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CBSO Benevolent Fund Conc...
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Fri 15 Oct 7:30pm Symphony Hall

It might be the world’s favourite violin concerto, but even if you already know and love it (and who doesn’t?), there’s always something appealingly fresh about Max Bruch’s First. And never more so than in the inspirational hands of the young Russian violinist Alina Pogostkina. But don’t take our word for it. Come and hear it for yourself, at the heart of this shamelessly entertaining programme. There’s also a rare chance to hear the gloriously beautiful bits of the _William Tell_ overture that didn’t feature in _The Lone Ranger_, plus the lilting dance-tunes and joyous trumpets of what is - hands down - Dvořák’s happiest symphony. And if that all sounds a bit too enjoyable, remember that all proceeds from this concert go to an excellent cause: the CBSO’s Benevolent Fund.
*Vassily Sinaisky* _conductor_ *Alina Pogostkina* _violin_
*Rossini* _William Tell_ - Overture 12’ *Bruch* Violin Concerto No. 1 26’ *Dvořák* Symphony No. 8 36’
Abram Wilson, Sing, Swing...
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Sat 16 Oct 11:00am Town Hall

A fun introduction to jazz from trumpeter Abram Wilson and his band that's guaranteed to get everyone singing and stomping! Perfect entertainment for families with children and young people aged 7-13 years, you'll be joining in with Abram and the band before you know it!
*Abram Wilson* _Trumpet_
CBSO The Birmingham Mahle...
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Sat 16 Oct 7:00pm Symphony Hall

'The Symphony is like the world,' declared Gustav Mahler ' - it must embrace everything!' His huge Third Symphony doesn’t quite manage that - but it has a pretty good try. Beginning with a mighty horn call and ending with a wordless hymn to love, it's a vast, colourful panorama of the world according to Gustav Mahler: church bells, country dances, grand, echoing climaxes and the mother of all trombone solos! It’s a symphony like no other, and for this next instalment in the Birmingham Mahler Cycle, regular CBSO guest conductor Vassily Sinaisky has assembled a world-class team of performers, including the full CBSO, our famous choruses and operatic mezzo extraordinaire Susan Bickley. Prepare to be astonished. 5.45pm Pre-concert talk with writer and broadcaster Anthony Burton. Part of "The Birmingham Mahler Cycle":http://www.thsh.co.uk/the-birmingham-mahler-cycle
*Vassily Sinaisky* _conductor_ *Susan Bickley* _mezzo_ *Ladies of the CBSO Chorus* *CBSO Youth Chorus*
*Mahler* Symphony No. 3 92’
Stewart Lee Vegetable Stew
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Sat 16 Oct 8:00pm Town Hall

Following his sell out season last year, the acclaimed writer and comedian presents a vegetable stew of brand new work in preparation for his 2011 TV series. See it live so you can begin the backlash ahead of transmission. 'He’s the most exciting comedian in the country, bar none.' Times **** 'Lee's latest live show boasts all the trademark brilliance that makes him such a brave, invigorating stand-up' Mail on Sunday ***** '..."Stewart Lee":http://www.stewartlee.co.uk, about as funny as bubonic plague' The Sun There will be no support act for this show.
Monteverdi's Vespers Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11
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Sun 17 Oct 4:00pm Town Hall

Composed 400 years ago and dedicated to Pope Paul V, Monteverdi's sumptuous and monumental Vespers gained him the appointment of maestro di cappella at St Mark’s in Venice. The sparkling vocal and instrumental acrobatics of the work are performed by 10 outstanding singers and an ensemble of some of the UK’s finest period instrument performers. This magnificent work never fails to make an impression and is performed here by Birmingham’s own "Ex Cathedra":http://www.excathedra.co.uk/, the internationally acclaimed Town Hall Associate Artist. Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “Town Hall provides the perfect setting for one of the most extraordinarily beautiful works for voices ever written. A work of such scale had never been heard before in the seventeenth century. No wonder then that this landmark in religious music has stood the test of time.” 2.45pm Pre-concert talk.
*Ex Cathedra Consort & Baroque Ensemble* *His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts* *Jeffery Skidmore* _conductor_
*Monteverdi* 1610 Vespers 100’ There will be one interval and the concert will end at approximately 6pm.
Jeff Beck plus support Trombone Shorty
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Sun 17 Oct 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Following his most successful year ever, Jeff Beck and his band visit Symphony Hall this October. In 2009, not only did Jeff perform all over the world to sold out shows in every city, but he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the 2nd time. In October 2009 Jeff and his band performed an amazing set at Madison Square Garden in New York at the 25th Anniversary Concert of the Rock Hall of Fame. For these performances he was reunited with Stevie Wonder for a special version of _Supersitition_ and joined by Sting, Buddy Guy and Billy Gibbons for an extraordinary rendition of the Beatles' track _A Day in The Life_. The Performance of this song on _Performing Live at Ronnie Scott’s_ DVD gained Jeff a nomination for a 2010 Grammy. Book now for your chance to catch him live.
Lunchtime Organ Concert Michael Schönheit
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Mon 18 Oct 1:00pm Town Hall

*Michael Schönheit* _organist_
*Mendelssohn* Prelude and Fugue in C minor, Op 37 No 1 *J S Bach* Chorale Prelude _Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele_ BWV 654 *Schumann* Fugue No 3 from Six Fugues on BACH, Op 60 *Mendelssohn* Sonata No 6 in D minor, Op 65 *J S Bach* Chorale Prelude _Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit_ BWV 668 *J S Bach* Prelude and Fugue in E flat major BWV 552
Badly Drawn Boy Plus Special Guests
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Mon 18 Oct 7:30pm Town Hall

Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough, visits Town Hall on his first UK tour in three years. The tour marks the release of a trilogy of albums called _It’s What I’m Thinking_, with _Part 1 - Photographing Snowflakes_ released in October. _It's What I'm Thinking_ are the latest additions to a clutch of hit albums including the Mercury Award-winning _The Hour Of Bewilderbeast_ and the soundtrack to the film _About A Boy_.
John Barrowman
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Tue 19 Oct 7:30pm Symphony Hall

John Barrowman returns to Symphony Hall to mark the release of his third solo album, the self-titled _John Barrowman_. His previous appearances have sold out, so book now. John Barrowman is easily one of the most familiar faces on British television and the West End stage. He is best known for playing Captain Jack Harkness in _Torchwood_ and _Doctor Who_. He has also been a judge on the award-winning BBC1 entertainment shows _How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?_, _Any Dream Will Do_ and _I’d Do Anything_.
Julian Lloyd Webber - Arr... Orchestra of the Swan
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Wed 20 Oct 2:30pm Town Hall

Orchestra of the Swan welcomes Julian Lloyd Webber and his wife Jiaxin Cheng for the Vivaldi Double cello concerto. Another famous couple - King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba - feature this lunchtime, whilst Alec Roth’s Departure has a sensuous and erotic lyricism to match the lovers’ embraces.
*Orchestra of the Swan* *Julian Lloyd Webber* _cello_ *Jiaxin Cheng* _cello_ *David Curtis* _conductor_
*Handel* _Arrival of the Queen of Sheba_ *Haydn* Cello Concerto in C *Alec Roth* _Departure of the Queen of Sheba_ *Vivaldi* Double Cello Concerto in D *Haydn* Symphony No 45 _Farewell_
Folk For Free - Boat To R...
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Thu 21 Oct 5:30pm Symphony Hall Foyer Bars

"Boat To Row":http://myspace.com/boattorow front man Michael King enchants audiences, finger picking his way through a romantic acoustic sound that is brimming with delicate honesty. Now signed to Nottingham based label Danger Laser! Phaser! Razor! an EP is due for release in the not too distant future.
The Hollies
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Fri 22 Oct 7:30pm Symphony Hall

In 2010, the Hollies will be honoured by the prestigious American Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame for their impact on the evolution of popular music. Here in Birmingham, their two hour-plus live performance will be a celebration of all things Hollies. Don’t miss it - With more hits than The Beatles these guys are still a force to be reckoned with.
BBC Big Band: Sing Sing S...
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Fri 22 Oct 7:30pm Town Hall

Join virtuoso clarinettist Ken Peplowski, the BBC Big Band and singer Clare Teal for a musical celebration of Benny Goodman, ‘the King of Swing’. Highlights include _Don’t Be That Way_, _Stomping at the Savoy_, _Swingtime in the Rockies_, _Avalon_ and _Why Don’t You Do Right_. Concerts to be recorded for BBC Radio 2’s "Big Band Special":http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/bigband BBC Big Band is a Town Hall Associate Artist
*BBC Big Band* *Clare Teal* _vocals_ *Ken Peplowski* _clarinet_
Joe Satriani Plus special guest Simon McBride
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Sat 23 Oct 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Joe Satriani, one of rock music’s most renowned electric guitarists, visits Symphony Hall this October with very special guest, blues guitarist Simon McBride. A worldwide guitar hero since his 1987 breakthrough album, _Surfing With The Alien_, Joe continues to push the envelope of modern rock guitar playing. His career started by teaching some of the top rock guitar players of the '80s and '90s like Metallica’s Kirk Hammet and virtuoso Steve Vai. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix, he is now universally hailed as one of the most technically accomplished and respected guitar players in the history of rock music.
Marina And The Diamonds Plus Special Guests
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Sat 23 Oct 8:00pm Town Hall

Marina Lambrini Diamandis, better known by her stage name Marina and the Diamonds, is a Welsh singer-songwriter of Greek descent. She rose to fame after reaching number two on the BBC Sound of 2010 poll list, coming second to Ellie Goulding. Now signed to 679 Recordings, she released her debut full-length studio album, _The Family Jewels_, followed by her third extended play, _The American Jewels EP_, in 2010. Diamandis' musical style ranges from keyboard-based ballads to more up-tempo new wave-style songs with full band backing. She has cited a wide-range of influences such as Daniel Johnston, Blondie, The Distillers, Patti Smith, Tom Waits, Nirvana, Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Yann Tiersen, Britney Spears, Elliott Smith, Dolly Parton and Madonna. For more information please visit "Marina and the Diamonds":http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com
Verdi Requiem English Concert Chorus and Orchestra
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Sun 24 Oct 3:00pm Town Hall

The Verdi Requiem is on a grand scale and one of the greatest works in the choral repertoire. It has been described as ‘an opera in clerical garb’ and it evokes not only human feeling but also personal anguish and doubt. Its dramatic power is not mere surface decoration, but flows from a deeply felt conflict between the impersonal assurance of the liturgy and the personal experience of mortality.
*English Concert Singers* *English Concert Chorus* *English Concert Orchestra* *Roy Wales* _conductor_ *Martin Hughes* _leader_ *Helena Dix* _soprano_ *Janet Shell* _mezzo soprano_ *Richard Reaville* _tenor_ *Michael George* _bass_
*Verdi* _Requiem_ There will be an interval.
Al Murray The Pub Landlor... Barrel of Fun
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Sun 24 Oct 8:00pm Symphony Hall

_Al Murray The Pub Landlord_ is back on the road to roll out his _Barrel of Fun_, a brand new stand-up show for 2010. Britain’s best-known Pub Philosopher will be serving up his own special brew of bar room banter at Symphony Hall this autumn. “_The way he integrates the crowd into the show is awe-inspiring_” The Times In 2009, the People’s Publican left over 230,000 of his regulars over-flowing with laughter, on his one-man crusade to fix "Broken Britain". This year you can expect a whole new _Barrel of Fun_, and one thing is certain - there will be no half measures. “_A national treasure_” ***** Daily Telegraph “_Thoroughly recommended_” ***** The Sun "The Pub Landlord":http://thepublandlord.com
Salif Keita No Support
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Mon 25 Oct 8:00pm Town Hall

Salif Keita is one of the true giants of African music. For more than forty years he has been the goldsmith of modern Malian music, crossing musical and cultural frontiers with abandon, meshing rock, funk and jazz with the deepest West African traditions to forge a modern and original African sound. “The golden voice of Africa lifts the hearer as if the whole of human future depended on it.” fRoots

There will be no support act and no interval. The concert will finish at approximately 9.30pm.
UB40 Plus Special Guests
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Tue 26 Oct 7:30pm Symphony Hall

To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of their seminal debut album _Signing Off_, UB40 perform the whole album live at this special concert. Since 1980, UB40 have become one of the most successful reggae groups of all time, with over forty UK Top 40 hits and sales of 80 million records.
Bach's Brandenburg Concer... Birmingham International Concert Season 2010/11
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Tue 26 Oct 7:30pm Town Hall

Bach’s Six _Brandenburg_ Concertos are overflowing with music of supreme energy, tunefulness, good humour and invention. For nearly forty years the Academy of Ancient Music has been at the forefront of Baroque performance, playing 'always with a scholar’s attention to accuracy and a rock musician’s joyous zeal' (Fort Worth Star-Telegram). Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall, says of tonight’s recommended concert: “The Brandenburg Concertos were so named for an ungrateful Marquis who didn’t particularly care for them. Perhaps the minor royal was having a bad day because each of these jewels has something exceptional to offer the listener.” 6.15pm Pre-concert talk: Richard Egarr in conversation with Lyndon Jenkins.
"*Academy of Ancient Music*":http://www.aam.co.uk/ *Richard Egarr* _director/harpsichord_
*J S Bach* The Six Brandenburg Concertos 96’ There will be one interval and the concert will end at approximately 9:30pm.