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Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto
Wed 29 Oct Symphony Hall
Bruckner’s majestic, spiritually uplifting symphonies are perfectly suited to the grand open spaces of Symphony Hall’s world-famous acoustics, and there are few symphonies grander than Bruckner’s Sixth, premiered by none other than Gustav Mahler. Mendelssohn’s effervescent concerto is on a far more modest scale, but its soaring melodies have assured it a firm place in the repertoire for more than a century and a half. It’s played tonight by the 2002 BBC Young Musician of the Year. 6.15pm Pre-concert talk - Bruckner’s Sixth Stephen Johnson, broadcaster and author of Bruckner Remembered talks about this great late-Romantic symphony.
James Gaffigan - conductor Jennifer Pike - violin
Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro - Overture 4’ Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto 27’ Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 54’
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The RAF in Concert 2008
Thu 30 Oct Symphony Hall
Join us for an irresistible musical journey to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force. A nostalgic and uplifting evening is guaranteed thanks to a wonderful blend of light classics, jazz, big band and music from the shows, performed by the critically-acclaimed musicians of the Royal Air Force. With a triumphant finale, reminiscent of the Last Night of the Proms, this rousing night out is an ideal gift or family outing. Conductor: Wing Commander Stuart Stirling Seat Prices: £13.50, £16.50, £19.50 10% discount for Groups of 10 or more Concert in Support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.
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Celebrity Piano Recital: Paul Lewis
Thu 30 Oct Town Hall
Few other pianists have identified themselves so closely with the great Viennese classics as Paul Lewis. A protégé of the legendary Alfred Brendel, his award-winning recordings of the Schubert Sonatas have been highly acclaimed. Tonight he combines Schubert’s majestic G major Sonata with two of Mozart’s most profound piano works and Ligeti’s scintillating _Musica ricercata_, parts of which were used in Stanley Kubrick’s film _Eyes Wide Shut_. This is a chance to hear at first hand one of today’s most celebrated young pianists. 6.15 Pre-concert talk: Paul Lewis in conversation Tickets £5-£20
*Mozart* Fantasia in C minor, K475 12’ *Ligeti* Musica ricercata-11 Pieces for Piano 27’ *Mozart* Rondo in A minor, K511 9’ *Schubert* Sonata in G major, D894 30’
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CBSO Youth Orchestra
Fri 31 Oct Symphony Hall
Even by Mahler’s own standards, his Seventh Symphony is extraordinary. He called it a “song of the night”, though it ends in roof-raising jubilation. But first comes a fantastic journey through a world of dreams, nightmares, moonlit lovesongs and romance. It’s a whole new musical world - so who better to play it than our renowned Youth Orchestra, under the brilliant Dutch maestro Jac van Steen? If you heard the CBSO Youth Orchestra’s stunning performances of Nielsen and Bartók last season, you’ll know to expect an unforgettable evening as our superb young players tackle their most challenging programme yet. bq.These committed and gifted youngsters produced performances which would put many professional bodies to shame, with crisp articulation, impressively accurate intonation, but, above all, a depth of tone and confidence of phrasing which really denotes an ensemble of the highest class.bq. Musical Opinion
Jac van Steen - conductor
Mahler: Symphony No. 7 80’
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Halloween Silent Movie Special: Nosferatu
Fri 31 Oct Town Hall
*Certificate 12* *Nigel Ogden* Spine-tingling improvised organ accompaniment One of the earliest film adaptations of Dracula, this 1922 creepy cult classic spawned a legion of horror movies. The flesh-crawling Count Orlok, played by Max Schreck, is the stuff of nightmares! Duration approximately 88 minutes with no interval.
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Family Event: Pied Piper Workshop & Concert
Sat 1 Nov Town Hall
Atarah and the Fizzy Flute Band invite children aged 3 • 10 to bring ANY instrument, even home-made ones and toys, to join them in rehearsing and then performing the story in music of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. A hands-on workshop/concert that will keep even the family fidget busy, tapping rhythms, booing the Wicked Mayor, cheering the Piper and squeaking with the Rats, while children play simple tunes and sound effects as the story progresses. No preparation necessary. Adults £5, 60 plus £4.50, Under 16s £2.50 Family Ticket (minimum 1 adult) £12 The concert lasts approximately one hour and then, after an interval, Atarah will be in the foyer to meet and greet audience members.
Devised and presented by Atarah Ben-Tovim MBE
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Ralph McTell and The Dylan Project
Sat 1 Nov Town Hall
This gala double bill features Ralph McTell, one of Britain's best-loved singersongwriters. Ralph will perform a solo set from his self-penned repertoire of great songs and this will be his only Midlands concert in 2008. The Dylan Project stars Birmingham's very own Steve Gibbons with PJ Wright, Phil Bond, and Fairport Convention's Dave Pegg and Gerry Conway.
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Midlands Festival of Rememberance
Sun 2 Nov Town Hall
The annual gathering to pay tribute to those who have given their lives in the service of their country. This year, the Festival marks the centenary of the Territorial Army. £5, £10, £15 Please send ticket applications to Frank Manning, 22 Lambeth Road, Birmingham, B44 9NS or francism@globalnet.co.uk; after 10 September. Tickets are also available from the Town Hall and Symphony Hall Box Office.
*Royal Artillery Band* *Alcester Male Voice Choir*
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Lunchtime Organ Concert - Thomas Trotter (3rd Nov)
Mon 3 Nov Symphony Hall
The City Organist plays Tomkins’ Worster Brawls, Susato’s Saltarelle and more before concluding with Rossini’s stirring William Tell Overture. Admission from 12.30pm. Programme lasts approximately one hour. Thomas Trotter is a Town Hall Associate Artist.
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Elgar’s Cello Concerto
Tue 4 Nov Symphony Hall
Composed during the blitz and premiered at the 1943 Proms, Vaughan Williams’ serene Fifth Symphony seems like a retreat from the real world to an imagined paradise. Elgar’s equally lyrical Cello Concerto, composed in 1919, also feels like a reaction against the horrors of wartime. Vernon Handley, such a tireless champion of English music, precedes these two masterpieces with a musical fairytale by Granville Bantock, who did so much for Birmingham’s musical life and was instrumental in the founding of the CBSO in 1920. 6.15pm Pre-concert talk - Vaughan Williams’ Fifth Baz Chapman - Programme Director of Sing Up - shares his enthusiasm for Vaughan Williams’ great wartime symphony.
Vernon Handley - conductor Anne Gastinel - cello
Bantock: The Witch of Atlas 15’ Elgar: Cello Concerto 26’ Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5 42’
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Elgar’s Cello Concerto
Wed 5 Nov Symphony Hall
Composed during the blitz and premiered at the 1943 Proms, Vaughan Williams’ serene Fifth Symphony seems like a retreat from the real world to an imagined paradise. Elgar’s equally lyrical Cello Concerto, composed in 1919, also feels like a reaction against the horrors of wartime. Vernon Handley, such a tireless champion of English music, precedes these two masterpieces with a musical fairytale by Granville Bantock, who did so much for Birmingham’s musical life and was instrumental in the founding of the CBSO in 1920. 1.15pm Pre-concert talk - Vaughan Williams’ Fifth Baz Chapman - Programme Director of Sing Up - shares his enthusiasm for Vaughan Williams’ great wartime symphony.
Vernon Handley - conductor Anne Gastinel - cello
Bantock: The Witch of Atlas 15’ Elgar: Cello Concerto 26’ Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5 42’
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Centre Stage CBSO Players
Thu 6 Nov Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre
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Celebrity Recital: John Williams
Thu 6 Nov Symphony Hall
One of today’s greatest guitarists, John Williams’s restless questing spirit has led him to work in virtually every genre, from classical to cross-over, jazz to rock, Bach to Beatles. A legend in his own lifetime, he has attracted admiration and controversy but never indifference. His recital at Symphony hall is keenly anticipated - book now. Tickets £5-£20
PROGRAMME: ANTONIO VIVALDI Concerto Op.3, No.9 DOMENICO SCARLATTI Two Sonatas ENRIQUE GRANADOS Valses Poeticos ISAAC ALBENIZ Torre Bermeja JOHN WILLIAMS Notes in the Margin INTERVAL AGUSTIN BARRIOS MANGORE La Catedral JOHN WILLIAMS Prelude to a Song/ Open End/ Song without Words/ Hello Francis ENNIO MORRICONE Cinema Paradiso (theme) STANLEY MYERS The Deer Hunter (Cavatina) JOHN T. WILLIAMS Schindler's List (theme) PETER SCULTHORPE Djilile TURLOUGH O'CAROLAN Carolan's Concerto and traditional Irish tunes
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The Temptations plus support
Fri 7 Nov Symphony Hall
Since the early 1960s The Temptations have thrilled crowds with the likes of Get Ready, Papa Was A Rollin Stone, I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, You’re My Everything, Just My Imagination, My Girl and Treat Her Like A Lady. Their enduring style of lead vocals and emotive harmonies combined with stylish choreography has earned them the crown of Emperors of Soul.
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The Salsa Ball in association with SalsaFever.com
Sat 8 Nov Town Hall
Go Latin in Birmingham at one of the finest music halls in the country. An evening of salsa grooves from the UK’s hottest salsa band. Award-winning Alex Wilson is at the helm of his renowned 12-piece Salsa Orchestra, a scintillating line-up of the best contemporary salsa rhythm, brass and vocal musicians, for the Midlands launch of his new album. Before the full salsa showdown, loosen up those Latino limbs in the hands of our host Rohan Brown and expert instructors from Salsafever. com, with free classes and salsa DJs from 8pm onwards. _‘Alex Wilson has been slaying ‘em with his authentic, exciting Afro-Cuban’ _ *Mojo* _‘It’s tempting to wear a hat to his gigs just to be able to throw it up in the air!’_ *Guardian* £18.50 Dress to impress • black tie preferred but not essential.
Alex Wilson Salsa Orchestra
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Family Concert: Steps in Time
Sun 9 Nov Symphony Hall
Time travelling across the musical universe is the theme for today’s family concert! Our own real-life Doctor Who, in the form of popular presenter Alasdair Malloy, will keep the CBSO stepping in time with a selection of dances from across the ages. So forget about two left feet and get with the beat in an afternoon packed with numbers conjuring up twinkling toes for waltzes, courtly dances, marches and sambas, including music by Walton, Mozart, Arnold, Dvorák and Piazzolla. Why not come along dressed as your favourite kind of dancer? FREE CREATIVE WORKSHOPS AND MUSIC in the foyers from 1.30pm
David Danzmayr - conductor Alasdair Malloy - presenter
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Lunchtime Organ Concert - Peter Gould
Mon 10 Nov Town Hall
The Derby Cathedral Organist performs Jongen’s Cantabile, Dubois’ Fiat Lux, Fletcher’s Toccata and more. Admission from 12.30pm. Programme lasts approximately one hour.
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BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime
Wed 12 Nov Town Hall
*Thomas Gould* Violin *John Reid* Piano
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John Martyn plus support
Wed 12 Nov Town Hall
This year legendary singer-songwriter John Martyn received the lifetime achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Martyn was presented the award by his friend Phil Collins and in a special message, Eric Clapton described Martyn as: "So far ahead of everything, it's almost inconceivable." Martyn has romanced generation after generation for more than 40 years with his powerfully heartfelt song-writing, as relevant now as ever, thanks to the homage paid by a new movement of folk artists. Fuelled by his huge voice and staggering guitar playing, there is always a near-religious intensity to a John Martyn show. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see the Scottish song-writing genius. £24.50
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Romeo and Juliet
Thu 13 Nov Symphony Hall
Popular CBSO guest Andrew Litton returns with a colourful programme featuring two brilliant musical responses to Shakespeare: Walton’s score for Laurence Olivier’s 1944 film of Henry V, together with highlights from Prokofiev’s ever-popular ballet (currently featured as the music for the BBC series _The Apprentice_) premiered six years earlier. Barber’s gloriously lyrical Violin Concerto, composed between these two works, receives its first-ever CBSO performance, played by a dazzling American soloist.
Andrew Litton - conductor Anne Akiko Meyers - violin
Walton: Henry V - Suite 15’ Barber: Violin Concerto 25’ Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (highlights) 50’
