| Opera productions & Classical Performances | | |
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CBSO
- BRAVE NEW WORLD (Civic
Hall) |
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Wednesday 4th February 2009 - 7.45pm |
| City
of Birmingham Symphony Hall perform Prokofiev's
Classical Symphony No.1, Rachmaninov's Rhapsody
on a Theme of Pagnini & Dvorak's Symphony
No.9 from the New World. With conductor Michal
Dworzynski and soloist Alexander Kobrin. (back
to top) |
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to
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civic
hall |
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0844
847 2277 |
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A
VIENNESE STRAUSS GALA (Alexandra
Theatre) |
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| Monday
23rd February 2008 - 7.30pm |
Re-creating
the nostalgia and romance of the Viennese
Festive season, this show introduces the
audience to a by-gone age of glamorous soiree’s
and Strauss waltzes and comprises highlights
from some of the great operettas of Strauss,
Kalman and Lehar, including Die Fleidermaus,
The Merry Widow and many more. This fascinating
show has received rave reviews and delighted
audiences all over the country.
Tickets on sale from Friday September
19th at 10am. (back
to top) |
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to
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alexandra
theatre |
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0844
847 2277 |
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HALLE
ORCHESTRA - FROM BRUCH TO BEETHOVEN (Civic
Hall) |
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Saturday 28th February 2009 - 7pm |
| Manchester's
Halle Orchestra performs Strvinsky's Divertimento
from The Fairy's Kiss, Bruch's Violin Concerto
No.1 & Beethoven's Symphony No.4. With
conductor Rory Macdonald and soloist Henning
Kraggerud.
(back
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to
book by phone, call |
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civic
hall |
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0844
847 2277 |
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CBSO
- SCHUBERT'S GREAT (Civic
Hall) |
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Wednesday 18th March 2009 - 7.45pm |
| City
of Birmingham Symphony Hall perform Glinka's
Overture to Ruslan, Ludmila Tchaikovsky's
Piano Concerto No.1 & Schubert's Symphony
No.9 (The Great). With conductor Walter Weller
and soloist Sergey Kuznetsov. (back
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to
book by phone, call |
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civic
hall |
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we
also reccommend... |
0844
847 2277 |
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RHYDIAN
(Symphony
Hall) |
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| Tuesday
19th May 2009 - 7pm |
| After
being discovered on The X Factor in 2007 where
he was touted as the bookies’ favourite
to win, Rhydian now bursts back onto the music
scene with his magnificent debut album. Rhydian’s
undeniable talent, unmistakable voice and
look have already won him an army of fans,
and will attract many more with the launch
of his self-titled debut album, released on
24th November 2008. Crammed full of passionate,
inspiring songs performed in his inimitable
style, Rhydian is set to touch the hearts
of millions with his mesmerising classical
voice.
Tickets available from Friday 21st
November at 10am. (back
to list) |
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to
book by phone, call |
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symphony
hall |
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0121
780 3333 |
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RUSSELL
WATSON (Symphony
Hall) |
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| Thursday
23rd April 2009 - 7.30pm |
| A
factory worker born in Salford in North West
England, Russell Watson went from performing
on the pub and club circuit in his spare time,
to selling over 7 million albums globally,
and to be dubbed 'The People's Tenor', when
in 1999, when he was invited to Old Trafford
to sing the World Cup anthem ‘Nessun
Dorma' before United's Premiership winning
game. He received a standing ovation and this
incredible exposure led Russell to be signed
by the Decca Music Group for a six-album deal.
Russell
has performed around the world in front of
many audiences - from Independence Day celebrations
in Washington DC; the Beckham's pre-World
Cup party; to more intimate performances for
the President of the United States, the UK
Prime Minister and the Pope; as well as duets
with artists as diverse as Cliff Richard,
Lulu, Lionel Ritchie, Mel C (of Spice Girls
fame) and Meatloaf. He
has broken a succession of records, being
the first British male to simultaneously occupy
a No.1 spot in the UK and American classical
charts, as well as being the first artist
to have a classical album at the No.1 spot
in the UK classical charts for an entire year.
With five albums each album going gold, platinum,
or double platinum and four Classic BRIT Awards
under his belt, Russell is recognized world-wide
as the UK's biggest selling classical artist
of the 21st century. Following a successful
recovery after suffering from a second Brain
Tumor in 2007, Russell's 5th studio has been
released reaching Number 4 in the charts and
2008 has seen Russell perform a sell-out 17
date UK tour and he now looks to establish
his long term future internationally, and
is enjoying the creative freedom his success
has granted him. Tickets available
from Friday 30th October at 10am.
(back
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to
book by phone, call |
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symphony
hall |
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0121
780 3333 |
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| MITRIDATE, RE DI PONTO - WNO (Birmingham Hippodrome) | | | Wednesday 27th May 2009 - 7pm | Sir Charles Mackerras, WNO's Conductor Emeritus and former Music Director (1987 - 92), returns to the company to conduct this concert performance of Mozart's Italian opera seria (drama opera). Mitridate, rè di Ponto (Mitridates, King of Pontus), was commissioned for Carnival 1771. He was just 14 when he wrote this three-act opera but those who pre-judged his work harshly because of his youth were silenced by the first performance. Mitridate tells a serious story yet is full of musical vigour and charm. There are many beautiful surprises in this richly varied music, with heartbreaking arias as well as glittering orchestration and florid vocal lines. Reminiscent of the ornate operas of the baroque, in its finest moments, Mitridate also foreshadows Mozart's later operatic masterpieces. Mitridate, the King of Pontus who long defended his empire against the Romans, and his son Farnace are real historical characters, but the plot - in which loyalties are tested in love and in war - is fiction. In Welsh National Opera's concert performance the music will speak for itself - freeing your imagination to be suggestible to the power and passion of the work. Tickets on sale from Monday 2nd June at 9pm. (back to top) | | | book by phone, call | | birmingham hippodrome | | we also recommend... | 0844 847 2277 | | | |
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| THE QUEEN OF SPADES - WNO (Birmingham Hippodrome) | | | Friday 29th May 2009 - 7pm | An operatic masterpiece and one of Tchaikovsky's greatest works, The Queen of Spades was written in just 44 days. The Queen of Spades is based on Alexander Pushkin's novella, a short masterpiece about a man who loses his fortune and his mind to cards. Herman, an army officer becomes obsessed with learning the secret of the three cards from the Countess. The Countess - who is known as The Queen of Spades - can only reveal the secret to three men wihout facing death. She has already told two men the secret, so cannot answer Herman's question. His obsession costs him dearly - possessions, the womanhe loves and ultimately his own life. When WNO first performed this work, it was highly praised by both critics and audiences. Tickets on sale from Monday 2nd June at 9pm. (back to top) | | | book by phone, call | | birmingham hippodrome | | we also recommend... | 0844 847 2277 | | | |
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| LA BOHEME - WNO (Birmingham Hippodrome) | | | Thursday 28th & Saturday 30th May 2009 - 7.15pm | For decades WNO's production of this poignant Puccini opera has touched generations of audiences all over the UK and internationally, most recently in Hong Kong. A new production is planned for the near future - so this is your last chance to see this adored WNO classic. Living in romantic poverty, this musical story of love and hardship among the bohemians has touched generations of audiences with its universal poignancy, appeal and supreme melodic beauty. Two love affairs bring renewed excitement to the lives of four poverty-stricken bachelor artists. The affair between Mimì and Rodolfo blossoms but is cruelly blighted by Mimì's tuberculosis. The opera contains one of the most famous of Puccini's arias - 'your tiny hand is frozen.' Tickets on sale from Monday 2nd June at 9pm. Matinee performance on Saturday at 2.15pm. (back to top) | | | book by phone, call | | birmingham hippodrome | | we also recommend... | 0844 847 2277 | | | |
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AIDA |
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| Sunday
28th June 2009 - 7.30pm |
| In
Aida the towering structure of the Colosseum
of Rome set against the greatness of Egypt
comes together in this spectacular new production.
Ellen Kent’s direction is heavily influenced
by the ancient Greek dramas by Euripides and
Aristotle in this new take on Aida. This is
one of the most tragic love stories brought
to life in a production set against one of
the greatest pieces of music Verdi ever wrote
including the well known arias ‘Celeste
Aida’, ‘Ritorna Vincitor’
and the great chorus piece the ‘Triumphal
March’ with special effects to include
dance sequences based on the ancient temple
dancers and effects which symbolise the powerful
religious hold of the priests of Egypt. Aida
is a story of war, jealousy and revenge, at
whose heart is the doomed love of the beautiful
Ethiopian slave girl, Aida, and the Egyptian
hero, Radames. Sung in Italian with English
surtitles. (back
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to
book by phone, call |
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alexandra
theatre |
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we
also recommend... |
0844
847 2277 |
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FOR
YOU (in
Main House) |
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| Saturday
4th July 2009 - 7.30pm |
| Michael
Berkeley and Ian McEwan’s new opera
for Music Theatre Wales is a thrilling tale
of dark obsession and misplaced passion. At
its centre are Maris and Charles: she, the
deluded housekeeper – all disquieting
diligence and dangerous desire; he, the maestro
– charismatic, egocentric and completely
oblivious to the growing turmoil around him
and the chaos about to be unleashed at the
very heart of his household. The brilliantly
crafted text by Ian McEwan has all the elements
that have made his novels Atonement, Enduring
Love, Saturday and On Chesil Beach number
one bestsellers. It has inspired a wonderful
score from composer Michael Berkeley –
music filled with powerful undercurrents,
dramatic force and impassioned vocal writing.
(back
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to
book by phone, call |
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the
rep theatre |
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0121
303 2323 |
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