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A Debate on Climate Change
Tue 14 Oct Town Hall
*The Lunar Society* *Sir Michael Lyons* Chair
Should Birmingham be planning a radical response to climate change? Sir Michael Lyons will chair a Question Time-style discussion between the audience and an invited panel on the impacts of climate change. The panel includes David Henderson, former OECD Chief Economist, Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Professor Jacquie McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environmental Agency, Kevin Anderson of the Tyndall Centre, Michael Meacher MP and Julian Morris of the International Policy Network. £5, 60 plus/full-time students/unwaged £3.50 This debate is hosted by the Lunar Society and sponsored by Martineau Johnson.
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Tchaikovsky From St Petersburg
Tue 14 Oct Symphony Hall
The St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra is Russia’s oldest and most legendary orchestra, conducted by Tchaikovsky himself for the first performance of his tragic Pathétique Symphony. In tonight’s concert, this most emotional of all Russian works is heard next to the autumnal melancholy of Elgar’s cello concerto, in the hands of the wonderful Dutch cellist Quirine Viersen. *Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert:* _I was lucky enough to see the St Petersburg Philharmonic and Yuri Temirkanov perform live in their home city a couple of years back. They’re an absolutely stunning orchestra to see (and hear) in action. Included in tonight’s programme is a short piece by the St Petersburg-born composer, Anatoli Liadov. Poor old Liadov was the composer who, unwittingly, changed the course of musical history by not writing something. It was he who was first approached by the maestro, Sergei Diaghilev, to write the score for a new ballet called The Firebird. Unfortunately for Liadov, he couldn’t get the score done in time and so the job went to one Igor Stravinsky instead._ "Classic FM":http://www.classicfm.co.uk 6.15pm pre-concert talk £5-£37.50
*St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra* *Yuri Temirkanov* conductor *Quirine Viersen* cello
*Liadov* Kikimora 6’ *Elgar* Cello Concerto 28’ *Tchaikovsky* Symphony no 6, Pathetique 46’
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Stephen Stills
Wed 15 Oct Symphony Hall
Legendary guitarist/singer-songwriter Stephen Stills is one of the most influential and enduring figures in rock and roll. He’s the only artist ever to be inducted twice in the same night into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - for The Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash. His work spans five decades, four iconic groups (Manassas and CSN&Y in addition to the two already mentioned), two era-defining anthems - For What It’s Worth and Love The One You’re With, and a rich canon of solo material. Ranked #28 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, Stills also has a trio of album masterpieces on their compendium of The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time: Buffalo Springfield Again, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Déjà Vu.
Please note: Stephen Stills will be accompanied by a band on stage.
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BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert: Veronika Eberle & Oliver Schnyder
Thu 16 Oct Town Hall
This friendly lunchtime concert offers you the chance to hear the 19-year-old Veronika Eberle, one of the most promising young violinists to emerge from Germany in recent years, in two exuberantly youthful works.
*Veronika Eberle* Violin *Oliver Schnyder* Piano *Beethoven* Sonata for violin & piano 26’ *Strauss* Violin Sonata 28’
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Andy Kirkpatrick: When Hell Freezes Over
Thu 16 Oct Town Hall
British mountaineer Andy Kirkpatrick has a reputation for climbing in extreme conditions. He also has a reputation as the most extreme speaker on the mountaineering circuit, with stand-up talents to rival the top comedy acts in the UK. ‘When Hell Freezes Over’ focuses on his winter expeditions to Patagonia, a treacherous mountain range at the southern most portion of South America. Andy’s show gives a taste of what it’s like to go on a major expedition, with tales of being trapped on mile high summits in hurricane winds, buried by avalanches, and pushed close to hypothermia whilst lashed to the side of a mountain. A 100 mile-an-hour ride through Andy’s whiteknuckle experiences of the last decade. “makes Ray Mears look like Paris Hilton” The Metro
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BBC Big Band with Ian Shaw In association with BBC Radio 2
Fri 17 Oct Town Hall
Britain’s finest Big Band returns for a second season at Town Hall. This concert, to be recorded for BBC Radio 2’s Big Band Special, features an evening of jazz and swing classics, plus special guest vocalist Ian Shaw. Winner of Best Vocalist at the 2007 BBC Jazz Awards, Ian is a regular performer with the BBC Big Band and will feature jazz standards and songs from his recent albums, Drawn To All Things-The Songs of Joni Mitchell and the self-penned Lifejacket. “He has few rivals” Sunday Times “The best jazz vocalist we have” Time Out “One of the contemporary scene’s class acts” The Guardian “A razor-sharp performer with faultless time and unrivalled passion” WBGO Jazz88FM New York In association with BBC Radio 2. Concert to be recorded forBBC Radio 2’s Big Band Special. BBC Big Band is a Town Hall Associate Artist.
*Jiggs Whigham* Conductor *Ian Shaw* Vocals
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Mendelssohn’s Elijah
Sat 18 Oct Town Hall
Mendelssohn’s Elijah is one of the mightiest of all choral works, with an heroic grandeur that sweeps all before it. The work runs in Birmingham’s blood since it was commissioned for the 1846 Birmingham Music Festival and premiered at Town Hall. Tonight, to inaugurate Mendelssohn’s bicentenary year of 2009, Elijah is performed by the critically acclaimed Ex Cathedra, in a new edition specially prepared for the occasion. The marriage of hall, history, outstanding singers and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment make this an unmissable concert. *BBC Music magazine’s Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert:* _Beloved by choral societies up and down the country, Mendelssohn’s Elijah is one of the great oratorios, crammed to the brim with superb tunes. And where else to see Elijah than in Birmingham’s newly restored Town Hall? An unbeatable roster of performers should make for an unbeatable evening._ "BBC Music Magazine":http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com
*Ex Cathedra XL Anniversary Choir* *Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment* *Jeffrey Skidmore* conductor *Julia Doyle* soprano *Diana Moore* mezzo-soprano *Mark Padmore* tenor *Nicolas Mulroy* tenor *James Rutherford* bass
*Mendelssohn* Elijah (1846)
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Dorridge Music School In Concert
Sun 19 Oct Symphony Hall
A night of music, song and dance presented by Dorridge Music School. Following the success of last year’s 21st anniversary concert, students and staff will perform music to suit all tastes live on stage using drums, guitars, flutes, violins, pianos, saxes plus the Symphony Hall Organ. With a guest choir and 3 local dance schools, music includes everything from Land of Hope and Glory to Michael Jackson’s Thriller! Varied entertainment for the whole family.
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Lunchtime Organ Concert: David Saint
Mon 20 Oct Town Hall
An opportunity to hear Mendelssohn’s Sixth Sonata, Peeters’ Suite Modale, Bovet’s Salamanca and more. Admission from 12.30pm. Programme lasts approximately one hour.
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Talking Cities: Urban Design Lecture Series Sponsored by Atkins
Mon 20 Oct Town Hall
Talking Cities presents critical issues facing cities like Birmingham today. The first three lectures have provided fresh ways of thinking about Birmingham's future from the role of public spaces such as the proposed City Park and ways to transform roads into streets, to the city's creative multicultural influences on architecture and city spaces. This lecture will further explore, and challenge, the latest thinking in city making from leading speakers. £5 and discount rates for students
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Maximum Rhythm N' Blues
Tue 21 Oct Town Hall
*The Manfreds* (Paul Jones, Mike D’Abo, Mike Hugg, Tom McGuinness, Rob Townsend, Marcus Cliffe & Simon Currie) *plus special guests Alan Price* (The Animals) & Maggie Bell Following numerous critically acclaimed tours and due to public demand, Maximum Rhythm N’ Blues is back, once again boasting some of the finest quality talent ever assembled on one stage. The tour reunites original Manfred members Paul Jones, Mike D’Abo, Tom McGuinness and Mike Hugg. After the successful reunion of The Manfreds in 1991, the band injects all of the enthusiasm back into classics such as Do Wah Diddy Diddy, 5-4-3-2-1 and Mighty Quinn. £21.50
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Eddi Reader Plus special guests
Wed 22 Oct Town Hall
One of the country's great vocalists who has forged a hugely successful solo career after establishing her name with Fairground Attraction. In 2003, Eddi returned to her Scottish roots to record a beautiful album of songs by Robert Burns featuring a collection of superb traditional musicians, while her more recent album Peacetime fused her Scottish influences with new material from long-time collaborator Boo Hewerdine. A superb singer who happily follows her own path regardless of the vicissitudes of musical fashion.
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Puccini’s 150th: La Bohème
Thu 23 Oct Symphony Hall
Already acclaimed the world over for his opera performances, Music Director Andris Nelsons celebrates Puccini’s 150th birthday this autumn with concert performances of the passionate love story that has become the best-loved of all the composer’s operas. Set among the penniless students of Paris’s Bohemian Quarter, this tender tale of the seamstress Mimi and aspiring poet Rodolfo is one of the great operatic tearjerkers, and inspired, among other things, the musical Rent and the movie Moulin Rouge. A terrific young cast joins the CBSO and Choruses for what will surely be one of the must-see events in Birmingham this year.
Andris Nelsons - conductor Kristine Opolais - Mimì Erin Wall - Musetta Pavel Cernoch - Rodolfo Markus Brück - Marcello Kostas Smoriginas - Schaunard City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus & Youth Chorus City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Puccini: La Bohème 105’
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CBSO - La Boheme
Thu 23 Oct Symphony Hall
Already acclaimed the world over for his opera performances, music director Andris Nelsons celebrates Puccini’s 150th birthday this autumn with the passionate Parisian love story that has become the best-loved of all the composer’s operas. A terrific young cast joins the CBSO and Choruses for what will surely be one of the must-see events in Birmingham this year. £9.50, £13.50, £17, £20.50, £23.50, £28, £32, £37, £39.50
*Distinguished Cast* *City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus & Youth Chorus* *Andris Nelsons* Conductor
*Puccini* La Bohème 105’
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Centre Stage Elspeth Dutch (horn) and CBSO colleagues
Fri 24 Oct Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
Elspeth Dutch (horn) and CBSO colleagues Beethoven: Sextet for two horns and strings Ireland: Sextet for horn, clarinet and strings
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Puccini’s 150th: La Bohème
Sat 25 Oct Symphony Hall
Already acclaimed the world over for his opera performances, Music Director Andris Nelsons celebrates Puccini’s 150th birthday this autumn with concert performances of the passionate love story that has become the best-loved of all the composer’s operas. Set among the penniless students of Paris’s Bohemian Quarter, this tender tale of the seamstress Mimi and aspiring poet Rodolfo is one of the great operatic tearjerkers, and inspired, among other things, the musical Rent and the movie Moulin Rouge. A terrific young cast joins the CBSO and Choruses for what will surely be one of the must-see events in Birmingham this year.
Andris Nelsons - conductor Kristine Opolais - Mimì Erin Wall - Musetta Pavel Cernoch - Rodolfo Markus Brück - Marcello Kostas Smoriginas - Schaunard City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus & Youth Chorus City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Puccini: La Bohème 105’
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CBSO - La Boheme
Sat 25 Oct Symphony Hall
Already acclaimed the world over for his opera performances, music director Andris Nelsons celebrates Puccini’s 150th birthday this autumn with the passionate Parisian love story that has become the best-loved of all the composer’s operas. A terrific young cast joins the CBSO and Choruses for what will surely be one of the must-see events in Birmingham this year. £9.50, £13.50, £17, £20.50, £23.50, £28, £32, £37, £39.50
*Distinguished Cast* *City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus & Youth Chorus* *Andris Nelsons* Conductor
*Puccini* La Bohème 105’
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Sing Live West Midlands presents Sing Swing
Sat 25 Oct Town Hall
From the Fabulous Forties to the present day revival, Sing Live West Midlands will have you on your feet dancing to the sound of the National Festival Orchestra Big Band and 150 singers from your area. You will instantly recognise the unmistakable Glenn Miller Sound, with the show-stopping Chattanooga Choo-choo, and also our tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra. Something for everyone as the Sing Live Wall of Sound grabs you and takes you into the era of Swing. £15, £17.50 Under 16s £9 Tickets available from Sing Live Booking office on 01609 780315 or Town Hall and Symphony Hall Box Office. Please note the 3.30pm show has now been cancelled
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Sunday Morning Coffee Concert - Di Xiao
Sun 26 Oct Town Hall
This brilliant Chinese pianist is already well known in Birmingham’s music circles as a result of being chosen to represent Town Hall and Symphony Hall in the ECHO Rising Stars series. Today’s concert launches a tour that will take her to play at eleven of Europe’s most prestigious concert halls during 2008/9. Come and hear her play sonatas by Mozart and Beethoven and a selection of miscellaneous pieces, and wish her bon voyage. £7.50 (unreserved), Under 16s £3.50 Ticket includes a cup of tea or coffee, a soft drink or a glass of sherry.
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The Shaolin Wheel of Life
Sun 26 Oct Symphony Hall
