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RSS Feed - Classical eventsWhat's On — Classical events
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Centre Stage CBSO Players
Tue 24 Feb 2009 Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
CBSO Players Rossini: String Sonatas Nos. 1, 3 and 4 Barrière: Sonate à Deux
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Made in America
Tue 24 Feb 2009 Symphony Hall
Many composers have left Europe to find a new home in the USA, and both in Bartók’s wartime Concerto for Orchestra • composed for the virtuosi of the Boston Symphony Orchestra • and Dvorˇák’s most popular concerto, composed in New York, you can hear elements of each composer’s old world as well as the new. John Adams’ riotous orchestral showpiece seems more authentically American, though it was a by-product of his celebrated opera Nixon in China, and imagines Madam Mao reliving her music-hall past.
Andris Nelsons - conductor Alban Gerhardt - cello City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Adams: The Chairman Dances (24 Feb) 12’ Dvorák: Cello Concerto in B minor 40’ Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra 35’
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Made in America
Wed 25 Feb 2009 Symphony Hall
Many composers have left Europe to find a new home in the USA, and both in Bartók’s wartime Concerto for Orchestra • composed for the virtuosi of the Boston Symphony Orchestra • and Dvorˇák’s most popular concerto, composed in New York, you can hear elements of each composer’s old world as well as the new. John Adams’ riotous orchestral showpiece seems more authentically American, though it was a by-product of his celebrated opera Nixon in China, and imagines Madam Mao reliving her music-hall past.
Andris Nelsons - conductor Alban Gerhardt - cello City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Brahms: Three Hungarian Dances 12’ Dvorák: Cello Concerto in B minor 40’ Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra 35’
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Ultimate Romantics 2: Gurrelieder
Fri 27 Feb 2009 Symphony Hall
In the second of our ‘Ultimate Romantics’ concerts, the high-voltage combination of Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra unleash one of the ultimate and most gorgeous of all romantic experiences. Schoenberg’s lavish _Gurrelieder_ is the epic and upernatural tale of King Waldemar and his love for Tove, resident of castle Gurre. From the sumptuous love music of the opening to the fantastical Wild Hunt of spectres, this thrilling, kaleidoscopic score never lets the listener go. This is the only performance of this unmissable event outside london: we promise that you will love it! *BBC Music magazine’s Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert:* _"Before Schoenberg experimented with the atonal composing system that has given him a certain reputation among audiences, he wrote several highly romantic, lush works including Gurrelieder. Think Wagner, Mahler and a hint of Bruckner and you get the idea. It’s one of the most OTT works of the 20th century - and wonderful for it!”_ "BBC Music Magazine":http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com "Philharmonia Orchestra: City Of Dreams":http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/city_of_dreams/ *6.15pm pre-concert talk* Tickets £5-£37.50
*Philharmonia Orchestra* *Esa-Pekka Salonen* conductor *Ladies of the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus* *Men of the Philharmonia Voices* *Soile Isokoski* Tove *Monica Groop* _Waldtaube_ *Stig Andersen* _Waldemar_ *Andreas Conrad*_ Klaus-Narr_ *Ralf Lukas*_Bauer_ *Barbara Sukowa*_Speaker_
*Schoenberg* Gurrelieder 100’
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Central England Ensemble 'Town Hall Connections' Sibelius, Downes & Dvorak
Sun 1 Mar 2009 Town Hall
Central England Ensemble presents three popular composers with strong links to Birmingham Town Hall: Dvorak conducted two of his world premieres here, The Spectre’s Bride (1885) and his Requiem (1897); Sibelius directed the British premiere of his Symphony no 4 here in 1912; Andrew Downes’ connections with the hall began as a chorister (with the CBSO under Harold Gray) and a counter-tenor soloist in the 1960s/70s, continued throughout the 1970s/80s with many performances of his Fanfare for a Ceremony at the Town Hall Open University ceremonies, and are confirmed in this concert with the world premiere of his Piano Concerto.
*Central England Ensemble* *Anna Downes* Leader *Duncan Honeybourne* Piano *Anthony Bradbury* Conductor *Sibelius* Finlandia *Downes* Concerto for Piano and Symphony Orchestra (world premiere performance) *Dvorak* New World Symphony
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Lunchtime Organ Concert - Matthais Maierhofer
Mon 2 Mar 2009 Symphony Hall
More details to follow
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Viennese Masters with Mackerras
Wed 4 Mar 2009 Symphony Hall
Still leading a vigorous musical life well into his eighties, Sir Charles Mackerras is a living legend, and in tonight’s programme he brings his wealth of experience to three of his favourite composers. Our first contribution to the Haydn bicentenary celebrations comes in the smiling form of one of the composer’s ‘Paris’ symphonies, while a distinguished pianist joins Sir Charles for one of Mozart’s most delectable piano concertos. Beethoven’s energetic Seventh completes a splendidly cheerful programme.
Sir Charles Mackerras- conductor Imogen Cooper - piano City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Haydn: Symphony No. 85 (La Reine) 21’ Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 K.482 33’ Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 36’
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Celebrity Piano Recital: Peter Donohoe
Thu 5 Mar 2009 Town Hall
Peter Donohoe’s performances are a dazzling fusion of passion, virtuosity and intellectual rigour. His recital ranges from the majesty of Bach to the superhuman demands of Liszt’s B minor Sonata. Before that come magical works by Brahms reflecting the mature wisdom of the composer’s old age and the untamed ardour of his youth. *BBC music magazine’s editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert:* _"The indefatigable Peter Donohoe launches into a brave programme here - Busoni’s technically astounding transcription of one of Bach’s great organ works sits next to Liszt’s greatest piece for the piano - the colossal Sonata. And as Donohoe is one of the most skilled musicians in this repertoire, the evening’s music-making should be full of plenty of memorable pyrotechnics…” "BBC Music Magazine":http://www.bbcmusicmagazine.com *6.15pm pre-concert talk* Tickets £5-£20
*Brahms* Six Pieces, Op 118 20’ *Brahms* Sonata No 3 in F minor, Op 5 28’ *Bach-Busoni* Toccata, Adagio and Fugue, BWV564 15’ *Liszt* Sonata in B minor 27’
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Centre Stage CBSO Players
Fri 6 Mar 2009 Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
CBSO Players Schubert: String Quartet in G, D.887
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Viennese Masters with Mackerras
Sat 7 Mar 2009 Symphony Hall
Still leading a vigorous musical life well into his eighties, Sir Charles Mackerras is a living legend, and in tonight’s programme he brings his wealth of experience to three of his favourite composers. Our first contribution to the Haydn bicentenary celebrations comes in the smiling form of one of the composer’s ‘Paris’ symphonies, while a distinguished pianist joins Sir Charles for one of Mozart’s most delectable piano concertos. Beethoven’s energetic Seventh completes a splendidly cheerful programme.
Sir Charles Mackerras- conductor Imogen Cooper - piano City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Haydn: Symphony No. 85 (La Reine) 21’ Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 K.482 33’ Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 36’
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Brahms: German Requiem English Concert Singers, Chorus & Orchestra
Sun 8 Mar 2009 Town Hall
To celebrate their 20th anniversary year, the 200 performers of the English Concert Singers/Chorus and Orchestra, under their founding Music Director, Dr. Roy Wales, present Brahms’ greatest choral work, A German Requiem. Vaughan Williams’ beautiful, lyrical Serenade to Music (choral version) and Mendelssohn’s colourful overture The Hebrides complete this special anniversary concert.
*English Concert Singers* *English Concert Chorus* *English Concert Orchestra* *Roy Wales* Conductor *Helena Dix* Soprano *William Berger* Baritone
*Mendelssohn* The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave) *R. Vaughan Williams* Serenade to Music *Brahms* A German Requiem
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Centre Stage A Pepys Portrait
Sun 8 Mar 2009 Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
A Pepys Portrait on period instruments CBSO Baroque Ensemble & Emily van Evera (soprano) Including music by Purcell, Locke and Mattheis
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Lunchtime Organ Concert - Thomas Trotter with the Birmingham University Singers
Mon 9 Mar 2009 Town Hall
More details to follow
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Britten Sinfonia at Lunch - March 2009
Thu 12 Mar 2009 Town Hall
For the final concert in our lunchtime series, Britten Sinfonia draws on a programme devised by John Woolrich. Woolrich’s evocative Quiddities • written for Nicholas Daniel and Britten Sinfonia in 2005 • is set alongside a new work from one of Poland’s hottest young composers Pawel Mykietyn. Chacony is perhaps the best known of Britten’s Purcell editions, and there is also a chance to hear Schoenberg’s beautiful Verklärte Nacht at its most transparent and delicate in the original string sextet version.
*Jacqueline Shave* violin/director *Thomas Gould* violin *Martin Outram* viola *Clare Finnimore* viola *Caroline Dearnley* cello *Ben Chappell* cello *Nicholas Daniel* oboe/cor anglais
*Purcell ed. Britten* Chacony in G minor *Paweł Mykietyn* New Work (world première tour) *John Woolrich* Quiddities *Schoenberg* Verklärte Nacht
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The Damnation of Faust
Thu 12 Mar 2009 Symphony Hall
A pact with the devil, a chorus of drunken students, unfulfilled love and a final, terrifying ride to the abyss - Berlioz’s most successful dramatic work has it all! Long famous for its Hungarian March and Dance of the Sylphs, tonight’s performance with the full CBSO forces led by an outstanding French conductor provides a welcome opportunity for Birmingham audiences to hear the whole work, and revel in Berlioz’s outlandish imagination.
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Jean-Pierre Furlan* Faust *Ruxandra Dunose* Marguerite *Nicholas Cavallier* Mephistopheles *Jonathan Lemalu* Brander *Ludovic Morlot* conductor
*Berlioz* The Damnation of Faust 125’
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Lunchtime Organ Concert - Roger Judd
Mon 16 Mar 2009 Town Hall
More details to follow
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Schubert’s Great
Tue 17 Mar 2009 Symphony Hall
Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila - Overture Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 schubert: Symphony No. 9 (The Great) Always a favourite with CBSO audiences and players, the distinguished conductor Walter Weller returns for one of the greatest musical masterworks from his native Vienna, Schubert’s last completed symphony. Though never performed in the composer’s lifetime, it has since become one of his most frequently-performed works;Tchaikovsky’s equally well-known concerto also nearly never saw the light of day, its dedicatee denouncing it as ‘poorly composed and unplayable’. Well, pianists and audiences since 1874 have tended to disagree!
Walter Weller -conductor Sergey Kuznetsov -piano City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila - Overture Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 Schubert: Symphony No. 9 (The Great)
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Centre Stage CBSO Players
Wed 18 Mar 2009 Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
CBSO Players Mozart: String Quintet in C, K.515
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Same Difference plus support
Wed 18 Mar 2009 Symphony Hall
X Factor finalists and pop sensations Same Difference visit Symphony Hall with a selection of great pop music including their debut single We R One. It is the kind of pop anthem the world has been crying out for since the turn of the millennium. Laden with uplifting hooks and feel good harmonies, Sean and Sarah prove they have certainly graduated the school of reality TV with distinction, and are destined for pop royalty. £23.50
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Schubert’s Great
Thu 19 Mar 2009 Symphony Hall
Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila - Overture Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 schubert: Symphony No. 9 (The Great) Always a favourite with CBSO audiences and players, the distinguished conductor Walter Weller returns for one of the greatest musical masterworks from his native Vienna, Schubert’s last completed symphony. Though never performed in the composer’s lifetime, it has since become one of his most frequently-performed works;Tchaikovsky’s equally well-known concerto also nearly never saw the light of day, its dedicatee denouncing it as ‘poorly composed and unplayable’. Well, pianists and audiences since 1874 have tended to disagree!
Walter Weller -conductor Sergey Kuznetsov -piano City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila - Overture Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 Schubert: Symphony No. 9 (The Great)
