What's On — Classical events

Tchaikovsky and Philip Glass
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Wed 5 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra is one of Russia’s leading orchestras. At the very heart of its repertoire lies Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony - a journey from dark and brooding tragedy to an overwhelming sense of energy and fulfilment. Young British violinist Chloë Hanslip takes centre stage for the clean, pulsating lines of Philip Glass’s unforgettable Violin Concerto. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: _“Philip Glass is one of America’s best-known living composers. His Violin Concerto is a Classic FM favourite. The second movement in particular manages to be both haunting and moving at the same time.”_ 6.15pm Pre-concert talk with Lyndon Jenkins
*Moscow State Symphony Orchestra* *Pavel Kogan* _conductor_ *Chloë Hanslip* _violin_
*Borodin* Overture, _Prince Igor_ 11’ *Philip Glass* Violin Concerto 30’ *Tchaikovsky* Symphony No 5 50’
Centre Stage - Russian String Quartets CBSO Players
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Fri 7 May 1:10pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

*Tchaikovsky* String Quartet No 1 *Shostakovich* String Quartet No 6
*CBSO Players*
*Tchaikovsky* String Quartet No 1 *Shostakovich* String Quartet No 6
Hugh Masekela and the CBSO
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Fri 7 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Hugh Masekela is a legend. Born in South Africa seventy years ago, he quickly emerged as one of his country’s leading musicians, his music reflecting its struggles, sorrows, joys and passions. He returns to Symphony Hall for a unique collaboration with the CBSO and the Town Hall Gospel Choir, for whom he has written a new work, as well as performing Jason Yarde’s Flugelhorn Concerto. Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Michael Seal* _conductor_ *Hugh Masekela* _flugelhorn_ *Jason Yarde* _saxophones_ *Town Hall Gospel Choir* *CBSO Young Voices in partnership with Birmingham Music Service*
Biss plays Brahms's Piano Quintet
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Sun 9 May 3:00pm Town Hall

_“Outstanding”_ (The Guardian), _“pure magic”_ (Daily Telegraph) and _“a heaven-storming performance”_ (The Strad) - the Elias Quartet seem unable to put a foot wrong with the critics. Rising star and passionate Mozartean, Jonathan Biss, joins them for Mozart’s Second Piano Quartet. There is also Britten’s Purcell-inspired Second Quartet and one of Brahms’ mightiest chamber works, the powerful and expressive Piano Quintet.
*Jonathan Biss* _piano_ *Elias Quartet*
*Mozart* Piano Quartet No 2, K493 30’ *Britten* String Quartet No 2 30’ *Brahms* Piano Quintet 38’
Lunchtime Organ Concert Thomas Trotter
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Mon 10 May 1:00pm Symphony Hall

*Thomas Trotter* _organ_
*Bach* Gigue Fugue *Anon* La Shy Myse; Belle et Jeune Fleur; My Lady Careys Dompe; Saltarelle *Alain* Three Pieces (Jannequin, 2 Danses, Litanies) *Kulkova* Stalactites *Stravinsky* Suite from _Petroushka_
CBSO Symphonic Dances: III
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Wed 12 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Andris Nelsons kicks up a real song and dance. In American exile, Rachmaninov summed up his life’s work in one extraordinary masterpiece. His _Symphonic Dances_ evoke a fantastic dream-world of half-remembered melodies, ghostly waltzes and driving jazz rhythms. But more to the point, they’re pure Rachmaninov - and that means high romance and glorious tunes. If you love his piano concertos, you’ll be spellbound. And if you love Beethoven’s piano concertos - well, you won’t need any persuasion to hear the most songful and poetic of the lot, played by the masterly Lars Vogt. Meanwhile, who’d have thought that the very first piece of music Nelsons brings us from his native Latvia would be the wonderfully evocative _Tango_, by his friend Arturs Maskats? Post-concert talk, c 9.15. Stay late for a post-conecrt conversation with Andris Nelsons and Stephen Maddock.
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Andris Nelsons* conductor *Lars Vogt* piano
*Maskats* _Tango_ 12' *Beethoven* Piano Concerto No 4 34' *Rachmaninov* _Symphonic Dances_ 35'
Centre Stage - Lars Vogt
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Thu 13 May 1:10pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

*Schubert* '_Trout_' Quintet
*CBSO Players* *Lars Vogt* _piano_
*Schubert* '_Trout_' Quintet
Faure Requiem: James MacMillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross City of Birmingham Choir
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Sat 15 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

The exquisite _Requiem_ and James MacMillan's mesmerising and deeply moving music combine in a concert of emotional intensity. _"... sensitively proportioned. ...a total awareness of musical structure"_
*City of Birmingham Choir* *Orchestra of the Swan* *Adrian Lucas* _conductor_ *Jack Furber* _treble_ *William Clements* _baritone_
*Fauré* Requiem *Finzi* Romance *James MacMillan* _Seven Last Words from the Cross_
CBSO Family Concert: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra - Matinee
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Sun 16 May 3:00pm Symphony Hall

This is your chance to discover all you wanted to know about a symphony orchestra! What are all those instruments and the amazing sounds they make? Travel through time on this magical musical journey as the CBSO’s top conductor, Andris Nelsons, and musicians Catherine Arlidge and Peter Hill let you into lots of musical secrets, with _The Sorcerer’s Apprentice_, The Elephant (from _The Carnival of the Animals_), Britten’s _Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra_ and more. FREE CRAFT WORKSHOPS AND MUSIC in the foyers from 1.30pm. Why not come dressed up in a music inspired costume? Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Andris Nelsons* _conductor_ *Catherine Arlidge* _presenter_ *Peter Hill* _presenter_
Lunchtime Organ Concert Thomas Trotter
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Mon 17 May 1:00pm Town Hall

*Bach* Komm, Gott, Schöpfer BWV 667 *Hollins* A Song of Sunshine *Messiaen* Alleluias sereins; Transports de joie (from _L’Ascension_) *Wammes* Miroir *Duruflé* Prelude, Adagio & Variations on _Veni, Creator_
CBSO One Thousand and One Nights
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Tue 18 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Soaring violin solos, drama on the high seas and a total mastery of the orchestra: it’s no surprise that Rimsky-Korsakov’s _Scheherazade_ has become one of the most played and best-loved of all Russian pieces. After his thrilling CBSO debut two seasons ago, dynamic Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša returns with this and another Russian masterpiece, Tchaikovsky’s charming _Rococo_ Variations. Tchaikovsky was inspired by his lifelong love of Mozart, and the concert begins with one of the greatest of Mozart’s symphonies, written for a visit to Hrůšas home city. Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*Jakub Hrůša* conductor *Johannes Moser* cello *City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra*
*Mozart* Symphony No38 (Prague) 25' *Tchaikovsky* Rococo Variations 18' *Rimsky-Korsakov* Scheherazade 47'
CBSO One Thousand and One Nights - Matinee
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Wed 19 May 2:15pm Symphony Hall

Soaring violin solos, drama on the high seas and a total mastery of the orchestra: it’s no surprise that Rimsky-Korsakov’s _Scheherazade_ has become one of the most played and best-loved of all Russian pieces. After his thrilling CBSO debut two seasons ago, dynamic Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša returns with this and another Russian masterpiece, Tchaikovsky’s charming _Rococo_ Variations. Tchaikovsky was inspired by his lifelong love of Mozart, and the concert begins with one of the greatest of Mozart’s symphonies, written for a visit to Hrůša’s home city. Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk This concert is followed by a Members’ Afternoon Tea with Jakub Hrůša, in conversation with Christopher Morley of The Birmingham Post. For full details contact Eve Smith on 0121 616 6533 or email esmith@cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Jakub Hrůša* conductor *Johannes Moser* cello
*Mozart* Symphony No38 (Prague) 25' *Tchaikovsky* Rococo Variations 18' *Rimsky-Korsakov* Scheherazade 47'
CBSO Friday Night Classics: You Call the Tunes
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Fri 21 May 7:30pm Symphony Hall

This is your chance to nominate and vote for the music you want to hear! Tonight the CBSO plays the people’s favourites in a concert packed with Midlanders’ most-loved classical music. Look out for details on the CBSO website, and in CBSO podcasts and concert programmes during autumn 2009, to find out how to nominate your absolutely-must-hear pieces. The most popular nominations will then be voted on by CBSO fans ready for the performance in Symphony Hall on 21 May, culminating in the Midlands’ Favourite Classic for 2010. Following her success in the BBC’s conducting series _Maestro_, tonight’s presenter Sue Perkins will also step onto the podium once again to conduct the CBSO for one of tonight’s pieces. Sue Perkins appears professional contracts permitting. Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Michael Seal* conductor *Sue Perkins* presenter
Sir James Galway 70th Birthday Recital
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Sat 22 May 3:00pm Symphony Hall

James Galway exudes a leprechaun-like energy and youthful sense of fun, with an unstoppable passion for communicating with audiences. His concert with his wife, Lady Jeanne Galway, ranges from the simple Irish lyricism of Hamilton Harty through to the virtuosic fireworks of the Carmen Fantasie. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: _“The man with the golden flute remains one of the best-known names in classical music. His solo career spans thirty-five years and more than thirty million album sales worldwide.”_ Sir James & Lady Jeanne Galway appear by arrangement with Galway Management
*Sir James Galway* _flute_ *Lady Jeanne Galway* _flute_ *Michael McHale* _piano_
*Hamilton Harty* _In Ireland_ *Debussy* _La fille aux cheveux de lin_ *Debussy* _En Bateau_ *P Taffanel* _Fantasie Sur Mignon_ *Bazzini* _La Ronde des Lutins_ *Briccialdi* _Carnival of Venice_ *Pietro Morlacchi* _Il Pastore Svizzero_ *K & F Doppler* _Rigoletto Fantasie for two flutes & piano_ *F Borne* _Carmen Fantasie_
Notelets Hands on Workshop
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Sun 23 May 10:00am Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

Boogie Beat - Workshop exploring pulse, drumming and rhythms to move to!
Notelets Hands on Workshop
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Sun 23 May 12:00pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

Boogie Beat - Workshop exploring pulse, drumming and rhythms to move to!
CBSO Singalong with the CBSO: Brahms's German Requiem
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Sun 23 May 7:00pm Symphony Hall

An unmissable opportunity for anyone who loves singing to spend a day with the CBSO, its world-renowned chorus director, Simon Halsey, and young professional soloists, in the magnificent Surroundings of Symphony Hall. This annual singalong attracts over 1000 singers, so join in this year and raise the roof with Brahms’ intensely moving German Requiem. *Information for singers: rehearsals start at 1.30pm; further details will be sent with singer tickets. Scores: we will be using the Peters edition (Bärenreiter scores are compatible) of Brahms’ Requiem and it will be sung in German. To hire a score with Simon Halsey’s rehearsal markings, please purchase the all-inclusive Singer & Score Hire ticket when booking. Please note, if you are not bringing your own score, pre-booking of score hire via this ticket is essential. Pre-booked scores can then be collected on arrival from 12.30pm on the day by showing your score ticket. Visit the "CBSO website":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Simon Halsey* _conductor_
Lunchtime Organ Concert Thomas Trotter
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Mon 24 May 1:00pm Town Hall

*Locklair* Rubrics *Wesley* Larghetto in F sharp minor Choral Song & Fugue *Howells* Psalm Prelude Set 1 No 1 *Festing* Largo, Allegro, Aria & Variations *Thalben-Ball* Variations on a theme of Paganini
Bach Doubled Orchestra of the Swan
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Wed 26 May 2:30pm Town Hall

Three double concertos, for violin and oboe, two violins and double orchestra. Nicholas Daniel also brings his total technical mastery to Vivaldi’s virtuoso Concerto in C.
*Orchestra of the Swan* *David Curtis* conductor *Nicholas Daniel* oboe *David Le Page* violin *Cathy Leech* violin
*Bach* Concerto for double string orchestra *Vivaldi* Oboe Concerto in C *Bach* Double violin concerto *Bach* Concerto for violin & oboe
Centre Stage - Latin Cellos
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Thu 27 May 1:10pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

Popular classics with a Latin flavour - including music by *Falla, Pablo Casals* and *Dave Brubeck.*
*CBSO Cellos*