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Tuned On Seminar: A Musician's Digital Image
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Mon 29 Mar 6:00pm Symphony Hall

Everyone seems to be on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and other social networks. How important is it for those within music to have a digital identity? How important is it for artists and organisations to connect with an audience via the web? Are the traditional methods of media becoming more fashionable? BBC Radio 1 and Asian Network DJ Bobby Friction, Ghetts, who has over two million profile views on MySpace, and Amelia Ideh, who runs the music and lifestyle blog Put Me On It, will discuss the importance of the digital age for musicians looking to build their image.
DJ Bobby Friction Ghetts Amelia Ideh
CBSO Alfie Boe with the CBSO
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Tue 30 Mar 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Whether as the composer of theme tunes from _Blackadder_ to _The Vicar of Dibley_, or as a wonderfully accessible TV champion of classical music in all its forms, Howard Goodall is one of Britain’s best-loved composers. And his new tuneful and deeply moving Requiem, _Eternal Light_, has already become a bestseller. This performance, with star soloists Alfie Boe and Natasha Marsh, will show you why. Alfie Boe also sings Finzi’s radiant masterpiece. 6.15pm. Free pre-concert talk: *Howard Goodall* The popular conductor, composer and broadcaster introduces his new Requiem.
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Simon Halsey* _conductor_ *Natasha Marsh* _soprano_ *Alfie Boe* _tenor_ *William Berger* _baritone_ *CBSO Youth Chorus*
*Holst* Choral Hymns from the _Rig Veda_ 12’ *Finzi* _Dies Natalis_ 25’ *Howard Goodall* _Eternal Light_ (Requiem) 45’
Dan Berglund's Tonbruket Birmingham Jazz 2009/10
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Tue 30 Mar 8:00pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
Centre Stage - Brahms Piano Quartet CBSO Players
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Wed 31 Mar 1:10pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

*Brahms* Piano Quartet in G minor, Op 25
*CBSO Players*
*Brahms* Piano Quartet in G minor, Op 25
The Solid Silver 60s Show
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Wed 31 Mar 7:30pm Symphony Hall

The UK’s original 60s show returns to Symphony Hall in its 25th sensational year. Expect all your favourite 60s hits including _The Crying Game_, _Little Things_, _Sweets for My Sweet_, _Needles & Pins_, _Twist and Shout_, _Do You Love Me_, _Where Do You Go To My Lovely_, _Frozen Orange Juice_, _Wild Thing_, _Love is All Around_, _Hippy Hippy Shake_, _Good Golly Miss Molly_ and many more.
*Dave Berry* *Mike Pender* *Brian Poole* *Peter Sarstedt* Backed by *Vanity Fare* with *Swinging Blue Jeans* and *The Troggs*
CBSO Alfie Boe with the CBSO
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Thu 1 Apr 2:15pm Symphony Hall

Whether as the composer of theme tunes from _Blackadder_ to _The Vicar of Dibley_, or as a wonderfully accessible TV champion of classical music in all its forms, Howard Goodall is one of Britain’s best-loved composers. And his new tuneful and deeply moving Requiem, _Eternal Light_, has already become a bestseller. This performance, with star soloists Alfie Boe and Natasha Marsh, will show you why. Alfie Boe also sings Finzi’s radiant masterpiece. 1.15pm. Free pre-concert talk: *A Century of British Choral Music* Chorus Director Simon Halsey introduces today's choral matinee.
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Simon Halsey* _conductor_ *Natasha Marsh* _soprano_ *Alfie Boe* _tenor_ *William Berger* _baritone_ *CBSO Youth Chorus*
*Holst* Choral Hymns from the _Rig Veda_ 12’ *Finzi* _Dies Natalis_ 25’ *Howard Goodall* _Eternal Light_ (Requiem) 45’
Good Friday St John Passion
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Fri 2 Apr 2:00pm Symphony Hall

This year Symphony Hall develops the long tradition of its Good Friday passion performances by turning to Bach’s St John Passion. Enduring in its emotional appeal, there are few who remain unmoved by the glorious music. BBC Music magazine’s Editor Oliver Condy explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert: _“In a world that often recognises Bach’s St Matthew Passion as the composer’s greatest choral work, his St John has a tricky time getting a look in. But the St John contains some of Bach’s most colourful and emotional music ... this concert will make for a poignant Good Friday.”_
*Ex Cathedra Soloists, Choir and Baroque Orchestra* *Jeffrey Skidmore* _conductor_ *Jeremy Budd* _Evangelist_ *James Rutherford* _Jesus_ *Greg Skidmore* _Pilate_ *Grace Davidson* _Soprano_ *Matthew Vennr* _Alto_ *Samuel Boden* _Tenor_
*J S Bach* St John Passion 115’
Feast of Fiddles
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Mon 5 Apr 7:30pm Town Hall

This concert is part of Feast of Fiddles’ 17th Spring Tour since the band first formed in 1994. What started as an informal get-together for Nettlebed Folk Club has gone from strength to strength with festival appearances at Cropredy, Broadstairs, Jersey, The Great British Beer Festival, Gosport and Marvellous in the Park. The line-up of fiddlers is a compendium of British folk stars: Phil Beer, Garry Blakeley, Ian Cutler, Tom Leary, Chris Leslie, Peter Knight and Brian McNeill are once again joined by Dave Mattacks, Hugh Crabtree, Dave Harding, John Underwood and Martin Vincent. Ticket holders are entitled to a third off the new CD _Walk Before You Fly_, when it is purchased at Town Hall on 5 April 2010.
Phil Beer, Garry Blakeley, Ian Cutler, Tom Leary, Chris Leslie, Peter Knight, Brian McNeill, Dave Mattacks, Hugh Crabtree, Dave Harding, John Underwood and Martin Vincent
ULTRAVOX Return to Eden part 2
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Tue 6 Apr 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Due to phenomenal public demand, Ultravox revisit Symphony Hall, in the aptly named _Return To Eden Part II_, following amazing fan reaction, very high critical acclaim and stellar reviews from the media. The band’s line up of Midge Ure, Chris Cross, Warren Cann and Billy Currie, will only perform 6 shows across the UK. Fans can look forward to the band performing material from all their albums, including _Vienna_, _Rage in Eden_ and _Quartet_ and material not covered in the last tour. Ultravox were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the early 1980s.
The Soldiers - The Coming Home Tour With special guest stars Faryl Smith, Julian Smith and Rock Choir
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Wed 7 Apr 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Following the success of The Soldiers debut album “Coming Home” which has phenomenally dominated the charts, the three serving soldiers will play Symphony Hall this April.
Arun Ghosh Sextet
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Fri 9 Apr 5:30pm Symphony Hall Foyer Bars

Conceived in Calcutta, bred in Bolton, matured in Manchester and living in London, Arun Ghosh’s musical vision and vocabulary reflects his rich geographical heritage. His Indo-Jazz Sextet play original music of South Asian origin with a contemporary jazz attitude, rocking urban beats, and the passion of punk. Sweet and timeless melodies give birth to soaring improvisations and raag explorations, driven by a heady mix of dub-reggae bass, tabla trickery and ferocious drum explosions. _‘What is this fiery music and where does it come from?’_ *Metro* _‘Extraordinary charisma and musicianship and a consistently riveting compositional skill’_ *Jazzwise* _‘A charismatic figure with a future’_ *The Guardian*
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Mother India Weekend)
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Fri 9 Apr 7:00pm Town Hall

The weekend’s journey starts at the pinnacle of the Indian classical tradition, with a rare UK recital by santoor maestro Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, one of its greatest living exponents.
*Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Master of Santoor* With *Pandit Anindo Chatterjee*, _tabla_ *Rupinder Panesar* _sitar_ With *Upneet Dhadyalla* _tabla_
Dennis Locorriere with special guests Andy Fairweather Low & the Low Riders
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Fri 9 Apr 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Dennis Locorriere, lead singer on all the Dr Hook classic hits, notched up over 60 gold and platinum albums along the way. He now has a successful contemporary solo career with solo releases, international tours and major appearances at festivals, including Glastonbury and Cropredy. This concert sees him joined by his own band and coincides with the release of his latest CD _Post Cool_. Andy Fairweather Low enjoyed pop stardom as lead singer with Amen Corner, followed by a worldwide solo career. A fantastic guitar player, Andy has played with major stars including Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. Andy recently reignited his solo career releasing two CDs and a live DVD, and now tours regularly with his own band.
Mid-day Mantra - Sanchita Pal
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Sat 10 Apr 1:00pm Symphony Hall Foyer Bars

Mid-day Mantra is a new free series presenting music from Mother India to uplift the spirit on a Saturday lunchtime. Escape the hurly-burly, as once a month we present outstanding Asian artists from the UK and the Indian subcontinent in relaxed, informal sessions. Chill out, take your shoes off, close your eyes and experience the richness and variety of Mother India’s musical heritage - with a few surprises and fusions thrown in for good measure! The Mid-day Mantra series opens with the magical singing of North Indian classical vocalist Sanchita Pal, who has performed extensively in India, Europe and the UK. Her voice has been used for a number of programmes by Channel Four, BBC TV and All India Radio. She is accompanied by internationally renowned tabla player Sarvar Sabri.
*Sanchita Pal* _Indian vocals_ *Sarvar Sabri* _tabla_ Tbc _harmonium_
Go West The 25th Anniversary Concert
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Sat 10 Apr 7:30pm Symphony Hall

In 2010 Go West will celebrate 25 years since their debut single _We Close Our Eyes_ was released. The song reached number four in the UK charts, and became a top ten hit in the USA. Their debut self-titled album, Go West sold 1.5 million copies worldwide and established the pair not just as a chart force but as one of the great singer/songwriter duos to emerge in the 80s. In 1992 their fourth album _Indian Summer_ was more mellow, justifying more than ever their early description by legendary producer Arif Mardin as _modern Motown_. This album contained their single _The King Of Wishful Thinking_, the opening song in the hugely successful film Pretty Woman as well as the hit _Faithful_.
Amaan & Ayaan Ali Khan (Mother India Weekend)
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Sat 10 Apr 7:30pm Town Hall

‘A bold and searching cross-cultural experiment between a Western classical cellist and top exponents of the sarod.’ Songlines Magazine on Strings Attached, best albums of 2003 ‘Matthew Barley . . . is a classical cellist who really can improvise with the masters . . . lush, arch-like cello melodies sit alongside decorative filigree on the sarod. Audibly inspired, the players pick up one another’s phrases and reinterpret them in their own way to end in dazzling fireworks.’ Evening Standard on the CD Strings Attached
*Amaan Ali Khan* _sarod_ *Ayaan Ali Khan* _sarod_ *Matthew Barley* _cello_
Django Bates and The Beloved Bird Trio Birmingham Jazz 2009/10
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Sat 10 Apr 8:00pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

More details to follow shortly
Mother India - 21st Century Remix
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Sun 11 Apr 7:30pm Town Hall

A dynamic audio-visual project that revisits the groundbreaking tour-de-force of Indian cinema, Mother India (1957). Experimental, yet true to the source, the film has been specially re-cut and remixed exclusively for this performance. DJ Tigerstyle, one of the world's leading Turntablists and electronic composers, reinterprets the score live for a contemporary audience. He is accompanied by the prodigious talents of cellist Matt Constantine, drummer David Shaw and visual editor Josh Ford. Post-show conversation between audience and artists led by Indy Hunjan from producers Kala Phool.
*DJ Tigerstyle* *Matt Constantine* _cello_ *David Shaw* _drums_ *Josh Ford* _visual editor_
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert: Leon McCawley
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Mon 12 Apr 1:00pm Town Hall

2010 is the centenary of the birth of American composer Samuel Barber. BBC Radio 3 marks that anniversary with a series of lunchtime concerts at Town Hall, which place Barber’s chamber music in context with some of his contemporaries and influences. This afternoon one of England’s finest young pianists performs.
*Leon McCawley* _piano_ *Barber Nocturne* Op 33 *Chopin* Sonata in B flat minor, Op 35 *Chopin* Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op 27 No 1 *Barber* Sonata for Piano, Op 26
CBSO Pictures at an Exhibition
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Wed 14 Apr 7:30pm Symphony Hall

When Maurice Ravel arranged Mussorgsky’s _Pictures at an Exhibition_ for orchestra, he created one of the few adaptations that’s better than the original! From its famous opening _Promenade_ to the roof-raising final _Great Gate of Kiev_, it’s one of the all-time great orchestral showpieces, a glittering Russian jewel-box full of spicy tunes and unforgettable images. It’s a real CBSO favourite - and Dvorák's riotous _Carnival Overture_ is every bit as colourful. The great open spaces of Beethoven’s noble violin concerto will be like an oasis of calm - especially in the masterly hands of the young German virtuoso Isabelle Faust.
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Andrew Grams* _conductor_ *Isabelle Faust* _violin_
*Dvořák* _Carnival_ Overture 8’ *Beethoven* Violin Concerto 42’ *Mussorgsky (orch. Ravel)* _Pictures at an Exhibition_ 32’