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May 2013 ◄ ►

7.30pmThursday 23rd May

TRIFONOV PLAYS TCHAIKOVSKY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Venzago, Trifonov

Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Schumann

The Orchestra throws down the challenge; the piano strides forward; and on a great wave of melody, Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto surges into life. The greatest of all Romantic piano...

7.30pmTuesday 28th May

A BOY WAS BORN: NELSONS CONDUCTS BRITTEN'S WAR REQUIEM

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Opolais, Padmore, Müller-Brachmann, CBSO Choruses

Britten

"My subject is War, and the pity of War." Benjamin Britten composed his War Requiem for the new Coventry Cathedral, but it's become one of the defining ...

11.00amThursday 13th June

SCHOOLS CONCERT: BIRMINGHAM HISTORY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, The Play House

Birmingham History

Sold out - Birmingham's past is full of real-life drama and sparks of creativity, from the industrial revolution to wartime bombing - and of course, the birth of the city's...

1.00pmThursday 13th June

SCHOOLS CONCERT: BIRMINGHAM HISTORY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, The Play House

Birmingham History

Sold out Birmingham's past is full of real-life drama and sparks of creativity, from the industrial revolution to wartime bombing - and of course, the birth of the city's very own...

7.30pmThursday 20th June

FLOWERS AND FABLES

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Gardner, Crowe

Sibelius, Lutoslawski

Sibelius took the classical symphony and charged it with the freshness and energy of nature itself. Lutoslawski, meanwhile, launched brilliant musical fireworks into the grey skies of postwar Poland. Edward...

7.30pmFriday 21st June

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: OL' BLUE EYES

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Dunk, Williams

Ol' Blue Eyes

Including: Let's Face the Music and Dance • New York, New York • Old Man River • You Make Me Feel So Young • Come Fly With Me • Luck Be A...

7.30pmThursday 27th June

THE BIRMINGHAM BEETHOVEN CYCLE: SYMPHONIES 8 & 9

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelons, Crowe, Fujimura, Johnson, Paterson, CBSO Chorus

The Birmingham Beethoven Cycle

It's been an incredible journey, and tonight Andris Nelsons, the CBSO and our world-class Chorus arrive at Beethoven's Ninth Symphony: the summit of any Beethoven cycle - and some say,...

7.00pmSaturday 29th June

THE BIRMINGHAM BEETHOVEN CYCLE: SYMPHONIES 8 & 9

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Crowe, Fujimura, Johnson, Paterson, CBSO Chorus

The Birmingham Beethoven Cycle

It's been an incredible journey, and tonight Andris Nelsons, the CBSO and our world-class Chorus arrive at Beethoven's Ninth Symphony: the summit of any Beethoven cycle - and some say,...

11.45amThursday 4th July

KS1 SCHOOLS CONCERT - 'MUSIC!'

CBSO Centre, Birmingham.

CBSO Players

An introduction to the orchestra linking to the KS1curriculum

Sold out - Our popular KS1 Schools Concerts offer younger children a fantastic introduction to the orchestra with specially devised concerts to link into the KS1 curriculum. ...

1.45pmThursday 4th July

KS1 SCHOOLS CONCERT - 'MUSIC!'

CBSO Centre, Birmingham.

CBSO Players

An introduction to the orchestra linking to the KS1curriculum

Sold out - Our popular KS1 Schools Concerts offer younger children a fantastic introduction to the orchestra with specially devised concerts to link into the KS1 curriculum. ...

10.00amFriday 5th July

RELAXED PERFORMANCE: KS1 SCHOOLS CONCERT - 'MUSIC!'

CBSO Centre, Birmingham.

CBSO Players

An introduction to the orchestra linking to the KS1curriculum

Relaxed Performance for children with special educational needs. Our Schools Concerts at the CBSO Centre are popular concerts that offer children & young people a fantastic introduction to the orchestra in...

11.30amFriday 5th July

KS1 SCHOOLS CONCERT - 'MUSIC!'

CBSO Centre, Birmingham.

CBSO Players

An introduction to the orchestra linking to the KS1curriculum

Our popular KS1 Schools Concerts offer younger children a fantastic introduction to the orchestra with specially devised concerts to link into the KS1 curriculum. 'Music!' will...

1.30pmFriday 5th July

KS1 SCHOOLS CONCERT - 'MUSIC!'

CBSO Centre, Birmingham.

CBSO Players

An introduction to the orchestra linking to the KS1curriculum

Sold out - Our popular KS1 Schools Concerts offer younger children a fantastic introduction to the orchestra with specially devised concerts to link into the KS1 curriculum. ...

11.00amSaturday 6th July

NOTELETS - Fiesta!

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for a special toddler-friendly mini-concert. Expect a feast for all the senses, with bite-sized music, lively presentation, lots to see, and...

1.30pmSaturday 6th July

NOTELETS - Fiesta!

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for a special toddler-friendly mini-concert. Expect a feast for all the senses, with bite-sized music, lively presentation, lots to see, and...

3.30pmSaturday 6th July

NOTELETS - Fiesta

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for a special toddler-friendly mini-concert. Expect a feast for all the senses, with bite-sized music, lively presentation, lots to see, and...

7.30pmTuesday 9th July

MARK KERMODE: FILM MUSIC LIVE

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Ziegler, Kermode

Film Music Live

Music to include: Goldsmith: Planet of the Apes Oldfield: The Exorcist Hermann: North By Northwest Hermann: Taxi Driver Davies: The Devils Greenwood: There Will Be Blood Sherman & Sherman: Mary Poppins Overture Badalamenti: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With...

7.30pmFriday 12th July

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: JOHN WILLIAMS BLOCKBUSTERS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Brossé, Pearson

John Williams Blockbusters

Including music from: Raiders of the Lost Ark • Jurassic Park • War Horse • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade • Munich • Memoirs of a Geisha • Catch Me If You...

3.00pmSunday 21st July

CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA ACADEMY

Town Hall, Birmingham. 0121 345 0603

Seal

Revueltas, Ravel, Korngold, Mozart

A mariachi band, a French fairy tale, a Shakespearean rom-com, and a symphony written in four days flat! Under the inspirational baton of Michael Seal, a chamber orchestra drawn from...

7.30pmThursday 15th August

ANDRIS AND KRISTINE IN CONCERT

Town Hall, Birmingham. 0121 345 0603

Nelsons, Opolais

Dvorák, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Strauss II

Summer sunshine at the Town Hall! Symphonies just don't get any happier than Dvorák's Eighth, and it's inspired Andris Nelsons to create a really joyous evening of music making. There'll...

7.30pmWednesday 4th September

THE MUSIC OF A. R. RAHMAN

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Dunkley

The Music of A. R. Rahman

Including music from: Slumdog Millionaire • Lord of the Rings • Lagaan • Warriors of Heaven & Earth • The Rising • Passage • Cry of the Rose • 127 Hours • Bombay...

7.30pmWednesday 11th September

CBSO BENEVOLENT FUND CONCERT

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Vedernikov, Leonskaja

Glinka, Grieg, Tchaikovsky

The horns blast out a savage fanfare; the trumpets scream in reply... Hold tight, because this is Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, and you're about to witness one of the most inspired...

7.30pmThursday 19th September

OPENING CONCERT: THE RITE OF SPRING

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Opolais

Wagner, Stravinsky

When The Rite of Spring was premiered in Paris in 1913, it caused a riot. We don't...

7.00pmSaturday 21st September

OPENING CONCERT: ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER PLAYS DVORAK

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Mutter

Wagner, Dvořák, Stravinsky

With some artists, just the mention of their name is enough. So Andris Nelsons and the entire...

7.30pmWednesday 25th September

TOTALLY TCHAIKOVSKY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Müller-Schott

Tchaikovsky

Tormented by forbidden desires, Byron's Manfred takes to the mountains to battle his demons. Tchaikovsky knew exactly how...

2.15pmFriday 27th September

TOTALLY TCHAIKOVSKY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Müller-Schott

Tchaikovsky

Tormented by forbidden desires, Byron's Manfred takes to the mountains to battle his demons. Tchaikovsky knew exactly how...

7.30pmThursday 3rd October

MAHLER'S FIRST SYMPHONY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Znaider, Fliter

Mendelssohn, Chopin, Mahler

"The symphony must be like the world," declared Gustav Mahler. "It should embrace everything." And from its...

11.00amSaturday 5th October

NOTELETS: I LOVE STORIES!

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

1.30pmSaturday 5th October

NOTELETS: I LOVE STORIES!

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

3.30pmSaturday 5th October

NOTELETS: I LOVE STORIES!

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

7.30pmWednesday 9th October

BEETHOVEN'S VIOLIN CONCERTO

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Elts, Tetzlaff

Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven

Master, pupil and friend: between them, Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart transformed the history of music. Tonight's concert...

2.15pmThursday 10th October

BEETHOVEN'S VIOLIN CONCERTO

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Elts, Tetzlaff

Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven

Master, pupil and friend: between them, Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart transformed the history of music. Tonight's concert...

7.30pmSaturday 12th October

BEETHOVEN'S MISSA SOLEMNIS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Ex Cathedra, Skidmore, Bevan, Johnston, Tortise, Williams

Beethoven

Beethoven laboured for nearly four years to complete his Missa Solemnis, and nothing he composed surpasses it for scale, sincerity or sheer vision. No single performance...

7.30pmWednesday 16th October

CARMEN AND BOLÉRO

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Altinoglu, Gubisch

Bizet, Ravel

The nights are lengthening in Birmingham - but with some composers, it's always summer! Bizet's Carmen suite isn't just a parade...

2.30pmSunday 27th October

FAMILY CONCERT: THE GREAT ENORMO WITH MICHAEL ROSEN

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Morgan, Pochin, Rosen

The Great Enormo with Michael Rosen

The Great Enormo - A Kerfuffle in B flat for Orchestra, Wasps and Soprano originally commissioned by the Brighton Festival; written by Michael Rosen, James Morgan & Juliette Pochin Popular children's writer...

7.30pmThursday 31st October

RUSSIAN MASTERS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Sinaisky, Scherbachenko, Grivnov, Azizov, CBSO Chorus

Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Rachmaninov

"Hear the bells ring out, with their singing and ringing... they tell of oblivion." For Sergei Rachmaninov,...

7.30pmFriday 1st November

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: CLASSICS AT THE MOVIES

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Rutter, Norman

Classics at the Movies

Including music from: Verdi: The Force of Destiny (Jean de Florette) Catalani: Ebben? Ne andrň lontana (Diva) ...

3.30pmSunday 3rd November

CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Volkov, Bell

Debussy, Messiaen, Sibelius

Sibelius's Fifth Symphony was inspired by a flight of swans. Debussy was drunk on the beauty of the sea....

7.30pmWednesday 6th November

NELSONS CONDUCTS BRAHMS'S FOURTH

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Sokolov

Wagner, Sibelius, Brahms

Brahms's Fourth Symphony begins with a sigh - and ends with a tempest. It might have been his...

2.15pmThursday 7th November

THE BEST OF BRAHMS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Lazic

Brahms

As a young man, Johannes Brahms had his heart shattered by an impossible love. He spent the rest...

7.30pmFriday 22nd November

BRITTEN 100: CENTENARY CONCERT

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Halsey, Daniel, Goode, CBSO Chorus, CBSO Youth Chorus, CBSO Children's Chorus

Centenary Concert by the CBSO's family of choruses

Jubilate in C 3' Six Metamorphoses after Ovid 12' 3 Two-Part Songs 7' Friday Afternoons 20' Hymn...

7.00pmSaturday 30th November

BACH TO THE FUTURE

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Kuusisto

Reich, Bach, Adams

Vibrant, colourful, and buzzing with energy: the American minimalist music of John Adams and Steve Reich has swept through contemporary culture...

7.30pmThursday 5th December

NELSONS CONDUCTS BRAHMS'S THIRD

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Faust

Wagner, Britten, Brahms

Two chords ring out, the orchestra gathers its strength - and with the force of a summer storm,...

11.00amFriday 6th December

NOTELETS: FESTIVE TREATS

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

1.30pmFriday 6th December

NOTELETS: FESTIVE TREATS

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

3.30pmFriday 6th December

NOTELETS: FESTIVE TREATS

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

11.00amSaturday 7th December

NOTELETS: FESTIVE TREATS

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

1.30pmSaturday 7th December

NOTELETS: FESTIVE TREATS

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

3.30pmSaturday 7th December

NOTELETS: FESTIVE TREATS

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

2.15pmWednesday 11th December

TCHAIKOVSKY'S PATHÉTIQUE SYMPHONY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Litton, Grosvenor

Rachmaninov, Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky didn't stint on emotion, and with his shattering Pathétique Symphony, he wrote out his very soul. Music...

7.30pmFriday 13th December

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Davis, Ellington, Treharne

Wonderful Christmastime

A Christmas Overture • White Christmas • Santa Claus is Coming to Town • Winter Wonderland...

7.00pmSaturday 14th December

TCHAIKOVSKY'S PATHÉTIQUE SYMPHONY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Litton, Grosvenor

Rachmaninov, Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky didn't stint on emotion, and with his shattering Pathétique Symphony, he wrote out his very soul. Music...

7.30pmThursday 19th December

FESTIVE FAVOURITES WITH MARK WILLIAMS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Halsey, Williams, CBSO Choruses

Festive Favourites with Mark Williams

Christmas begins at home, so join us at Symphony Hall, as we gather the whole CBSO 'family' ...

3.00pmSunday 22nd December

FESTIVE FAVOURITES WITH MARK WILLIAMS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Halsey, Williams, CBSO Choruses

Festive Favourites with Mark Williams

Christmas begins at home, so join us at Symphony Hall, as we gather the whole CBSO 'family' ...

7.30pmSunday 22nd December

FESTIVE FAVOURITES WITH MARK WILLIAMS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Halsey, Williams, CBSO Choruses

Festive Favourites with Mark Williams

Christmas begins at home, so join us at Symphony Hall, as we gather the whole CBSO 'family' ...

7.30pmMonday 23rd December

FESTIVE FAVOURITES WITH MARK WILLIAMS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Halsey, Williams, CBSO Choruses

Festive Favourites with Mark Williams

Christmas begins at home, so join us at Symphony Hall, as we gather the whole CBSO 'family' ...

3.00pmSaturday 4th January

VIENNESE NEW YEAR

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Bell, Manahan Thomas

Viennese New Year

Fatherland March • Die Libelle The Merry Widow - Vilja Song | Love Unspoken On My Lips...

7.30pmThursday 9th January

RUSSIAN CLASSICS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Vogt

Prokofiev, Mozart, Stravinsky

It's springtime in old Russia, and as crowds throng the Shrovetide Fair, passions are rising. But how serious can it get?...

7.00pmSaturday 11th January

TUNED IN: STRAVINSKY'S PETRUSHKA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Rissmann

Stravinsky's Petrushka

Stravinsky: Infernal Dance from The Firebird Suite (1919) 4' An introduction to Stravinsky's Petrushka 35' interval Stravinsky: Petrushka...

7.30pmWednesday 15th January

PROKOFIEV'S ROMEO AND JULIET

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Wall

Strauss, Prokofiev

Love never dies. Richard Strauss's career went off like a rocket with Don Juan, and you can almost...

2.15pmThursday 16th January

PROKOFIEV'S ROMEO AND JULIET

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Wall

Strauss, Prokofiev

Love never dies. Richard Strauss's career went off like a rocket with Don Juan, and you can almost...

2.15pmWednesday 22nd January

BRITISH CLASSICS WITH JOHN WILSON

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Wilson, Watkins

Ireland, Walton, Vaughan Williams

Vaughan Williams may have loved the countryside, but he couldn't resist the capital. Listen out for street-songs, buskers and...

7.30pmFriday 24th January

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: ABBA SYMPHONIC SPECTACULAR

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Bell, Capital Voices directed by Annie Skates

Abba Symphonic Spectacular

ABBA Overture • Waterloo • One of Us • Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! • SOS • Super...

11.30amMonday 27th January

SCHOOLS CONCERT: THE CBSO'S GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Malloy

The CBSO's Guide to the Orchestra

What sound does a piccolo make? Why is a double bass so huge? And do they really need quite so many violins? The symphony orchestra is the most amazing piece...

1.30pmMonday 27th January

SCHOOLS CONCERT: THE CBSO'S GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Malloy

The CBSO's Guide to the Orchestra

What sound does a piccolo make? Why is a double bass so huge? And do they really need quite so many violins? The symphony orchestra is the most amazing piece...

7.30pmThursday 30th January

THE ORGAN SYMPHONY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Yamada, Piemontesi, Farr

Fauré, Rachmaninov, Widor, Saint-Saëns

You might have heard it in the film Babe, but trust us - when the Symphony Hall...

11.00amFriday 31st January

SCHOOLS CONCERT: THE CBSO'S GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Malloy

The CBSO's Guide to the Orchestra

What sound does a piccolo make? Why is a double bass so huge? And do they really need quite so many violins? The symphony orchestra is the most amazing piece...

1.00pmFriday 31st January

SCHOOLS CONCERT: THE CBSO GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Malloy

The CBSO's Guide to the Orchestra

What sound does a piccolo make? Why is a double bass so huge? And do they really need quite so many violins? The symphony orchestra is the most amazing piece...

3.00pmSaturday 1st February

THE ORGAN SYMPHONY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Yamada, Piemontesi, Farr

Fauré, Rachmaninov, Widor, Saint-Saëns

You might have heard it in the film Babe, but trust us - when the Symphony Hall...

7.30pmWednesday 5th February

ULTIMATE VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Manze, Jackson

Vaughan Williams

"He rises and begins to round / he drops the silver chain of sound…" When The Lark Ascending takes wing, so...

7.30pmFriday 7th February

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: GILBERT AND SULLIVAN GALA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Wilson, Fox, Hulett, Suart, Hargreaves, Birmingham University Singers

Gilbert and Sullivan Gala

Trial By Jury (complete) The Gondoliers - Overture | Once More Gondolieri • The Sorcerer - Ring...

7.00pmSunday 9th February

SINGALONG WITH THE CBSO: CARMINA BURANA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Halsey, CBSO Chorus, CBSO Children's Chorus

Singalong with the CBSO

Ever wondered what it's like to sing live at Symphony Hall with the full CBSO? Now's your...

7.30pmThursday 13th February

MENDELSSOHN IN BIRMINGHAM: HYMN OF PRAISE

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Gardner, Bevan, Bevan, Murray, CBSO Chorus, CBSO Children's Chorus

Mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn was one of the greatest natural talents in the history of music. So when he challenged Beethoven at his...

2.15pmWednesday 19th February

MOZART AND ELGAR

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Gardner, Osborne

Mozart, Elgar

At the premiere of Elgar's First Symphony in 1908, the audience rose to its feet and simply yelled with excitement. So...

7.30pmThursday 20th February

MOZART AND ELGAR

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Gardner, Osborne

Mozart, Elgar

At the premiere of Elgar's First Symphony in 1908, the audience rose to its feet and simply yelled with excitement. So...

7.00pmSunday 23rd February

CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

van Steen

Bray, Wagner, Strauss

Richard Strauss wanted Also sprach Zarathustra to portray "the entire history of humanity". Well, our Youth Orchestra likes a...

7.30pmWednesday 26th February

MOZART'S GRAN PARTITA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Steffens, Capuçon

Mozart, Glazunov, Stravinsky

In the film Amadeus, when Mozart's arch-rival Salieri hears his Gran Partita, he thinks he's hearing the voice of...

7.30pmFriday 28th February

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: SONGS FOR SWINGIN' ORCHESTRA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Balcombe, Porter, Bickley

Songs for Swingin' Orchestra

Programme includes: Let's Do It • The Lady is a Tramp • Let's Face the Music...

11.00amSaturday 1st March

NOTELETS: ANIMAL FAVOURITES

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

1.30pmSaturday 1st March

NOTELETS: ANIMAL FAVOURITES

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

3.30pmSaturday 1st March

NOTELETS: ANIMAL FAVOURITES

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

2.30pmSunday 2nd March

FAMILY CONCERT: CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Smedley, CBSO Young Voices

Carnival of the Animals

Never been to a concert? Don't worry, neither has Puppet Sam - but with the aid of his pal Nikky (famous as Laa Laa from Teletubbies) and 80 friendly musicians,...

7.30pmThursday 6th March

RACHMANINOV'S SECOND PIANO CONCERTO

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Montero

Bizet - Shchedrin, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich

Shostakovich staked his life on his Fifth Symphony - and you can tell. From angst-torn opening to...

7.00pmSaturday 8th March

TUNED IN: SHOSTAKOVICH'S FIFTH

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Rissmann

Shostakovish's Fifth

An introduction to Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 40' interval Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 46' In Stalin's Russia, writing the...

7.30pmWednesday 12th March

RACHMANINOV'S SECOND SYMPHONY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Tatarnikov, Donohoe

Mussorgsky, Dohnányi, Rachmaninov

Think Russian and you think epic. Rachmaninov's Second is exactly that: a symphony as grand and expansive as...

2.15pmThursday 13th March

RACHMANINOV'S SECOND SYMPHONY

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Tatarnikov, Donohoe

Mussorgsky, Dohnányi, Rachmaninov

Think Russian and you think epic. Rachmaninov's Second is exactly that: a symphony as grand and expansive as...

7.00pmSaturday 26th April

BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Storgĺrds, Stone, CBSO Chorus, CBSO Youth Chorus

Holst, Bernstein, Walton

1931: William Walton takes a huge choir and a massive symphony orchestra, adds a couple of brass...

2.15pmThursday 1st May

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV'S SCHEHERAZADE

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Payare, Biss

Brahms, Schumann, Rimsky-Korsakov

Schumann poured out his feelings for his beloved Clara. And Scheherazade just wanted to keep her head! But...

7.30pmThursday 8th May

RACHMANINOV AND SHOSTAKOVICH

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Orozco-Estrada, Lamsma

Ravel, Shostakovich, Rachmaninov

Far from all he loved, Sergei Rachmaninov dreamed of another world. The result was his Symphonic Dances:...

7.30pmFriday 9th May

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: SILENT HEROES - BUSTER KEATON

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Davis

Silent Heroes - Buster Keaton

It doesn't matter how good your home cinema is. Until you've heard a full symphony orchestra accompanying...

2.30pmSunday 11th May

FAMILY CONCERT: BITE-SIZE CLASSICS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Malloy, CBSO Children's Chorus

Bite-size Classics

Highlights from: Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila - Overture Fauré: Dolly Suite Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 Copland: Rodeo - Hoe Down Prokofiev: Classical Symphony Mercury: Bohemian Rhapsody and more When you're into classical...

7.30pmWednesday 14th May

HAYDN AND MOZART

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Cookhorn, Gibbons, Richards, Tuls, Dutch

Haydn, Mozart, Woolrich

Four's company! Mozart may or may not have written this Sinfonia Concertante - but who's counting, when it brings four of...

2.15pmThursday 15th May

HAYDN AND MOZART

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Sibley, Gibbons, Richards, Tuls, Dutch

Haydn and Mozart

Take a clarinet, an oboe, a bassoon and a horn. Add one tuba - and the result is ...

4.00pmSaturday 24th May

DER ROSENKAVALIER

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Isokoski, Coote, Bevan, Hawlata, Stone, Bottone, Stephen, Park, Wade, CBSO Chorus, CBSO Youth Chorus

Der Rosenkavalier

Love conquers everything, so they say... but what about Time? In a fairytale Vienna, the beautiful Marschallin and...

2.15pmWednesday 28th May

ANDRIS AND HĹKAN IN CONCERT

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Hardenberger

Ravel, Haydn, Mussorgsky (orch. Ravel)

A hut on hen's legs, luminous skulls, baroque watercolours... sounds spectacular? It's amazing what you can achieve...

7.30pmThursday 29th May

PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Hardenberger

Ravel, Dean, Mussorgsky (orch. Ravel)

When Maurice Ravel arranged Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, he created one of the few adaptations that's better than...

2.15pmThursday 5th June

SUMMER SERENADE

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Jackson

Grieg, Mozart, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky

Once upon a time, serenades were played in the open air. This afternoon, you'll almost feel the...

7.30pmFriday 6th June

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: HEROES AND SUPERHEROES

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Kaufman

Heroes and Superheroes

Featuring music from: Superman Dances with Wolves 633 Squadron Saving Private...

7.30pmWednesday 11th June

THOMAS ADČS: NEW HORIZONS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Adčs, Hodges

Ravel, Barry, Coll, Adčs

As both internationally-renowned composer and visionary conductor, Thomas Adčs is one of the most compelling figures in the contemporary...

11.30amThursday 12th June

SCHOOLS CONCERT: CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Smedley

Carnival of the Animals

Famous as Laa Laa from Teletubbies, Nikky Smedley has over 30 years' experience of creating work for children. Today, she teams up with the full CBSO to give a guided...

1.30pmThursday 12th June

SCHOOLS CONCERT: CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Seal, Smedley

Carnival of the Animals

Famous as Laa Laa from Teletubbies, Nikky Smedley has over 30 years' experience of creating work for children. Today, she teams up with the full CBSO to give a guided...

11.00amSaturday 14th June

NOTELETS: HOOTING AND TOOTING

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

1.30pmSaturday 14th June

NOTELETS: HOOTING AND TOOTING

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

3.30pmSaturday 14th June

NOTELETS: HOOTING AND TOOTING

CBSO Centre, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0491

CBSO Players

An interactive mini-concert for toddlers and their families

Bring the youngest members of the family to CBSO Centre for these special toddler-friendly mini-concerts. "We know Notelets audiences need to move: they are active, they want to join in, there...

7.30pmWednesday 18th June

STRAUSS AND SHAKESPEARE

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Hannigan

Mendelssohn, Abrahamsen, Strauss

Richard Strauss wasn't one to throw the baby out with the bathwater. His extraordinary Symphonia Domestica is a no-holds-barred...

2.15pmThursday 19th June

BEETHOVEN'S EMPEROR CONCERTO

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Lewis

Beethoven, Strauss

"What could be more serious than family life?" asked Richard Strauss, and promptly composed his extraordinary Symphonia...

7.30pmThursday 26th June

MOZART'S C MINOR MASS

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Brandon, Milne, Johnson, Mlinde, Tattersdill, CBSO Chorus

Mozart

When Mozart got married, he made a pact with heaven - and Mozart took his promises seriously....

7.00pmSaturday 28th June

MOZART'S MASS IN C MINOR

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Nelsons, Brandon, Milne, Johnson, Mlinde, Tattersdill, CBSO Chorus

Mozart

When Mozart got married, he made a pact with heaven - and Mozart took his promises seriously....

7.30pmWednesday 2nd July

BLUEBEARD'S CASTLE

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Gardner, Gubanova, Bretz

Janácek, Bartók

"In wars outside the blood runs redly / Here is something far more deadly / Ladies and...

7.30pmFriday 4th July

FRIDAY NIGHT CLASSICS: A GERSHWIN AND BERNSTEIN GALA

Symphony Hall, Birmingham. +44 (0)121 345 0600

Yates, West End Vocalists, Sangiorgio

New, York, New York - A Gershwin and Bernstein Gala

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue • Summertime I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise Girl Crazy - Overture • I've...