THSH: What's On — Classical events

Brodsky Quartet

Sun 16 Nov Town Hall

Without a doubt, the Brodsky is Britain’s best-known string quartet. With a repertoire stretching from the classics to collaborations with pop artists, this remarkable ensemble is at the very top of its game. The players visit the intimate space of Town Hall with four outright classics of the string quartet repertoire - a masterpiece from Beethoven’s fiery youth, Shostakovich’s most intense and best-known Quartet, Stravinsky’s three ground-breaking miniatures, and the quiet melancholy of Tchaikovsky’s Third and last Quartet. Tickets £5-£20

*Beethoven* Quartet in D Major, op 18, no 3 25’ *Shostakovich* Quartet No 8 in C Minor, op 110 20’ *Stravinsky* Three Pieces for String Quartet 8’ *Tchaikovsky* Quartet No 1 in D Major, op 11

Lunchtime Organ Concert - Thomas Trotter (17th Nov 2008)

Mon 17 Nov Town Hall

Thomas Trotter returns with a programme featuring Elgar’s Second Sonata, Kerll’s Le Cucu and Schubert’s l’Abeille. Admission from 12.30pm. Programme lasts approximately one hour. Thomas Trotter is a Town Hall Associate Artist.

Viennese Classics

Wed 19 Nov Symphony Hall

Schubert and Brahms: their music epitomises all that was best in the Viennese tradition between the death of Beethoven and the arrival of Mahler. Olari Elts has chosen to couple one of Schubert’s sunniest symphonies with Brahms’ supremely dramatic violin concerto, played by an exceptional Norwegian soloist making his first appearance in Birmingham. Shorter works show a different side to both composers' amazingly varied talents.
Olari Elts - conductor Henning Kraggerud - violin City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Brahms: Variations on a theme by Haydn 19’ Brahms: Violin Concerto 36’ Schubert (orch. Webern): German Dances 8’ Schubert: Symphony No. 5 26’

Friday Night Classics: Best of Bond

Fri 21 Nov Symphony Hall

Never mind if you didn’t get invited to the red-carpet premiere of Quantum of Solace - because the CBSO is always licensed to thrill. Whether your favourite Bond is Craig or Connery, Brosnan or Moore, this will be an allaction celebration with the best of 40 years of Bond themes. Featuring such all-time greats as From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, Live And Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only, Licensed to Kill and Dr No, as well as modern Bond classics including GoldenEye and Casino Royale, this is music guaranteed to leave you both shaken - and stirred.
Carl Davis - conductor Mary Carewe - vocalist City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Festival of Young Musicians with Aled Jones

Sat 22 Nov Symphony Hall

Marking 120 years of Child Protection, the NSPCC Birmingham Branch proudly presents a festival of young musicians. Broadcaster and singer Aled Jones will be presenting an exciting and varied programme of some of the city’s most gifted and talented young musicians • including The Birmingham Schools Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, the highly acclaimed Azaad Dhol Group, Training Wind Orchestra, Steel Band and Gospel Choir. Plus solo performance by Aled Jones. Produced and directed by Jeremy Blunt of Birmingham Schools Service. Organised by the NSPCC’s Birmingham Branch of Volunteers all the profits raised from this event will support the NSPCC’s vital work with local children • the goal is to raise £25,000. £15, Discounts available

Uchida Plays Mozart

Sun 23 Nov Symphony Hall

Few pianists today command the respect and awe accorded to Mitsuko Uchida. “One of today’s great pianists,” wrote The Times, while The Independent summed her up as simply “sublime”. In this concert she directs two of Mozart’s greatest concertos from the keyboard-the serenity and poise of the A major Concerto contrasting with the tragedy of the C minor. Uchida’s lucid Mozart playing is ideally suited to the perfect acoustic of Symphony Hall, uniting performer and audience in an experience of crystal-clear intensity. *Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight’s recommended concert:* _Tonight the pianist Mitsuko Uchida joins forces with the orchestra formed in in 1981 and made up of fifty players from fifteen countries-The Chamber Orchestra of Europe. A chance for you to enjoy two of Mozart’s Piano Concertos written at the same time, but in very distinct moods. Mitsuko Uchida gained her international reputation by playing and recording the music of Mozart-there’s nothing she doesn’t know about the composer’s best-loved works for keyboard._ "Classic FM":http://www.classicfm.co.uk Tickets £5-£37.50
*Chamber Orchestra of Europe* *Mitsuko Uchida* piano/director
*Stravinsky* Apollon Musagète 30’ *Mozart* Piano Concerto No 23 in A Major, K488 24’ *Mozart* Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor, K491 30’

Lunchtime Organ Concert - Thomas Trotter (24th Nov 2008)

Mon 24 Nov Town Hall

Thomas Trotter plays Ives’ Variations on America, C.P.E. Bach’s Sonata in A minor, Pierne’s March of the Tin Soldiers, and more. Admission from 12.30pm.Programme lasts approximately one hour. Thomas Trotter is a Town Hall Associate Artist.

Totally Tchaikovsky!

Wed 26 Nov Symphony Hall

Tchaikovsky’s struggles with his personal demons left a mark on many of his works, and the dramatic Fifth Symphony of 1888 is one of the pieces in which positive forces ultimately seem to triumph over the darkness. Composed during the same year, the fantasy overture Hamlet is one of his three works based on Shakespeare plays. Andris Nelsons is also joined by his compatriot Baiba Skride for the tuneful concerto that represents the lighter side of Tchaikovsky’s art, and which they recorded together with the CBSO in Birmingham last year.
Andris Nelsons - conductor Baiba Skride - violin City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Hamlet - Overture 19’ Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto 34’ Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 47’

Centre Stage Baiba Skride (violin) and CBSO Players

Thu 27 Nov Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

Baiba Skride (violin) and CBSO Players Brahms: Clarinet Quintet

Birmingham Bach Choir: Bach Mass in B Minor Brandenburg Baroque Soloists

Sat 29 Nov Town Hall

Completed in the last year of his life, the Mass in B Minor is the consummate expression of Bach’s genius. With masterful interplay between chorus, orchestra, and soloists from the beseeching spirals of the opening Kyrie to the final climactic Dona nobis pacem this is choral music at its greatest.
*Birmingham Bach Choir* *Brandenburg Baroque Soloists* *Paul Spicer* Conductor *Celeste Lazarenko* Soprano *Christopher Ainslie* Counter Tenor *Sean Clayton* Tenor *Vojteh Safarik* Bass

Walsall Music Service

Sun 30 Nov Symphony Hall

Walsall Music Service has formed a choir of over 500 young voices to sing exciting and well-loved seasonal music at these concerts. Also featured will be the winner of the West Midland's (BBC WM) Pop Stars Competition; the Walsall Young Musician of the Year; Young stars from the our Dance & Music Theatre; The Beacon Wind Band and World Music Groups. £5

Orchestra of the Swan: Mozart V Salieri

Sun 30 Nov Town Hall

Despite a lack of evidence, the legend that Salieri poisoned Mozart out of jealousy has been fixed in people's minds by the film Amadeus. The older composer could certainly spin a good tune, but judge for yourselves whether he comes anywhere near the genius of two of Mozart's most delightful. 1.30pm free pre-concert talk Post-concert Conversation Club in the Circle Bar 15 mins after the end of the performance. "It's just how music should be." Birmingham Post £8.50, £12.50, £16.50, £19.50 Choir benches £6.50 60 plus £7.50, £11.50, £15, £17.50 Orchestra of the Swan is a Town Hall Associate Artist.
*Orchestra of the Swan* *David Curtis* Conductor *Diane Clark* Flute *Helen Cole* Harp

A Taste of France

Tue 2 Dec Symphony Hall

Widely acknowledged as an expert conductor of 20thcentury music, Ilan Volkov includes three French masterpieces in a programme full of orchestral colour. Debussy’s famous portrait of the sea in all its various moods finds a more exotic counterpart in the 1912 ballet by Paul Dukas (of Sorcerer’s Apprentice fame) which tells of a Persian man’s quest for the Flower of Immortality. We are also joined by the Nazareth-born pianist, who scored a success here in Beethoven two years ago, for two contrasting concertos: Ravel’s jazzy Left Hand Concerto and a new work by Jordanian composer Saed Haddad. 6.15pm Pre-concert talk - Premiere! - Saed Haddad’s Piano Concerto Conductor Ilan Volkov and soloist Saleem Abboud Ashkar talk to Stephen Maddock about tonight’s UK premiere.
*Ilan Volkov* conductor *Saleem Abboud Ashkar* piano
*Dukas* La Péri 19’ *Ravel* Piano Concerto for the left hand 20’ *Haddad* "Alternative World-versions" for Piano & Orchestra (UK premiere) 11' *Debussy* La Mer 25’

Birmingham Community Foundation Christmas Carol Concert

Wed 3 Dec Town Hall

Following last year's sell out event at Town Hall, this year's Christmas Carol Concert will include _The Snowman Suite_, exctracts from Thcaikovsky's _Nutcracker_ Suite and _Deck the Halls_ plus much more. Held in aid of the Birmingham Community Foundation. For further information please visit www.bhamfoundation.co.uk/newsfs.html £20, £25
*Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra* *Adrian Goldberg* compere *Michael Lloyd* conductor *Choir of St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton*

Britten Sinfonia at Lunch - Dec 2008

Thu 4 Dec Town Hall

Proms Night Spectacular! British Police Symphony Orchestra

Sat 6 Dec Symphony Hall

The British Police Symphony Orchestra return once more for their annual Last Night celebration. This year's programme includes Bernstein's Candide Overture and a selection from West Side Story, before launching into their traditional Last Night Spectacular complete with fireworks! Singing voices compulsory at one of Birmingham's best-loved concerts. £10, £15, £20 Tthe BPSO will also be performing *A Race Around Europe* at 2.30pm, this is a FREE family event, ticket requests should be emailed to tickets@bpso.org.uk. Informal family show features the audience becoming as much a part of the concert as the orchestra themselves! For more details visit bpso.org.uk. Sponsored by Steria

A Boy Was Born Britten at Christmas

Sun 7 Dec Town Hall

Britten is widely regarded as the leading British composer of the 20th century. Ex Cathedra begins its festive celebrations with a performance of his best-loved Christmas repertoire - A Boy Was Born, St Nicolas and A Ceremony of Carols - in collaboration with Ex Cathedra's fellow Town Hall Associate Artist, the Orchestra of the Swan. The concert also features Ex Cathedra's Academy of Vocal Music. £30 (£27.50), £23.50 (£21), £15 (£13), £8.50 (£7) _“Textures glittered throughout”_ *The Birmingham Post* Visit Ex Cathedra's website by clicking "here":http://www.ex-cathedra.org/
*Ex Cathedra Choir* *Orchestra of the Swan* *Conductor* Jeffrey Skidmore *Tenor* Benjamin Hulett

Centre Stage Sakari Oramo (violin) and CBSO Players

Tue 9 Dec Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

Sakari Oramo (violin) and CBSO Players Mozart: Horn Quintet K.407 Bruckner: String Quintet

Quartet for the End of Time

Tue 9 Dec Town Hall

Four world-class soloists come together to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of France’s greatest composers - Olivier Messiaen. His visionary _Quartet for the End of Time_ is an uplifting and spiritual work, and will be accompanied by specially commissioned visuals from artist Kathy Hinde. It is preceded by Ravel’s Piano Trio - tinged with serene disquiet and written as the world descended into the carnage of the First World War. *BBC music magazine’s editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert:* _"Messiaen premiered his Book of Revelation-inspired Quartet at a Polish prisoner of war camp in 1941 in front of 5,000 fellow prisoners. Widely seen as his finest work, it’s the perfect introduction to a composer who brought French music kicking and screaming into the 20th Century.”_ "BBC Music Magazine":http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com 6.15pm pre-concert talk Tickets £5-£20
*Steven Osborne* piano *Alban Gerhardt* cello *Viviane Hagner* violin *Kari Kriikku* clarinet *Kathy Hinde Messiaen* visuals
*Ravel* Piano Trio in A Minor 20’ *Messiaen* Quartet for the End of Time 50’

Ultimate Romantics 1: Mahler and Wagner

Wed 10 Dec Symphony Hall

In two concerts this winter, some of the most extravagant and passionate music of the late romantic era comes to Symphony Hall. The second act of Wagner’s Tristan contains one of music’s greatest love scenes. The adagio from mahler’s unfinished tenth Symphony is similarly in love with life, but it is the heartfelt last testament of a man about to be torn from the world. Few young conductors have received the plaudits that have been awarded to Vladimir Jurowski, new Principal Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and music Director of Glyndebourne Opera, who conducts the first concert in this series. 6.15pm pre-concert talk Tickets £5-£37.50
*London Philharmonic Orchestra* *Vladimir Jurowski* conductor *Anja Kampe* Isolde *Robert Dean Smith* Tristan *Sarah Connolly* Brangaene *Laszlo Polgar* Marke *Stephen Gadd* Melot/Kurnewal
*Mahler* Adagio from Symphony No 10 22’ *Wagner* Act II from Tristan and Isolde 75’

What's On — Classical events