Peace; Jupiter,the Bringer of Jollity (arr. Stangier) *Stangier* Improvisation on given themes. If you wish to provide a theme for the improvisation, please hand a copy to a steward before the concert.
Tuned On Seminar: A Musician's Digital Image
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Mon 29 Mar 6:00pm Symphony Hall

Everyone seems to be on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other social networks. How important is it for those within music to have a digital identity? How important is it for artists and organisations to connect with an audience via the web? Are the traditional methods of media becoming more fashionable? BBC Radio 1 and Asian Network DJ Bobby Friction, Ghetts, who has over two million profile views on MySpace, and Amelia Ideh, who runs the music and lifestyle blog Put Me On It, will discuss the importance of the digital age for musicians looking to build their image.
DJ Bobby Friction Ghetts Amelia Ideh
CBSO Alfie Boe with the CBSO
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Tue 30 Mar 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Whether as the composer of theme tunes from _Blackadder_ to _The Vicar of Dibley_, or as a wonderfully accessible TV champion of classical music in all its forms, Howard Goodall is one of Britain’s best-loved composers. And his new tuneful and deeply moving Requiem, _Eternal Light_, has already become a bestseller. This performance, with star soloists Alfie Boe and Natasha Marsh, will show you why. Alfie Boe also sings Finzi’s radiant masterpiece. 6.15pm. Free pre-concert talk: *Howard Goodall* The popular conductor, composer and broadcaster introduces his new Requiem.
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Simon Halsey* _conductor_ *Natasha Marsh* _soprano_ *Alfie Boe* _tenor_ *William Berger* _baritone_ *CBSO Youth Chorus*
*Holst* Choral Hymns from the _Rig Veda_ 12’ *Finzi* _Dies Natalis_ 25’ *Howard Goodall* _Eternal Light_ (Requiem) 45’
Dan Berglund's Tonbruket Birmingham Jazz 2009/10
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Tue 30 Mar 8:00pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
Centre Stage - Brahms Piano Quartet CBSO Players
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Wed 31 Mar 1:10pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

*Brahms* Piano Quartet in G minor, Op 25
*CBSO Players*
*Brahms* Piano Quartet in G minor, Op 25
The Solid Silver 60s Show
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Wed 31 Mar 7:30pm Symphony Hall

The UK’s original 60s show returns to Symphony Hall in its 25th sensational year. Expect all your favourite 60s hits including _The Crying Game_, _Little Things_, _Sweets for My Sweet_, _Needles & Pins_, _Twist and Shout_, _Do You Love Me_, _Where Do You Go To My Lovely_, _Frozen Orange Juice_, _Wild Thing_, _Love is All Around_, _Hippy Hippy Shake_, _Good Golly Miss Molly_ and many more.
*Dave Berry* *Mike Pender* *Brian Poole* *Peter Sarstedt* Backed by *Vanity Fare* with *Swinging Blue Jeans* and *The Troggs*
CBSO Alfie Boe with the CBSO
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Thu 1 Apr 2:15pm Symphony Hall

Whether as the composer of theme tunes from _Blackadder_ to _The Vicar of Dibley_, or as a wonderfully accessible TV champion of classical music in all its forms, Howard Goodall is one of Britain’s best-loved composers. And his new tuneful and deeply moving Requiem, _Eternal Light_, has already become a bestseller. This performance, with star soloists Alfie Boe and Natasha Marsh, will show you why. Alfie Boe also sings Finzi’s radiant masterpiece. 1.15pm. Free pre-concert talk: *A Century of British Choral Music* Chorus Director Simon Halsey introduces today's choral matinee.
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Simon Halsey* _conductor_ *Natasha Marsh* _soprano_ *Alfie Boe* _tenor_ *William Berger* _baritone_ *CBSO Youth Chorus*
*Holst* Choral Hymns from the _Rig Veda_ 12’ *Finzi* _Dies Natalis_ 25’ *Howard Goodall* _Eternal Light_ (Requiem) 45’
Good Friday St John Passion
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Fri 2 Apr 2:00pm Symphony Hall

This year Symphony Hall develops the long tradition of its Good Friday passion performances by turning to Bach’s St John Passion. Enduring in its emotional appeal, there are few who remain unmoved by the glorious music. BBC Music magazine’s Editor Oliver Condy explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert: _“In a world that often recognises Bach’s St Matthew Passion as the composer’s greatest choral work, his St John has a tricky time getting a look in. But the St John contains some of Bach’s most colourful and emotional music ... this concert will make for a poignant Good Friday.”_
*Ex Cathedra Soloists, Choir and Baroque Orchestra* *Jeffrey Skidmore* _conductor_ *Jeremy Budd* _Evangelist_ *James Rutherford* _Jesus_ *Greg Skidmore* _Pilate_ *Grace Davidson* _Soprano_ *Matthew Vennr* _Alto_ *Samuel Boden* _Tenor_
*J S Bach* St John Passion 115’
Feast of Fiddles
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Mon 5 Apr 7:30pm Town Hall

This concert is part of Feast of Fiddles’ 17th Spring Tour since the band first formed in 1994. What started as an informal get-together for Nettlebed Folk Club has gone from strength to strength with festival appearances at Cropredy, Broadstairs, Jersey, The Great British Beer Festival, Gosport and Marvellous in the Park. The line-up of fiddlers is a compendium of British folk stars: Phil Beer, Garry Blakeley, Ian Cutler, Tom Leary, Chris Leslie, Peter Knight and Brian McNeill are once again joined by Dave Mattacks, Hugh Crabtree, Dave Harding, John Underwood and Martin Vincent. Ticket holders are entitled to a third off the new CD _Walk Before You Fly_, when it is purchased at Town Hall on 5 April 2010.
Phil Beer, Garry Blakeley, Ian Cutler, Tom Leary, Chris Leslie, Peter Knight, Brian McNeill, Dave Mattacks, Hugh Crabtree, Dave Harding, John Underwood and Martin Vincent
ULTRAVOX Return to Eden part 2
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Tue 6 Apr 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Due to phenomenal public demand, Ultravox revisit Symphony Hall, in the aptly named _Return To Eden Part II_, following amazing fan reaction, very high critical acclaim and stellar reviews from the media. The band’s line up of Midge Ure, Chris Cross, Warren Cann and Billy Currie, will only perform 6 shows across the UK. Fans can look forward to the band performing material from all their albums, including _Vienna_, _Rage in Eden_ and _Quartet_ and material not covered in the last tour. Ultravox were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the early 1980s.
The Soldiers - The Coming Home Tour With special guest stars Faryl Smith, Julian Smith and Rock Choir
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Wed 7 Apr 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Following the success of The Soldiers debut album “Coming Home” which has phenomenally dominated the charts, the three serving soldiers will play Symphony Hall this April.
Arun Ghosh Sextet
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Fri 9 Apr 5:30pm Symphony Hall Foyer Bars

Conceived in Calcutta, bred in Bolton, matured in Manchester and living in London, Arun Ghosh’s musical vision and vocabulary reflects his rich geographical heritage. His Indo-Jazz Sextet play original music of South Asian origin with a contemporary jazz attitude, rocking urban beats, and the passion of punk. Sweet and timeless melodies give birth to soaring improvisations and raag explorations, driven by a heady mix of dub-reggae bass, tabla trickery and ferocious drum explosions. _‘What is this fiery music and where does it come from?’_ *Metro* _‘Extraordinary charisma and musicianship and a consistently riveting compositional skill’_ *Jazzwise* _‘A charismatic figure with a future’_ *The Guardian*