What's On — All events

Lunchtime Organ Concert Thomas Trotter

Mon 2 Nov 2009 1:00pm Symphony Hall

*Handel* Organ Concerto Op 4 No 2 *Bach* Prelude & Fugue in D minor BWV539 *Barber* Variations on _Wondrous Love_ *Katya Kulkova* Stalactites (winner of the 2009 Choir & Organ Composition Competition) *Wagner* Overture, Rienzi (arr. Lemare)
CBSO Youth Orchestra - Pi...

Sun 1 Nov 2009 7:00pm Symphony Hall

Premiered amidst the gunfire of wartime Moscow, Prokofiev declared that his Fifth Symphony celebrated “the greatness of the human spirit”. Ernö Dohnányi, meanwhile was simply out to poke fun - his irresistible Nursery Tune Variations gleefully parody everyone from Mozart to Mahler! Both pieces could have been written for the energy and verve of the CBSO’s Youth Orchestra. This new work from the rising British star Luke Bedford, meanwhile, actually was. Hopefully tonight’s premiere will go off more peacefully than Prokofiev’s - though with the young Danish maestro Thomas Søndergård at the helm, expect some serious thrills from our superb young players. 5.45pm Free pre-concert talk: *Premiere! - Luke Bedford* Young British composer Luke Bedford introduces his new work for the CBSO Youth Orchestra, in conversation with Simon Webb. "www.cbso.co.uk":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*CBSO Youth Orchestra* *Thomas Søndergård* _conductor_ *Martin Roscoe* _piano_
*Bedford* Più Mosso (world premiere) 10’ *Dohnányi* Variations on a Nursery Tune 25’ *Prokofiev* Symphony No 5 44’
Festival of Remembrance Salute to the 202 Field Hospital (M) - 57th Midlands Festival of Remembrance

Sun 1 Nov 2009 6:30pm Town Hall

The annual gathering to honour all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country.
*Band of The Parachute Regiment* *Alcester Male Voice Choir*
Halloween Silent Movie Sp...

Sat 31 Oct 2009 7:30pm Town Hall

The vintage era of silent cinema recreated in a vintage venue. Renowned cinema organist Nigel Ogden improvises an accompaniment to Lon Chaney’s legendary performance as the mad, vengeful recluse seated at his organ in the bowels of the Paris Opera House. Fancy dress to impress - prize for the best costume Audience members brave enough to attend may find themselves next to a bloodthirsty vampire or disfigured zombie, as contenders for most frightful costume of the night vie for the prize of £50 of Town Hall Symphony Hall gift vouchers and a bottle of champagne. Certificate PG.
Tim Minchin: Ready for Th... Over 16s yrs only

Sat 31 Oct 2009 7:30pm Symphony Hall

After a sold out perfomance at Town Hall in September Tim Minchin lugs his piano back out to Symphony Hall to give those poor souls who missed out another chance to see his biting and brilliant show. Back from a massive Australian tour, Tim wants to know if you are Ready For This, without really specifying what this is. In London, they reckon he's the "Next big thing in musical comedy" *Time Out* and _"The best musical comedian since Bill Bailey"_ *The Times* In Melbourne, they say he's _"Witty, smart and unabashedly offensive"_ *The Age* In New York, they call him _Dazzlingly daffy... so refreshing"_ *NY Times* In Norway, they say _"Tim Minchin er noe av det morsomste jeg har sett noen gang."_ *Stavanger* Winner: Perrier Award for Best Newcomer, Edinburgh 2005 Winner: Festival Director's Award, Melbourne 2005 Winner: Best Alternative Comedian, US Comedy Arts Festival 2007
Wishbone Ash With special guests The Hamsters

Fri 30 Oct 2009 8:00pm Town Hall

Twin guitar pioneers *Wishbone Ash* celebrating 40 years on the road. Plus very special guests *The Hamsters*, The hardest working blues/rock band in the UK
CBSO Friday Night Classic...

Fri 30 Oct 2009 7:30pm Symphony Hall

From blockbuster to blockbuster, tonight’s concert is a celebration of great film themes with live symphony orchestra, as you’ve never heard them before. Travel across the stars with an unbeatable line-up featuring the music of John Williams and the amazing film-score writers that influenced him. "www.cbso.co.uk":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *John Wilson* _conductor_
Including music from: _Star Wars_ - _The Sea Hawk_ - _The Philadelphia Story_ - _Jaws_ - _Taxi Driver_ - _E.T_. - _Airport_ - _Ben Hur_ - _Catch Me If You Can_ - _Schindler’s List_ - _Close Encounters of the Third Kind_ - _Superman_
Sam Crockatt Quartet

Fri 30 Oct 2009 5:30pm Symphony Hall Foyer Bars

Sam is one of the best young saxophonists to emerge on the UK scene for many years, with his recent album _Howeird_ being described as 'delightful and intensely listenable'.
Tchaikovsky and Dvor&aacu...

Thu 29 Oct 2009 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Style and authenticity just ooze from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Dvořák himself conducted this orchestra’s first concert and the highlight of tonight’s programme is his grandly tragic Seventh Symphony. Superstar of the violin, Nicola Benedetti, is a regular visitor to Symphony Hall and joins the orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s heart-warming Violin Concerto.
*Czech Philharmonic Orchestra* *Jakub Hrusa* _conductor_ *Nicola Benedetti* _violin_
*Janáček* _Taras Bulba_ *Tchaikovsky* Violin Concerto *Dvořák* Symphony No 7
The Royal Television Soci...

Thu 29 Oct 2009 7:10pm Town Hall

The annual Royal Television Society awards are a major highlight in the media industry calendar. For 2009, the all-star RTS Midlands Awards is open to the public for the first time. Taking place at Town Hall Birmingham on Thursday 29 October, hosted by Channel 4 News Anchor, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, come along to enjoy the best of the region’s television and media talent, spot familiar faces and be entertained by some surprise guests!
The RAF in Concert

Wed 28 Oct 2009 7:30pm Symphony Hall

A memorable evening is guaranteed as leading RAF musicians present a magical mix of popular classics from the stage and screen, rousing military music plus big band numbers performed by the legendary swing band The Squadronaires. The 2009 Royal Air Force in Concert tour welcomes back popular soloist Flight Lieutenant Matthew Little and singer Emma Kershaw who will sprinkle the evening with some West End stardust, singing songs from Les Miserables and Cabaret before sharing the stage for a ‘secret’ 007 medley! Compered by Radio 2 broadcaster Lynn Bowles, the Royal Air Force in Concert includes toe-tapping Glenn Miller melodies and an Armed Forces Salute, featuring popular theme tunes from some of the greatest war movies ever including _The Great Escape_ and _A Bridge Too Far_. Add to these timeless classics by _Vivaldi, Elgar_ and _Rossini_ as well as more contemporary pieces from stage and screen and there is all the ingredients for a perfect night out for all the family. The Royal Air Force in Concert is held in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, which helps fund projects and initiatives that inspire young people to be ‘air-minded’, improve the well-being of current Service personnel as well as assisting the wider RAF family of charities.
An Evening with Ludovico ... The Nightbook Tour

Tue 27 Oct 2009 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Ludovico Einaudi presents his new project _Nightbook_ which is a musical meditation on the transition between light and darkness, the known and the unknown. Expressive and with a more open compositional structure, sonic colours are created through the close blending of the piano with the strings and percussion, and from the use of electronics which amplifly the sound of the piano, projecting it like a shadow in all directions. The project grew out of the ideas and ‘musical sketches’ that Einaudi jotted down in a notebook whilst on tour around the world. Einaudi describes the project as _“A night-time landscape. A garden faintly visible under the dull glow of the night sky. A few stars dotting the darkness above, shadows of the trees all around. Light shining from a window behind me. What I can see is familiar, but it seems alien at the same time. It’s like a dream - anything may happen.”_ The album _Nightbook_ will be released in the Autumn.
CBSO Haydn 200: I

Tue 27 Oct 2009 7:30pm Town Hall

Beethoven may have been Haydn’s most rebellious student, but he never forgot what he’d learned. Beethoven’s Second is a flamboyant homage to Haydn from a young man in a hurry, a controlled explosion of wit, panache and pure creative energy. It’s the perfect complement to Haydn’s elegant concerto. Hear where Beethoven got his ideas, with one of the magnificent symphonies Haydn wrote specially for the British public: grandeur, humour, and a slow movement to die for! 6.15pm Free pre-concert talk: *The Player’s Perspective - Beethoven’s Second* CBSO violinist David Gregory reveals the inside story of Beethoven’s sunniest symphony. "CBSO Website":http://www.cbso.co.uk
*City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra* *Giovanni Antonini* conductor *Dejan Lazić* piano
*Haydn* Symphony No 102 26’ *Haydn* Piano Concerto in D major 20’ *Beethoven* Symphony No 2 34’
The Proclaimers Plus support Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls

Mon 26 Oct 2009 7:30pm Symphony Hall

lt's 22 years since The Proclaimers released their first album _This Is The Story_. Strikingly individual, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid have over the years enjoyed huge successes across the globe. They have carved a niche for themselves where pop, folk, new wave and punk collide as the emotional honesty, political fire, wit and sing-along raucousness of their songs and their extensive touring has enlightened and entertained fans new and old. 2007 saw The Proclaimers play their biggest ever UK tour and collaborate for Comic Relief with Peter Kay and their number one fan Matt Lucas, to top the charts with their classic anthem _I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)_. 2009 sees the twins and band back on the road following the June release for their new album _Notes & Rhymes_.
Lunchtime Organ Concert Peter King

Mon 26 Oct 2009 1:00pm Town Hall

*Guilmant* March on a Theme of Handel *Mozart* Piano Duet Sonata in D, K381 (arr. Best) *Mendelssohn* Prelude & Fugue in E minor (arr. Best) *Hollins* Song of Sunshine *Karg-Elert* Homage to Handel - 54 Variations on a Ground Bass
*Peter King* organ
Gilbert O'Sullivan - no s...
Cancelled
Sun 25 Oct 2009 8:00pm Symphony Hall

A huge star in the seventies, Gilbert O’Sullivan had numerous successful albums and singles including Alone Again (Naturally) which spent six weeks at no 1 in the US. He has continued to make music and, flying in the face of the fashion for other artists of his era, he has refused to be drawn into the world of nostalgia package tours, reality TV shows and the world of celebrity. Recently his music has been heard in films and TV shows such as The Virgin Suicides, The Simpsons and Life On Mars.
Handel's Israel in Egypt Birmingham Festival Choral Society

Sun 25 Oct 2009 7:30pm Town Hall

Based on the Book of Exodus, Handel's forgotten gem features virtuosic double choruses depicting plagues of hailstones, blood and fire, with the eventual triumph of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. This dramatic oratorio is surely a genuine delight for Handel devotees.
*Philippa Hyde* soprano *David Allsopp* counter-tenor *Joshua Ellicott* tenor *James Birchall* bass *Andrew Kidd* bass *Patrick Larley* conductor *ESO Chamber Orchestra*
Flamenco Birmingham prese...

Sat 24 Oct 2009 7:30pm Book through our ticket office for CBSO Centre

A captivating double-bill featuring the UK debut of acclaimed Uruguayan tango singer José-Luis Barreto with French pianist Stéphane Spira, alongside eminent Birmingham-based flamenco dancer Ana Garcia and the musicians of Asín. Dubbed as “the alter ego of Carlos Gardel” by Le Monde, Jose-Luis presents a distinctive and dramatic interpretation of some of the most beautiful tangos, including Piazolla, Gardel, Discepolo and original musical arrangements by Spira. Ana and Asín will perform a striking programme of traditional flamenco, original compositions by guitarist David Shepherd and a collaborative ‘vidalita’ with José-Luis.

Flamenco-Birmingham Presents: Tanguisímo - José-Luis Barreto and Ana García
Birmingham Bach Choir - I...

Sat 24 Oct 2009 7:30pm Symphony Hall

Mozart composed his ‘Great’ Mass in C minor to celebrate his marriage to Constanza Weber in 1782. Although unfinished at the time, it is performed today with the recent, convincing and acclaimed completion by Robert Levin, as the second in our series of Inspiring Masses.
*Birmingham Bach Choir* *English Chamber Orchestra* *Paul Spicer* Conductor *Nicki Kennedy* Soprano *Ida Falk Winland* Soprano *Robert Murray* Tenor *Simon Lobelson* Bass
*Mozart* Mass in C Minor K427 (Levin Completion)
175TH Birthday Salsa Ball...

Sat 24 Oct 2009 7:00pm Town Hall

Dance has always played a prominent part in the life of Town Hall, particulary in the post-war all-night jazz balls, but it’s the hip sounds of salsa that get the joint jumping in 2009, with legendary Grupo X All-Stars and compere Rohan Brown. *PLEASE NOTE: The Salsa Ball lasts 7 hours and finishes at 2am British Summer Time and is unaffected by the clocks going back.*