2007-08 Birmingham International Concert Season

DISCOVER GREAT CLASSICAL MUSIC AT THE HEART OF BIRMINGHAM

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• David Garrett and his band  

  Sat 11 Oct Town Hall

  Part genius, part maverick, total virtuoso•this violin sensation plays his own personal musical blend of the traditional and contemporary. Fresh from this year’s Classical Brits, BBC’s Proms in Park and the much-loved Classical Spectacular, his natural talent is “world class” (The Independent). From the haunting melodies of Ennio Morricone, Bizet’s fiery and passionate Carmen, Paganini’s masterpiece Rhapsody and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to the inspired arrangement of Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters. Discover this international star for yourself. "....already the stuff of legend" BBC Music Magazine
  
  
  

• Russian Romantics Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio 

  Tue 9 Oct Symphony Hall

  However familiar a piece of music might be, it takes on a vibrant new intensity when played by musicians who spring from the same soil as the composer. Vladimir Fedoseyev conducts four Russian classics crowned by the spontaneous melodic outpouring of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, whilst the pain and struggle of young love is vividly portrayed in the bittersweet lyricism of Prokofiev's great ballet _Romeo and Juliet_. Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: _" It's often said that you can't beat hearing Russian musicians play the music of their homeland. Tonight you can put the theory to the test. Not to be missed is the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto one of the so called big four concertos that every violinist should have under their belt."_
  *Vladimir Fedoseyev* Conductor *Nemanja Radulovic* Violin *Irina Mataeva* Soprano
  *Borodin* Overture, Prince Igor 10' *Tchaikovsky* Violin Concerto 35' *Tchaikovsky* Letter Scene (from _Eugene Onegin_) 13' *Prokofiev (arr. Fedoseyev)* Four excerpts from _Romeo and Juliet_ 20'
  

• Cleveland Orchestra Plays Mahler  

  Sun 21 Oct Symphony Hall

  If you had to name the top half-a-dozen orchestras in the world, the Cleveland would be amongst them. They return to Birmingham with the work that inaugurated Symphony Hall in 1991. Mahler's _Resurrection_ Symphony is a man's journey through exultation and despair, culminating in a terrifying vision of the last judgement and crowned by one of the most joyful endings in all music. Great music, a great orchestra and a great hall this is one of the highlights of the season.
  *Franz Welser-Most* Conductor *Malin Hartelius* Soprano *Bernarda Fink* Mezzo-soprano *City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus*
  *Mahler* Symphony No 2, _Resurrection_
  

• Nitin Sawhney: A Throw Of Dice Silent movie with live music  

  Sat 27 Oct Symphony Hall

  Songwriter, DJ and composer Nitin Sawhney has broken down the barriers between pop and classical and now, in a stunning soundtrack to the 1929 Indian cinema classic, _A Throw of Dice (Prapancha Pash)_, explores his South Asian roots. The film and Nitin's score caused a sensation when first performed last year. The story of two rival kings addicted to gambling and the same woman, the film used over 10,000 extras, 1000 horses and 50 elephants provided by the royal houses of Jaipur, Udaipur and Mysore. *Post-concert conversation:Adil Ray and Nitin Sawhney*
  *Nitin Sawhney* Composer, Celeste *Northern Sinfonia* *Stephen Hussey* Conductor *Davinder Singh* Vocals *Tina Grace* Vocals *Reena Bhardwaj* Vocals *Aref Durvesh* Tabla *Ashwin Srinivasan* Flutes
  
  

• The Spirit Of The Triennial Festival Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 

  Thu 1 Nov Town Hall

  In celebration of the re-opening of Town Hall, we recreate, with period instruments, a concert that might have been heard in the heyday of Birmingham's great Triennial Festival. Between 1834 and 1912 many leading composers came to conduct their own works, ranging from Mendelssohn, Grieg and Dvorak through to Elgar. This unique event reflects the grandeur of the original concerts (note the starting time!) and includes works by Mendelssohn, Sullivan and Grieg, many originally commissioned for Birmingham and first heard in Town Hall. Please note: This concert has two intervals.
  *Richard Hickox* Conductor *Joan Rodgers* Soprano *James Gilchrist* Tenor *Melvyn Tan* Piano *Thomas Trotter* Organ Introduced by *Lyndon Jenkins*
  *Cherubini* Overture, _Anacreon_ *Mozart* Mitradi ( _Don Giovanni_ ) *Haydn* In native worth (The Creation) *Bach* Prelude and Fugue in E flat, St Anne *Mendelssohn* Excerpts from Elijah *Mendelssohn* Piano Concerto No 2 *Elgar* Contrasts (Three Characteristic Pieces) *Gounod* Judex (Mors et Vita) *Grieg* Songs with Orchestra *Sullivan* Overture di Ballo
  

• Ian Bostridge Sings Schubert An Evening of Songs by Schubert 

  Thu 8 Nov Symphony Hall

  In recent times no other English tenor has attracted the public's attention like Ian Bostridge. His performances are marked by a subtlety and understatement that have made him one of the most respected performers of song ranging from Schubert to Noel Coward. His recital explores a wide range from some of Schubert's six hundred or so lieder, including favourites such as _Die Forelle (The Trout), Im Frühling, Der liebliche Stern, Nachtviolen_ and _Im Walde_.
  *Ian Bostridge* Tenor *Julius Drake* Piano
  Im Frühling Űber Wildemann Der liebliche Stern Tiefes Leid Auf der Brücke Aus “Heliopolis” l Aus “Heliopolis” ll Abendbilder Ins stille Land Totengräbers Heimweh *Interval* Auf der Riesenkoppe Sei mir gegrüsst Daß sie hier gewesen Die Forelle Des Fischers Liebesglück Fischerweise Atys Nachtviolen Geheimnis Im Walde (Waldesnacht)
  

• Itzhak Perlman  

  Sun 11 Nov Symphony Hall

  Renowned as one of the world's leading violinists, Itzhak Perlman's playing communicates an irrepressible sense of joyous music making. Well-known for the wide range of his interests, one of his proudest achievements was his collaboration with composer John Williams in Steven Spielberg's film _Schindler's List_ in which he performed the haunting violin solos. Tonight's concert includes Strauss's Sonata in E flat and Beethoven's _Spring_ Sonata.
  *Itzhak Perlman* Violin *Bruno Canino* Piano
  *Richard Strauss* Sonata in E flat *Schubert* Rondo Brillant in B minor D895 *Beethoven* Spring Sonata in F major Op24
  

• Masur Conducts Bruckner Orchestre National de France 

  Tue 13 Nov Symphony Hall

  France's premier orchestra visits Birmingham with Kurt Masur, one of the last generation of authoritative conductors rooted in the great tradition of Austro-German classics. Bruckner's Seventh Symphony opens like the hazy dawn of a hot summer's day, gradually moving towards the searing heat of midday. Its slow movement concludes with a moving tribute to Wagner, who died in Venice whilst it was being composed. Hear it next to the haunting serenity of Mozart's Twenty-third Piano Concerto with Louis Lortie as the soloist.
  *Kurt Masur* Conductor *Louis Lortie* Piano
  *Mozart* Piano Concerto No 23 *Bruckner* Symphony No 7
  

• Takács Quartet  

  Wed 14 Nov Town Hall

  "They are currently the greatest string quartet in the world", raved the critic of _The Guardian_ last September. The Takacs Quartet play with intense immediacy and consistently burnished tone, creating performances that are probing, revealing and constantly engaging. Two classics by Haydn and Dvorak frame Janacek's passionate Second Quartet which vividly conveys his love for a woman thirty-eight years his junior. Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: "Don't miss an opportunity to see the award-winning Takacs Quartet. One of the highlights this evening promises to be Dvorak's Quartet No 12 in F, nicknamed the American, undoubtedly one of the best-loved chamber works by any composer."
  
  *Haydn* String Quartet, Op 74, No 1 *Janacek* String Quartet No 2, Intimate Letters *Dvorak* String Quartet Op 96, American
  

• Monteverdi's Flaming Heart I Fagiolini 

  Wed 21 Nov Town Hall

  Monteverdi believed that music could inflame even frozen hearts. Few are better equipped to test his theory than I Fagiolini, whose performances bristle with immediacy and raw physicality. The first of two Monteverdi concerts, at the newly refurbished Town Hall, _Flaming Heart_ is a passionate journey through the rich variety of Monteverdi's secular choral pieces, from unaccompanied madrigals to intimate duets and grander works with strings, in a stunning semi-dramatised performance. BBC Music magazine's Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight's concert: "_This isn't your regular choir! I Fagiolini perform with the thrilling combination of wit, imagination and exquisite ensemble work._" *6.15pm Pre-concert talk:* Robert Hollingworth in conversation with John Whenham Presented in association with Birmingham Early Music Festival
  *Robert Hollingworth* Director
  
  

• French Flair  

  Thu 22 Nov Symphony Hall

  In the first of four concerts showcasing the strengths and versatility of the Town Hall and Symphony Hall organs, experience a concert that takes in the full sweep of the great French organ tradition, culminating in an improvisation by one of the world's great masters. The stunning virtuosity and dazzling intellectual passion of Olivier Latry's performances have put him amongst the elite of living organists. BBC Music magazine's Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight's concert: _" I was fortunate enough, several years ago, to go up into the loft of Notre Dame in Paris and see Oliver Latry on his home turf. It was one of the most electrifying musical experiences I have ever had. Latry will knock your socks off!"_ *6.15pm Pre-concert talk:* Graeme Kay in conversation with Olivier Latry
  *Olivier Latry* Organ
  *Daquin* Noel sur les jeux d'anches, sans tremblant, et en duo *Franck* Cantabile *Vierne* Carillon de Westminster *Widor* Allegro vivace (from Symphonie No 5) *Messiaen* Transports de joie (from L'Ascension) *Alain* Deuxieme Fantaisie *Escaich* Deuxieme Evocation *Latry* Improvisation *Widor* Toccata (from Symphonie No 5)
  

• Monteverdi's L'orfeo New London Consort 

  Fri 23 Nov Town Hall

  Monteverdi tells the story of Orfeo, one of the most fantastical journeys in all opera, in music of sensuous beauty, urgency and immediacy. Jonathan Miller's theatrical presentation, the second of two Monteverdi performances at the Town Hall, marks the 400th anniversary of the first production of the world's first great opera. Philip Pickett's colourful and dramatic performance with the New London onsort has been one of the most admired CDs of L'Orfeo in recent years. *6.15pm Pre-concert talk with Jonathan Miller*
  *Philip Pickett* Conductor *Jonathan Miller* Director *Sue Lefton* Choreography, Movement *Shirin Guild* Costumes
  *Cast includes:* Mark Tucker, Joanne Lunn, Julia Gooding, Revital Raviv, Faye Newton, Mark Chambers, Andrew King, Joseph Cornwell, Michael George, Simon Grant, Mark Rowlinson, Martin Robson
  

• In the Spirit of Gil and Miles Britten Sinfonia 

  Tue 27 Nov Town Hall

  Britten Sinfonia, renowned for its bold approach to music-making, pays homage to two of the musical giants of the 20th century: Gil Evans and Miles Davis. Legendary American pianist and band leader Gil Goldstein, who worked closely with both jazz legends in the 1980s, brings his own unique style to this tribute, featuring classics from _Sketches of Spain_ and _Miles Ahead_, while the rich textures of Britten Sinfonia’s strings, woodwind and brass recreate this most evocative of repertoire. The concert also has a pronounced Brazilian flavour - echoing another of Goldstein’s musical fascinations - in the form of guitarist Romero Lubambo, ex Weather Report drummer Alex Acuña and Luciana Souza, one of Brazil’s most celebrated vocalists, whose brilliantly elastic voice gives a stunning interpretation of the distinctive Miles Davis sound. *6.15pm Free Pre-concert Talk*
  *Britten Sinfonia* *Gil Goldstein* Music Director *Luciana Souza* vocals *Romero Lubambo* guitar *Alex Acuña* percussion
  Programme to include: *Rodrigo/Gil Evans arr. Gil Goldstein* Concierto de Aranjuez, second movement (from Sketches of Spain) *Weill/Gil Evans arr. Gil Goldstein* My Ship (from Miles Ahead) *MacGregor and Mercer/Evans arr. Gil Goldstein* Moon Dreams from (Birth of the Cool) *Cleo Henry arr. Gil Goldstein* Boplicity (from Birth of the Cool) *Cleo Henry arr. Gil Goldstein* Concorvado (from Quiet Nights) *Cleo Henry arr. Gil Goldstein* Aos Pez Daz Cruz (from Quiet Nights) *Egberto Gismonti* Frevo; Forrobodo *Da Falla* Ritual Fire Dance: Psyche *Gwilym Simcock* New work (world première)
  

• Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra 

  Sat 1 Dec Symphony Hall

  With its velvet strings, golden brass and exceptional woodwind, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam has been a byword for the highest quality for well over a hundred years. They return to Birmingham with the fiery passion of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony and with violinist Vadim Repin in Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. A concert to cherish. Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: _" This is an early Christmas stocking of a concert to start the month, what a great musical line-up from start to finish. Vadim Repin playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto promises to be sensational, this is the musician described by Yehudi Menuhin as 'simply the best, the most perfect violinist I have ever heard'."_
  *Daniele Gatti* Conductor *Vadim Repin* Violin
  *Schumann* Manfred Overture 12' *Mendelssohn* Violin Concerto 30' *Tchaikovsky* Symphony No 5 45'
  

• Celebrity Piano Recital: Simon Trpceski  

  Sun 2 Dec Town Hall

  Few young pianists have received such critical acclaim as Simon Trpceski. The sheer excitement and velocity of his playing is matched by an intense fragile poetry controlled by an enviable intelligence. BBC Music magazine's Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight's concert: _" Macedonian pianist Simon Trpceski is probably the most exciting young pianist to emerge in the last few years. I got to know his playing through his three incredible discs on EMI, one of which showcases one of the works on tonight's programme: Chopin's Sonata No 2. His phrasing, as one of our reviewers said, is simply magical."_ *6.15pm Pre-concert talk: Simon Trpceski in conversation with Lyndon Jenkins*
  *Simon Trpceski* Piano
  *Scriabin* Sonata No 2 *Chopin* Sonata No 2 *Brahms* Three Intermezzi *Debussy* Children's Corner *Debussy* L'isle Joyeuse
  

• Wolfgang Rihm's I Am A Mistake  

  Thu 6 Dec Symphony Hall

  From July 2007, smoking in public buildings in England becomes illegal. There will be many though, including the leading German composer Wolfgang Rihm, who continue to resist what society says they should think or do, including smoking. _I Am A Mistake_ is a passionate plea against political correctness and a rhapsodic love-song to smoking, in the composer's words, "the pleasure that is trying to kill me." Bringing together film, live music, song and dance, _I Am A Mistake_ has been created in collaboration with Jan Fabre, one of the most radical and innovative artists working today.
  *Jan Fabre* Text, Scenography and Direction *Jan Fabre and the dancers* Choreography *Chantal Akerman* Film *Wolfgang Rihm* Musical Composition *Lucas Vis* Conductor *Miet Martens* Assistant to Jan Fabre and Dramaturg *Hilde Van Mieghem* Speaker *Ensemble Recherche & Guest Artists* Musicians *Matthias Horn & Johannes M. Kosters* Singers *Sylvia Camarda, Manon Avermaete, Eleonora Mercatali, Tawny Andersen* Dancers
  
  

• Sibelius and Elgar in Birmingham Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra 

  Sat 8 Dec Town Hall

  A hundred years ago Sibelius visited Birmingham where his music was regularly performed. It was at Birmingham's 1912 Triennial Festival that he met his great contemporary Elgar and conducted the first British performance of his own Fourth Symphony, lean and concise yet full of explosive passion. Now, 50 years after Sibelius's death and 150 years after Elgar's birth, we bring these two composers together once again. Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: _" We're coming to the end of 2007 which has seen two anniversaries of two great composers whose music is featured tonight. Tonight, Elgar fans have their chance to enjoy the Violin Concerto, the violin was Elgar's own instrument and he aimed to make a career as a soloist himself at one point."_ *6.15pm Pre-concert talk: Lyndon Jenkins, Elgar and Sibelius at the 1912 Birmingham Festival*
  *John Storgards* Conductor *Isabel van Keulen* Violin
  *Elgar* Violin Concerto 50' *Sibelius* Symphony No 4 30' *Sibelius* Finlandia 7'
  

• Sakari Oramo violin and CBSO Players Lunchtime concerts at the CBSO Centre 

  Fri 14 Dec Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

  
  
  R. Strauss: Capriccio sextet Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence
  

• Silver Screen Classics  

  Sat 29 Dec Symphony Hall

  Honor Blackman presents the greatest movie hits of all time from the best of British cinema to Hollywood Blockbusters including selections from _Star Wars_, _Harry Potter_, _Gone With the Wind_, _Gladiator_ and many more.
  *Paul Bateman* Conductor *London Concert Orchestra*
  *Programme to include selections from:* Star Wars Harry Potter Lord of the Rings E.T. The Godfather Star Trek Out of Africa Born Free Superman The Magnificent Seven Lawrence of Arabia Schindler's List Gladiator James Bond Murder on the Orient Express Pirates of the Caribbean The Big Country Indiana Jones
  

• Opera Gala Night  

  Sun 30 Dec Symphony Hall

  Three distinguished soloists perform great arias from the world’s best loved operas.
  *Andrew Greenwood* Conductor *Linda Richardson* Soprano *Mark Stone* Baritone *John Hudson* Tenor *Birmingham Choral Union* *Fanfare Trumpeters of the Band of the Welsh Guards* *London Concert Orchestra*
  *Rossini* William Tell; _Overture_ *Gounod* Faust; _Jewel Song, Soldiers Chorus_ *Bizet* The Pearlfishers; _Duet_ & Carmen; _Toreador Song_ *Verdi* Il Trovatore; _Miserere_ Rigoletto; _La donna è mobile_ La Forza del Destino; _Pace, pace_ Don Carlos; _Friendship Duet_ Aida; _Grand March_ La Traviata; _Brindisi_ *Wagner* The Mastersingers; _Overture_ Tannhauser; _O Star of Eve_ *Dvorak* Rusalka; _Song to the Moon_ *Puccini* Madam Butterfly; _Humming Chorus_ La Boheme; _Ah Mimi_ Gianni Schicchi; _O mio babbino caro_ Turandot; _Nessun dorma_ Tosca; _Vissi d’arte, E lucevan le stelle_
  

• Celebrity Piano Recital: Stephen Hough  

  Wed 16 Jan Town Hall

  Well-known for his utterly original and revelatory performances, Stephen Hough's recital ranges from Weber's famous _Invitation to the Dance_ and the devilish virtuosity of Liszt's _Mephisto Waltz_ through to refined dance-inspired pieces by Chopin, Chabrier, Debussy and Saint-Saens. And, if that all sounds just a touch frivolous, the first half of his recital is themed around variations and includes Beethoven's visionary final Piano Sonata and the fragmentary lyricism of Webern. BBC Music magazine's Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight's concert: _" Stephen Hough is quite simply an overwhelmingly brilliant pianist in whatever he does. He's a showman without the showiness, a musical poet without the pretension, he's the perfect musician."_
  
  *Mendelssohn* Variations Serieuses *Webern* Variations, Op 27 *Beethoven* Sonata in C minor, Op 111 *Weber* Invitation to the Dance *Chopin* Waltz, Op 64 No 2; Valse Brilliante, Op 34 No 1 *Saint-Saens* Valse Nonchalante *Chabrier* Feuille d'Album (Valse) *Debussy* La plus que Lente (Valse) *Liszt* Valse Oubliee No 1; Mephisto Waltz No 1
  

• Ashkenazy and Kissin Philharmonia Orchestra 

  Tue 22 Jan Symphony Hall

  When Ashkenazy accompanies Kissin in Prokofiev's most popular piano concerto, a celebrated pianist from an earlier generation will pay a graceful tribute to one of the young lions of the keyboard. Stand by also for the fascinating perspective revealed by a great pianist's orchestration of Mussorgsky's monumental piano work, Pictures at an Exhibition, a gallery of people, stories and places Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: _"Symphony Hall plays host to two outstanding figures in classical music. Vladimir Ashkenazy's distinguished career, as both pianist and conductor, spans forty years. Sharing the stage is one of the best pianists in the world, Evgeny Kissin. Be sure to book early for what promises to be a terrific evening of music."_
  *Vladimir Ashkenazy* Conductor *Evgeny Kissin* Piano
  *Debussy* Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune 9' *Roussel* Suite No 1, Bacchus et Ariane 17' *Prokofiev* Piano Concerto No 3 28' *Mussorgsky* (arr Ashkenazy) Pictures at an Exhibition 40'
  

• Symphonie Fantastique Orchestre de la Suisse Romande 

  Sat 26 Jan Symphony Hall

  From dark incantations to supernatural beings, sinister gatherings of spectres and witches, the funereal tolling knell and drug-induced fantasies, Weber and Berlioz both vividly embraced the fashionably chilling Gothic horror of their day in _Der Freischutz_ and the _Symphonie Fantastique_. Marek Janowski and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande frame these two classics with Mozart's majestic Piano Concerto No 21, its exquisitely lyrical slow movement featured in the film _Elvira Madigan._ Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: "Weber's Overture to Der Freischutz and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, were both landmark works. Weber moved away from the accepted operatic norm of elaborate plots and went instead for Germanic legends with a healthy helping of supernatural intrigue. Berlioz also went down the magical, ghostly route in telling the story of a desperate young musician who falls in love."
  *Marek Janowski* Conductor *Nicolai Lugansky* Piano
  *Weber* Overture, Der Freischütz 8' *Mozart* Piano Concerto No 21 30' *Berlioz* Symphonie Fantastique 50'
  

• England's Finest  

  Thu 31 Jan Town Hall

  Part of the renovation of Birmingham's Town Hall has been the restoration of its splendid 1834 organ by William Hill, widely regarded as one of the finest of English instruments. Thomas Trotter's recital is a tour of the delights of English organ music, including early Renaissance music, the magnificently romantic Organ Sonata by Elgar and works from the present day. *6.15pm Pre-concert talk: Graeme Kay in conversation with Thomas Trotter*
  *Thomas Trotter* Organ
  *Stanford* Fantasia & Toccata *Byrd* Fantasia in C *Anon* Upon 'La .Mi. Re.' *Aston* A hornepype *Stanley* Voluntary, Op 5 No 5 *Lemare* Rondo Capriccio *Lemare* Concertstück *Gowers* Toccata *Weir* Ettrick Banks *Elgar* Sonata in G major
  

• Bach and Handel Academy of Ancient Music 

  Sun 3 Feb Town Hall

  The Academy of Ancient Music's mission is to recreate the music as Bach or Handel might have heard it. The Times recently described their playing as having "passion, excitement, and joy" charged with "verve and precision". The first of their two concerts at Town Hall (see 15 April) features the irresistible energy of two of Bach's best-loved works. Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: _"A Baroque-lover's heaven is probably the best way to describe tonight's concert! Handel and Bach are the kings of Baroque and it's a shame the pair never met, though, apparently Johann Sebastian tried on three occasions to see George Frideric but the journeys came to nothing."_
  *Richard Egarr* Director & Harpsichord *Rachel Brown* Flute *Pavlo Beznosiuk*, * Rodolfo Richter* Violins
  *Telemann* Concerto in D major for flute 14' *Handel* Concerto Grosso, Op 6 No 4 12' *JS Bach* Concerto for two violins 15' *Handel* Concerto Grosso, Op 6 No 3 13' *JS Bach* Brandenburg Concerto No 5 19'
  

• Benedetti Plays Sibelius Vienna Tonkunstler Orchestra 

  Fri 15 Feb Symphony Hall

  Not yet twenty, Nicola Benedetti's reputation has risen meteorically since she won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Award in 2004. Her performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the dynamic young firebrand Kristjan Jarvi, Principal Conductor of the Vienna Tonkustler Orchestra, is sure to create an irresistible frisson. Alongside the Concerto's slow-burning, brooding intensity we have the vivacious hi-tech energy of John Adams's music and the most famous of all symphonies, Beethoven's Fifth, with its intense heroic struggle, culminating in a blaze of joy.
  *Kristjan Jarvi* Conductor *Nicola Benedetti* Violin
  *Adams* Slonimsky's Earbox 13' *Sibelius* Violin Concerto 33' *Beethoven* Symphony No 5 35'
  

• Borodin String Quartet  

  Thu 13 Mar Town Hall

  The legendary Borodin Quartet is the world's longest-established string quartet. Their performances have both authority and dedication and the benefit of personal links with Shostakovich, with whom they worked. They also bring a unique Russian perspective to the great Viennese quartets of the Haydn and Beethoven.
  
  *Haydn* String Quartet Op 64, No 5, The Lark 18' *Beethoven* String Quartet Op 18, No 4 23' *Miaskovsky* String Quartet No 13 24' *Shostakovich* String Quartet No 13 20'
  

• Beethoven's Eroica Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra  

  Fri 14 Mar Symphony Hall

  Christened by The Times as the "Volcano from Vladikavkaz" Tugan Sokhiev is the latest in a long tradition of dynamic young Russian conductors. Two of Beethoven's most powerful works make up his programme, the ground-breaking Eroica Symphony and smoulderingly tragic Coriolan Overture. Sarah Chang, one of the most sought after young violinists, is the soloist in the majestic sweep of Brahms's Violin Concerto. Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: _"Sarah Chang performing live is an event not to be missed. She's a dynamic violinist who always delivers. Beethoven tops and tails the concert and the epic Eroica was in fact the composer's own favourite symphony of the nine he produced."_
  *Tugan Sokhiev* Conductor *Sarah Chang* Violin
  *Beethoven* Overture, Coriolan 10' *Brahms* Violin Concerto 42' *Beethoven* Symphony No3, Eroica 50'
  

• Tavener's The Beautiful Names  

  Sat 15 Mar Town Hall

  The direct melodic simplicity and rapt beauty of Sir John Tavener's music has spoken to an extraordinary cross-section of the public, from aficionados through to the many who were moved by his Song of Athene at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. His music shares the soulful spirituality of Rachmaninov's Vespers and the slow-burning intensity of Barber's Agnus Dei (an arrangement of his Adagio for strings). In his latest work, which takes its name from the ninety-nine names of Allah according to Islamic tradition, he reaches out to a new universalism, embracing the many religions of the world.
  *David Hill* Conductor *Andrew Kennedy* Tenor *BBC Symphony Orchestra* *BBC Symphony Chorus*
  *Rachmaninov* Excerpts from Vespers 15' *Tavener* Song of Athene 4' *Barber* Agnus Dei 7' *Tavener* The Beautiful Names of Allah: A Vision 75'
  

• Good Friday St Matthew Passion Birmingham Bach Choir  

  Fri 21 Mar Symphony Hall

  Utterly timeless in its emotional appeal, there are few who are not moved by the glorious music of Bach's St Matthew Passion, particularly in its majestic opening and closing choruses. Our Good Friday performances of this intense yet dignified telling of the events surrounding Easter are a well-established tradition in Birmingham. BBC Music magazine's Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended today's concert: " If I were to name my one Desert Island Disc, it would be Bach's St Matthew Passion. A gigantic work of orchestral and choral perfection, it contains everything, from expressions of unbridled joy to movements that somehow describe devastating grief. Bach's abilities defy explanation."
  *English Chamber Orchestra* *Paul Spicer* Conductor
  *JS Bach* St Matthew Passion 180'
  

• National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain Stravinsky's Rite Of Spring 

  Thu 3 Apr Symphony Hall

  Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring is one of the great orchestral showpieces of all time, a searing explosion of energy that evokes the violent arrival of a pre- Christian Russian spring with its rites of fertility and sacrifice. Listening to it over ninety years after its first performance, it's easy to see why Western music has never quite recovered. Energy levels are sure to be high when the cream of Britain's young musicians and Vasily Petrenko perform Stravinsky's masterpiece alongside the autumnal serenity of Strauss's sublime Four Last Songs with stunning soprano soloist Gabriele Fontana. 6pm - FREE pre-concert of music by NYO composers - SWING, 8 pieces inspired by dance rhythms for NYO ensembles.
  *Vasily Petrenko* Conductor *Gabriele Fontana* Soprano
  *Mark Simpson* New Commission 10' *Ravel* Valses Nobles et Sentimentales 16' *Strauss* Four Last Songs 23' *Stravinsky* The Rite of Spring 33'
  

• Handel's Flavio, Re de' Langobardi Academy of Ancient Music  

  Tue 15 Apr Town Hall

  When King Flavio of Lombardy embarks on a light-hearted affair, it soon escalates into a grand passion, threatening the lives of those around him. Handel's Flavio has gained a cult following since its first recording in 1990 by Rene Jacobs. An ironic tragedy with comic touches, the music ranges through the whole gamut of emotions from comedy to tragedy. The Academy of Ancient Music's performance, in association with Town Hall and Symphony Hall, is part of a project in which Christopher Hogwood conducts a Handel opera each year leading up to the 250th anniversary of the composer's death in 2009. *5.45pm Pre-concert talk with Roderick Swanston*
  *Christopher Hogwood* Conductor *Iestyn Davies* Flavio *Karina Gauvin* Emilia *Maite Beaumont* Vitige *Robin Blaze* Guido *Renata Pokupic* Teodata *James Gilchrist* Ugone *James Rutherford* Lotario
  
  

• German Genius  

  Wed 30 Apr Symphony Hall

  Ludger Lohmann, organist at St Eberhard Catholic Cathedral, Stuttgart, gives an overview of German organ music, from early Baroque to the 20th century. His concert ranges from the towering Baroque mastery of Bach's Fantasia and Fugue, via the extravagant high romanticism of Reubke's Sonata on the 94th Psalm, through to the cool neo-classical restraint of Hindemith. *6.15pm Pre-concert talk: Graeme Kay introduces tonight's programme*
  *Ludger Lohmann* Organ
  *Bach* Fantasia and Fugue in G minor *Froberger* Fantasia I on 'Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La' *Buxtehude* Chorale Fantasia, Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein *Reger* Fantasy and Fugue on the name BACH *Hindemith* Sonata No 2 *Reubke* Sonata on the 94th Psalm
  

• Mozart from Salzburg Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra 

  Thu 1 May Town Hall

  Few orchestras can claim such close links to Mozart as the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra. Mozart's widow, Constanza, formed the orchestra in 1841 to mark the 50th anniversary of Mozart's death and since then it has celebrated his genius. Their programme includes two concertos in one concert, as well as two great symphonies, the youthful, high-spirited No 34 and the tragic No 40. Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: _"Symphony No 34 was written by Mozart during a difficult period in his life. His mother had died, he'd been spurned by the woman he loved and he was working in Salzburg for an Archbishop who didn't really appreciate the genius he had under his roof."_
  *Ivor Bolton* Conductor *Johannes Hinterholzer* Horn *Bernhard Krabatsch* Flute
  *Mozart* Symphony No 34 24' *Mozart* Flute Concerto No 1 26' *Mozart* Horn Concerto No 4 15' *Mozart* Symphony No 40 30'
  

• Celebrity Piano Recital: Pascal Roge  

  Thu 8 May Town Hall

  Famed for its elegance, beauty and delicate phrasing, Pascal Roge's playing exemplifies all that is best in French pianism. After the recent release of his latest Debussy CD, the Evening Standard hailed Roge "[he] plays like no other pianist ... this is a record that sets new benchmarks in French music." Given in the intimate surroundings of the Town Hall, his recital focuses on Chopin and Debussy with miniatures by Faure, Ravel and Poulenc. BBC Music magazine's Editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight's concert: "Pascal Roge is one of France's most accomplished pianists, declared an 'ambassador of French music'. And so he is. I've heard Roge perform the impressionist, stunning Debussy Preludes many times and you'll not hear a finer interpreter."
  
  *FAURE* 1er Nocturne op 33 No 1 *CHOPIN* 13ème Nocturne op 48 No 1 *POULENC* 1er Nocturne in C maj *RAVEL* 3 valses from Les Valses Nobles et Sentimentales Modéré Assez animé Presque lent, dans un sentiment intime *CHOPIN* Valse in C# min op 64 No 2 *DEBUSSY* Mazurka in B min *CHOPIN* Mazurka in B min op 33 No 4 *DEBUSSY* Etude pour les 8 doigts *CHOPIN* Etude op 25 No 1 *DEBUSSY* Etude pour les arpèges composées *CHOPIN* Etude op 10 No 12 ---------------------------- *DEBUSSY* Ballade *DEBUSSY* Prélude Les Fées sont d'exquises danseuses *CHOPIN* Prelude op 28 No 15 in Db maj *DEBUSSY* Preludes La Fille aux Cheveux de lin Le vent dans la plaine Ce qu'à vu le vent d'ouest *CHOPIN* Prelude op 28 No6 in B min *DEBUSSY* Preludes La terrasse des audiences au clair de lune Les Collines d'Anacapri Canope *CHOPIN* 4ème Ballade op 52 in F min
  

• Rachmaninov's Second Symphony Russian State Symphony Orchestra 

  Thu 15 May Symphony Hall

  In its heart-felt lyricism and inexhaustible stream of melody, the Second Symphony is one of the most emotionally charged of all Rachmaninov's works. It is heard next to the youthful fire of his First Piano Concerto and Prokofiev's dazzling suite from the opera The Love for Three Oranges. The Russian State Symphony Orchestra have this music in their blood and bring a truly authentic passion to their performances. Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: _" Expect some musical fireworks as Dmitri Alexeev takes on Rachmaninov's earliest work. The composer produced his First Piano Concerto when he was still a teenager training at the Conservatoire in Moscow, but he altered it radically nearly thirty years later and this is the version we hear today."_
  *Mark Gorenstein* Conductor *Dmitri Alexeev* Piano
  *Tchaikovsky* The Snow Maiden (excerpts) *Rachmaninov* Piano Concerto No 1 27' *Rachmaninov* Symphony No 2 60'
  

• American Enterprise  

  Wed 28 May Town Hall

  Maverick and enthusiast, Carlo Curley has brought the organ out of the church loft and imbued his recitals with crusading zeal for the instrument's colour and vitality. His recital, the final one this season, explores the huge, and sometimes outrageous, range of American organ music. Prepare to hear Town Hall's organ as it has never been heard before! *6.15pm Pre-concert talk: Graeme Kay in conversation with Carlo Curley*
  *Carlo Curley* Organ
  *Programme includes:* *Hugh McAmis* Dreams *Seth Bingham* Roulade *Charles Ives* Variations on America *Samuel Barber (arr Strickland)* Adagio for Strings *Dudley Buck* Concert Variations on The Star-Spangled Banner *Edward MacDowell (arr Curley)* To a Wild Rose, from Woodland Sketches *Stefan Lindblad* Toccata on an American Theme, in homage to Leonard Bernstein
  

• Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony Philharmonia Orchestra 

  Tue 3 Jun Symphony Hall

  Gustavo Dudamel's sensational debut at the 2005 Proms came just one day after his UK debut at Symphony Hall. The critics raved and, at the age of just 24, he became one of the most hotly-tipped young conductors of his generation. He returns to Birmingham with Brahms's epic First Piano Concerto and Shostakovich's defiant Fifth Symphony, a passionate affirmation of individual liberty against totalitarian oppression. *_The most astonishingly gifted conductor I’ve ever come across._* Sir Simon Rattle, from the Telegraph 6.15pm Pre-concert talk with Lyndon Jenkins
  *Gustavo Dudamel* Conductor *Piotr Anderszewski* Piano
  *Brahms* Piano Concerto No 1 45' *Shostakovich* Symphony No 5 50'
  

• Cecilia Bartoli: La Rivoluzone Romantica Basel Chamber Orchestra 

  Cancelled

  Thu 5 Jun Symphony Hall

  Unfortunately this event has been cancelled due to illness. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please contact the Box Office for a full refund on 0121 780 3333.
  
  
  

• The Leo Ensemble Lunchtime concerts at the CBSO Centre 

  Fri 6 Jun Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

  
  
  Shostakovich: Two Pieces for String Octet, Op.11 Enescu: String Octet
  

• Rutter Conducts Rutter English Chamber Orchestra 

  Sat 7 Jun Symphony Hall

  John Rutter's Requiem has established itself as a classic. Its melodies and atmosphere speak directly and naturally to both audiences and singers alike. Hear it tonight conducted by the composer himself, with his own Cambridge Singers, alongside his recent Mass of the Children, the New York premiere of which made him the toast of Manhattan. Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight's recommended concert: _"John Rutter doesn't seem to stop for a moment. When he's not performing, composing or recording he's committed to grassroots music-making. This leading composer and conductor is a national treasure."_
  *John Rutter* Conductor *Cambridge Singers* *City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Choruses* *Joanne Lunn* Soprano *Jeremy Huw Williams* Baritone
  *Ravel* Pavane 5' *Rutter* Requiem 40' *Rutter* Mass of the Children 37'
  

• Celebrity Piano Recital: Alfred Brendel Alfred Brendel 

  Tue 24 Jun Symphony Hall

  "Keeper of the flame" is how The Guardian recently described Alfred Brendel. At seventy-six he is unchallenged as the greatest living exponent of the classical keyboard tradition of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, bringing not only extraordinary depth and humanity but also quirky humour to the music. His recital includes Beethoven's startlingly original E flat Sonata and the powerful serenity of Schubert's great B flat Sonata. It's difficult to think of a more satisfying concert to close this season.
  Alfred Brendel
  *Haydn* Variations in F minor 8' *Mozart* Piano Sonata in F major K533/494 16' *Beethoven* Piano Sonata in E flat major, Op 27 No 1 15' *Schubert* Piano Sonata in B flat major, D960 45'
  

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