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Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Xmas Special
Thu 11 Dec Town Hall
The cult orchestra of all-singing, all-strumming, all-plucking ukulele players return to Town Hall following last year's triumphant sell out concert!
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Century!
Thu 11 Dec Symphony Hall
Today the musical world salutes the centenary of the birth of the great American composer Elliott Carter, the only major composer ever to reach his 100th year and still be creating new work. His new horn concerto is a perfect example of his art, and is played here by the CBSO’s own Elspeth Dutch. Tonight’s concert is actually a triple celebration of December 1908: the great French composer Olivier Messiaen was born just a day before Carter, and Elgar’s magnificent First Symphony had been premiered just a week before that. 6.15pm Pre-concert talk - Premiere! - Elliott Carter’s Horn Concerto Anthony Burton introduces the music of this great American survivor.
Sakari Oramo - conductor Elspeth Dutch - horn City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Messiaen: L’Ascension 19’ Carter: Horn Concerto (UK premiere) 11’ Elgar: Symphony No. 1 52’
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Jason Donovan plus support
Fri 12 Dec Symphony Hall
Jason Donovan has enjoyed a very successful and varied career in film, television and theatre plus a record-breaking international solo career in which he made over 13 million record sales. Most famous for his role as Scott Robinson in _Neighbours_, Jason won nearly every Australian award during his time on one of Australia’s most successful drama series and the hearts of millions. Jason’s vocal career began in 1988 when he released ‘Especially for You’ with Kylie Minogue and a debut solo album, _Ten Good Reasons_. Following the release of his second album in 1989, Jason became the biggest selling UK and European artist. In the same year he was voted Best Male Singer and Britain’s Best Album at the Smash Hits Awards. Jason has performed internationally to sell-out audiences of thousands. Jason triumphed in the West End when he starred as Joseph in _Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat_ at the Palladium. Jason played to critical acclaim and sell-out business. In 1998, Jason again drew sell-out crowds for his performance as Frank ‘N’ Furter in The Rocky Horror UK Tour, during the show’s 25th Anniversary.
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A Swinging Christmas featuring the BBC Big Band with special guest Matthew Ford. In association with BBC Radio 2
Fri 12 Dec Town Hall
Seasonal and swinging classics from the BBC Big Band with acclaimed vocalist Matthew Ford. Join the celebration as they perform favourites including _Midnight Sleighride_, _The Christmas Song_, _Let it Snow_, _Winter Wonderland_ and _Santa Claus is Coming to Town_.
Conductor *Jiggs Whigham*
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My First Carol Concert With Milkshake Live!
Sat 13 Dec Symphony Hall
This Christmas treat your little ones to a unique yuletide concert hosted by their favorite Milkshake TV characters and presenters. For the first time ever, Milkshake Live brings together classic Christmas songs and festive fun in an enchanting concert for the whole family to enjoy. The popular Milkshake TV characters and presenters are joined by a fantastic 30 piece orchestra LIVE on stage! This is a magical opportunity to introduce your children to their first live Christmas concert hosted by one of the most successful children’s TV experiences ever • Milkshake! Including classic Christmas music such as Nutcracker to sing-a-long fun Frosty The Snowman, Jingle Bells, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer and many more….
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Great Romantics
Sat 13 Dec Symphony Hall
Last Christmas Sakari Oramo brought us all some seasonal cheer with highlights from The Nutcracker; this year it’s the turn of another of Tchaikovsky’s great ballets. It shares the first half with possibly the most popular of all piano concertos, played by the Russian pianist with whom the CBSO has made an acclaimed series of Rachmaninov recordings. Elgar said that his First Symphony expressed ‘a wide experience of human life with a great charity (love) and a massive hope in the future’ how better to celebrate the festive season?
Sakari Oramo - conductor Nikolai Lugansky - piano City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty (highlights) 10’ Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 32’ Elgar: Symphony No. 1 52’
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Omara Portuondo
Sat 13 Dec Town Hall
*Omara Portuondo:* *Diva of Buena Vista Social Club* Omara Portuondo is of the world’s legendary female voices • the seductive sound of old Havana. She has had a hugely successful career since the 1950s, and from 1995 she and Ibrahim Ferrer were the vocal heart of Buena Vista Social Club. Her central part in its success secured her a whole new fan base, wooed by her romantic tenderness, her latino rhythms, and her Piaf-like passion. This autumn she tours her new album, Gracias, with her core band members from Cuba and Brazil.
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Town Hall presents Bellowhead with support In association with Moseley Folk Festival
Tue 16 Dec Town Hall
Bellowhead have taken the festival scene by the scruff of the neck over the past couple of years. Voted best group and best live band in the 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, their euphoric live shows are much more than just folk, taking traditional songs to modern places with a wild invention, wit and energy that defies categorisation. “Wild, joyous, perverse, bold, crazed, full-blooded, intricate, fearless, funny, epic and mostly BIG . . . Bellowhead don't disappoint. Prepare to be amazed.” fRoots “They sweep all before them into a heady mix of great tunes, innovative arrangements, rampant imagination and brazen front . . . Extraordinary.” Mojo £18.50 stalls standing or circle seated
The support acts are as follows: The Old Dance School and Dave Swarbrick
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Midlands Hospitals' Choir Christmas Celebration
Tue 16 Dec Symphony Hall
Following last year’s sell out event in Town Hall, this year’s Christmas will include _The Snowman_ Suite, extracts from Ttchaikovsky’s _Nutcracker_ Suite and _Deck the Halls_ plus much more. Held in aid of the Birmingham Community Foundation. _“Last year’s event was absolutely amazing.This is without doubt one of the most popular and fun-filled carol concert performances that the city has to offer and it is all for a good cause too.” _Adrian Goldberg For further information, please visit: www.bhamfoundation.co.uk/newsfs.html £20, £25 In association with Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd
*Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra* *Adrian Goldberg* compere *Michael Lloyd* conductor *Choir of St Peter’s Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton*
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A London Symphony
Wed 17 Dec Symphony Hall
For our final tribute to Vaughan Williams in this 50th anniversary year of his death, we are joined by one of his leading interpreters for a rare hearing of the original 1913 version of his ‘London’ Symphony. This extraordinary work was subsequently dedicated to his friend George Butterworth, who unlike Vaughan Wiliams never returned from the trenches of World War I - as a result we only have a few pieces, of which tonight’s is the best known, to remember him by. The dazzling 1920s concerto by Vaughan Williams’ teacher Ravel completes the programme. 6.15pm Pre-concert talk - “A Symphony by a Londoner” English music specialist Michael Foster explores the genesis of Vaughan Williams’ colourful symphony.
Richard Hickox - conductor Kirill Gerstein - piano City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Butterworth: Banks of Green Willow 6’ Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major 21’ Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony (original version) 61’
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Roy Wood Rock & Roll Band: Christmas Special plus support
Wed 17 Dec Town Hall
Birmingham born Roy enjoyed huge success as a member ofThe Move, Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard and is forever linked to the festive season thanks to the hit _I Wish it could be Christmas Everyday_. Following last year's sell-out performance at Town Hall, Wood returns with his band to kick off Christmas in style. £20 Stalls unreserved standing or Circle reserved seating
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Centre Stage Elliott Carter’s 100th Birthday
Thu 18 Dec Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
Elliott Carter’s 100th Birthday Marie-Christine Zupancic (flute) and CBSO colleagues Carter: Enchanted Preludes Carter: Scrivo in Vento Mozart: Flute Quartet No. 4 in A, K.298 Villa-Lobos: The Jet Whistle Bax: Elegiac Trio
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White Christmas
Thu 18 Dec Symphony Hall
Christmas glitz and Yuletide nostalgia in a wonderful show of all-time favourites. From _Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire_…to _Silent Night_… _Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas_ Just like the ones we used to know! _Winter Wonderland_ _We need a little Christmas_ _Santa Claus is coming to town_ _Frosty the Snowman_ _It’s the most wonderful time of the year_ _Santa Baby_ _Blue Christmas_ _Jingle Bell Rock_ _Let it snow_ _I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus_ _All I want for Christmas is you_ _The Little Drummer Boy_
*Capital Voices* *John Rigby* conductor *London Concert Orchestra* Star Soloists *Jacinta Whyte* and *David Habbin*
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Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band - Carols and Capers 2008
Thu 18 Dec Town Hall
A unique celebratory show of Christmas music on renaissance and modern instruments. Maddy and the Carnival Band put their inimitable stamp on familiar and not-so-familiar festive fare, from favourites like The Holly and the Ivy to secular carols, such as The Boar’s Head, and dance tunes like Old Joe Clark.
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Rattle Conducts Schumann
Fri 19 Dec Symphony Hall
Earlier this year, Sir Simon Rattle picked music by Schumann as one of his eight choices on Desert Island Discs. Now he turns his attention to two of the composer’s most popular works: the fresh and vibrant _Spring Symphony_ and the _Rhenish Symphony_ - a joyous celebration of the Rhineland, the awe-inspiring gothic architecture of Cologne Cathedral and, of course, the river itself. *Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight’s recommended concert:* _Fresh from his role as one of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Artists Laureate 2008 for the European Capital of Culture, Sir Simon Rattle returns to his former stomping ground here in Birmingham. This evening he’ll be conducting the OAE, an orchestra he’s been closely associated with for many years now. Rattle is one of just six conductors who’ve been key in the development of this self-governing orchestra established more than twenty years ago. It was he who took the OAE to Glyndebourne for the first time in 1989 with Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro; the orchestra is now a regular visitor to the East Sussex festival._ "Classic FM":http://www.classicfm.co.uk Tickets £5-£45
*Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment* *Sir Simon Rattle* conductor
*Berlioz* King Lear overture 15’ *Schumann* Symphony No 1, Spring 32’ *Schumann* Symphony No 3, Rhenish 33’
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A Christmas Carol
Sat 20 Dec Symphony Hall
It simply wouldn’t be Christmas without the CBSO’s celebrations, hosted this year by presenter Carol Smillie and featuring the CBSO and its massed choirs. Packed with festive music and your favourite carols, plus stories, readings and plenty of audience participation, these concerts are the perfect way to kick-start your Christmas holidays and put you in the festive spirit.
Simon Halsey - conductor Carol Smillie - presenter City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus & Youth Chorus City of Birmingham Young Voices City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
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King's College Choir at Christmas
Sat 20 Dec Town Hall
What could be more evocative of Christmas than the magical sound of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge? This world-famous choir visits Town Hall with a concert of Christmas music ranging from majestic baroque masterworks by Praetorius and Schütz through to quintessential favourites from the Nine Lessons and Carols, including Darke’s _In the Bleak Midwinter_ and Joubert’s _There is no Rose_. *Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall says of tonight’s recommended concert:* _It’s thanks to Henry VI that the Choir of King’s College Cambridge exist. The last king of the Lancastrian dynasty envisaged daily singing in his splendid chapel and to this day that remains the main purpose of the Choir. Tonight a musical festive fayre is promised including Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, a work based on traditional carols. Other seasonal favourites on the menu include Harold Darke’s beautiful In The Bleak Midwinter and John Joubert’s There Is No Rose._ "Classic FM":http://www.classicfm.co.uk Tickets £5-30
*Choir of King’s College Cambridge* *Stephen Cleobury* director
Programme includes works by *Praetorius*, *Schütz*, *Poulenc*, *Rachmaninov*, *Vaughan Williams*, *Joubert* and *Howells*, with organ solos.
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Carols by Candlelight
Sat 20 Dec Symphony Hall
Herald Christmas in the most elegant way with this joyous concert of carols and seasonal classics presented with all the grace and charm of the 18th Century in an evocative candle-lit style setting. CAROLS FOR ALL including _Good King Wenceslas_, _God Rest You Merry Gentlemen_, _Once in Royal David’s City_, _Away in a Manger_, _Hark! The Herald Angels Sing_, _It Came Upon The Midnight Clear_, _O Little Town of Bethlehem_, _Unto Us Is Born A Son_, _The First Noel_.
*Steven Devine* conductor *Laura Parfitt* soprano *MOZART FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA* in full period costume *MOZART FESTIVAL CHORUS*
*Handel* Zadok the Priest, Let the bright Seraphim, Christmas sequence from Messiah *Mozart* Laudate Dominum *Corelli* Allegro and Pastorale from Christmas Concerto *Vivaldi* Gloria (Opening Chorus)
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Christmas Celebrations City of Birmingham Choir
Sun 21 Dec Town Hall
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A Christmas Carol
Sun 21 Dec Symphony Hall
It simply wouldn’t be Christmas without the CBSO’s celebrations, hosted this year by presenter Carol Smillie and featuring the CBSO and its massed choirs. Packed with festive music and your favourite carols, plus stories, readings and plenty of audience participation, these concerts are the perfect way to kick-start your Christmas holidays and put you in the festive spirit.
Simon Halsey - conductor Carol Smillie - presenter City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus & Youth Chorus City of Birmingham Young Voices City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
