WE delve into the cultural world of classical concerts to bring you a definitive list of what to see and do during the coming months. There is no need to travel to Vienna to be inspired by the masterpieces of great European composers when they’re right on your doorstep. Provided is a comprehensive list of traditional compositions by the great names as well as something different and contemporary...
MARCH
Bridgewater Hall
The Hallé
Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 March, 7.30pm, £10 - £36
Led by conducter Sir Mark Elder, the concert opens with ‘Papa’ Haydn’s life-affirming London Symphony - the composer’s musical response to the excitement of city life is entertaining, surprising and ever-eloquent.
Manchester Arena
Alfie Boe
Saturday 23 March, 7.30pm, £25 - £47.50
After selling out his 23 date UK tour in 2012, Alfie Boe, one of the most recognisable contemporary names in Opera, comes back to Manchester. 2012 was a big year which included an appearance in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert as well as the sale of 750,000 copies of his albums Bring Him Home and Alfie. Support comes in the form of the extremely talented Emilia Mituka.
Christ Church
Maestro: 200 years of romance and drama. A gala to celebrate Verdi
Saturday 30 March, 7.30pm, £12
It's been 200 years since the birth of the grand composer Giuseppe Verdi and to celebrate, Christ Church in Didsbury has decided to hold a gala night in his honour. Included within the ticket price is a free glass of wine. How else would anyone want to spend the evening while sopranos such as Benedetta Orsi perform a number of Verdi favourites?
Tickets available on the door.
APRIL
Bridgewater Hall
The Hallé
Saturday 13 April, 7.30pm, £10 - £36
Internationally-renowned singers Angelika Kirchschlager and Jacques Imbrailo are the soloists in Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn, a highly original and richly contrasted song cycle based on German folk poetry.
Bridgewater Hall
The Hallé
Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 and Sunday 21 April, 7.30pm, £10 - £36
Organist Jonathan Scott performs, beginning with one of the four overtures Beethoven composed for his only opera Fidelio. The work contains quotations from the opera itself and powerfully conveys in microcosm its overall progression from darkness to light.
Royal Northern College of Music
Mozart’s Requiem and Gounod’s St Cecelia Mass by East Lancs Sinfonia
Sunday 21 April, 7pm, £14
This production is brought to you by a choir of an international cast of soloists with the help of 130 voices and the backing of East Lancs Sinfonia. The Royal Northern College of Music is one of the most respected venues in Manchester and always provides an excellent experience. Tickets will be available on the night for this event so get there early if you don’t want to miss this excellent piece by Mozart.
Tickets available on the door.
Manchester Opera House
Tosca by Chisinau National Philharmonic Orchestra
Friday 26 April, 7.30pm, £10 - £39.50
Having already appeared at the Royal Albert Hall, Opera & Ballet International perform Ellen Kent’s production of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca to the backdrop of Chisinau National Philharmonic Orchestra. The highly acclaimed soprano Elena Dee takes us through the treachery, pain and love of the popular opera.
Manchester Opera House
Carmen
Saturday 27 April, 7.30pm, £15 - £35
If you are still not fulfilled by what Ellen Kent has to offer then you’ll be happy to see the same cast walk out to perform Carmen. First performed in 1875, the world renowned Carmen hits the Manchester opera house this April. Set in Seville, we are taken through the story of a gypsy girl (Nadia Stoinava) not content with the one man, Don Jose. This eventually leads to murder, passion and jealousy.
MAY
Bridgewater Hall
BBC Philharmonic
Thursday 9 May, 7.30pm, £10 - £34
Igor Stravinsky has gone down in history as one of the most influential classical composers. Juanjo Mena, still in his first season with the company, takes us through one of the most identifiable pieces of music the world has witnessed since it was first released 100 years ago, The Rite of Spring.
The Odeon
Midsummer Night’s Dream by The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Sunday 19 May, 6.30pm, £10 - £12.50
Live from Berlin, Claudio Abbado conducts us through a production of William Shakespeare’s famous play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The classic play takes us into a world filled with fairies and love potions. For hundreds of years the play has been retold but now A Midsummer Night’s Dream makes its way to one of Manchester’s biggest screens. Included in the live broadcast are introductory interviews and behind the scenes footage.
The Bridgewater Hall
Hallé Thursday Series
Thursday 23 May, 7.30pm, £10 - £36
The Hallé Thursday Series aims to represent the widest range of repertoire, whether acknowledged symphonic masterpieces, neglected works or new music. Paul Lewis is internationally recognised as one of the leading pianists of his generation. An acclaimed interpreter of the classical repertoire, here he performs Mozart’s exquisite A major concerto.
JUNE
The Bridgewater Hall
An HD Odyssey: The Earth and the Planets by The London Philharmonic Orchestra
Wednesday 26 June, 7.30pm, £15
For the unconventional crowd, we recommend something that would have Brian Cox weak in the knees. Aided by actual footage from NASA missions, Duncan Copp shows all the natural wonders within our solar system. This award-winning production is making its European premiere and features scores by John Adams and Gustav Holst performed by the London Philharmonic.
