The Classic FM Guide to Winter/Spring Concerts
We highlight some of our partners’ and orchestras’ performances over the next three months.
January
The year begins with some sparkling solo performances across the UK, and Vladimir Ashkenazy takes the Philharmonia on tour in England and Wales.
19 January
Sir John Eliot Gardiner continues his Beethoven cycle with the LSO with the First and Ninth (‘Choral’) Symphonies. Rebecca Evans, Wilke te Brummelstroete, Steve Davislim and Vuyani Mlinde join the Monteverdi Choir.
7.45pm, The Anvil, Basingstoke
20 January
The first concert of the Northern Sinfonia’s Classic FM Concert Series features the orchestra conducted by Alexander Prior and with cellist Danjulo Ishizaka in Elgar’s Cello Concerto. They also play Elgar's Serenade for Strings and Grieg’s Holberg Suite.
7.30pm, Hall One, The Sage Gateshead
21 January
Vasily Petrenko conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in Ravel’s Valses Nobles et Sentimentales and Berlioz’s Three Pieces from Romeo and Juliet. Jean-Efflam Bavouzet joins them for Ravel’s Piano Concerto.
7.30pm, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
22 January
Sir Andrew Davis returns to conduct the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for the first time in 30 years. The Orchestra plays Tippett’s Ritual Dances from The Midsummer Marriage, Schumann’s Symphony No.3 (‘Rhenish’) and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.2, with pianist John Lill.
7.30pm, Usher Hall, Edinburgh
24-31 January
Vladimir Ashkenazy takes the Philharmonia on tour across the UK, conducting them in Mendelssohn, Elgar and Tchaikovsky. They are joined by a soloist at each venue: Min-Jin Kym, Steven Isserlis and James Ehnes.
Southend, Bedford, Bristol, London, Cardiff
February
February sees celebratory Valentine’s Day concerts and a fascinating multimedia performance by the LSO.
14 February
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performs a beautiful concert for Valentine’s Day, entitled Love Notes. Carl Davis conducts and Natasha Marsh is the soloist in a programme including Lara’s Theme from Dr. Zhivago, O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi, Somewhere from West Side Story as well as music by Tchaikovsky, Debussy and Prokofiev.
2.30pm, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
14 February
The Philharmonia’s Valentine’s Day Gala Concert sees them perform Tchaikovsky’s Overture to Romeo and Juliet, Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1, Khachaturian’s Adagio from Spartacus and Dvorak’s Romance for Violin and Orchestra. The violinist is brilliant young musician Jennifer Pike .
3pm, Royal Festival Hall, London
14 February
Symphony Hall Birmingham is hosting a concert of love songs from musicals including West Side Story, Carousel, My Fair Lady, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Lion King. John Rigby conducts Capital Voices and Manchester Concert Orchestra .
7.30pm, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
21 February
Marin Alsop conducts the LSO in a multimedia performance called Life: A Journey Through Time. It chronicles life on Earth through the imagery of National Geographic photographer Frans Lanting and the music of Philip Glass .
7.30pm, Barbican Hall, London
28 February
The annual Clarinet Convention takes place at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama . Led by course leader Leslie Craven and co-leader Peter Fielding, clarinettists Andrew Roberts, Alistar Logan and Tom Jackson will also be on hand to give advice to clarinettists of all ages and abilities. The convention culminates in a gala concert.
9.30am-6pm, RWCMD, Cardiff
March
The Sixteen tours the UK in its Choral Pilgrimage, the Philharmonia celebrates its 65th birthday and Welsh National Opera tours with its new production of Mozart’s opera The Abduction of Seraglio.
1-10 March
The RLPO gives multiple performances of its annual Schools’ Concert, this year themed Back to the Future. Designed for Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils, the concerts are an inspirational introduction to live orchestral music.
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
9-23 March
Welsh National Opera takes a new production of Mozart’s opera The Abduction from Seraglio on tour. A glorious comedy set on the Orient Express.
Llandudno, Birmimgham, Southampton
12 and 13 March
The Sixteen continues its Choral Pilgrimage 2010 , entitled Ceremony and Devotion - Music for the Tudors, with concerts in the university cities Oxford and Cambridge. The 2010 tour focuses on some of the finest music by three leading Tudor composers: John Sheppard, Thomas Tallis and William Byrd.
12 March 7.30pm, University Church, Oxford
13 March 7.30pm, St. John's College Chapel, Cambridge
23 March
Riccardo Muti appears at Symphony Hall for the first time, joined by the Philharmonia and violinist Joshua Bell. The programme is Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’.
7.30pm, Symphony Hall, Birmingham
30 March
Riccardo Muti conducts the Philharmonia in its 65th Birthday Gala Concert . The orchestra plays Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, with violinist Joshua Bell , and Beethoven’s Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’.
7.30pm, Royal Festival Hall, London
