The Halle will be playing an excellent series of concerts in January 2017. Let’s take a look at what they are performing at the Bridgewater Hall …
A Viennese Celebration
Saturday 7 January, 3pm
Conductor Stephen Bell
Featuring Joshua Ellicott, Tenor
The Hallé’s annual New Year celebration features the most romantic waltzes, thrilling polkas and exciting marches. Some beautiful Viennese songs performed by the magnificent Joshua Ellicott guarantee you delightful memories to treasure for the rest of the year.
Programme includes:
Suppé Overture: Light Cavalry
Josef Strauss Austrian Village Swallows Waltz
Lehár Gold and Silver Waltz
Strauss II The Gypsy Baron March
Josef Strauss Feuerfest Polka
Sieczynski Vienna, City Of My Dreams
Strauss II On the Beautiful Blue Danube: Waltz
And many more!
Mozart, Schumann, Anderson
Thursday 12 January, 7.30pm
Conductor Markus Stenz
Featuring Carolin Widmann, Violin
Markus Stenz conducts two landmarks in the history of the symphony. Much of Schumann’s Fourth Symphony is characterised by intense rhythmical drive, though its slow movement is a tender musical portrait of Schumann’s wife Clara. Mozart’s ‘Jupiter’ Symphony is the summation of its composer’s symphonic art. It strikes a perfect balance between emotion and intellect and its finale is simply astonishing in its inventiveness. The outstanding German violinist Carolin Widmann is soloist in Julian Anderson’s ‘In Lieblicher Bläue’ (In Lovely Blue), a work that was specially written for her. Inspired by a Friedrich Hölderlin poem, this attractive and highly theatrical piece places some extremely novel technical demands on the violinist!
Programme:
Mozart Symphony No.41, ‘Jupiter’
Julian Anderson ‘In Lieblicher Bläue’ poem for violin and orchestra
Schumann Symphony No.4
Pre-concert Event, 6.30pm – with Markus Stenz and Tom Redmond
Tom Redmond is joined by tonight’s conductor Markus Stenz to discuss this fascinating programme which includes two greats in symphonic repertoire. Mozart’s last (and most ambitious) symphony is seen as a shining example of his genius in orchestral writing; Schumann’s Fourth captures the essence of the composer’s highly personal Romantic style.
The pre-concert event will take place in the auditorium and is free for concert ticket holders.
January Opus One Concerts
Wednesday 18 January, 2.15pm
Thursday 19 January, 7.30pm
Sunday 22 January, 7.30pm
Conductor Louis Langrée
Featuring Jian Wang, Cello
Hallé favourite Louis Langrée conducts an irresistible all-Russian programme. In the first half we hear two works that honour the composers of the eighteenth century. Prokofiev’s boisterous ‘Classical’ Symphony is a warm and humorous tribute to Haydn, though it also has its own distinctive wit and charm. The superlative Jian Wang also makes a return to Manchester where last season he was a huge hit with Hallé audiences. He is soloist in Tchaikovsky’s elegant Rococo Variations, an homage to Mozart – a figure Tchaikovsky regarded as a ‘musical god’. More Tchaikovsky in the second half in the form of the composer’s gripping Fourth Symphony. With its recurring fate motif, it is one of music’s most dramatic and satisfying journeys with a profusion of great melodies along the way.
Programme:
Prokofiev Symphony No.1, ‘Classical’
Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme
Tchaikovsky Symphony No.4
Movie Classics
Saturday 28 January, 7.30pm
Conductor Stephen Bell
Featuring Petroc Trelawny, Presenter
BBC presenter Petroc Trelawny makes a welcome return to the Hallé for a night of Movie Classics. Behind the on screen action, music plays a crucial role in bringing the story to life. This concert captures some of the most memorable moments.
Programme includes:
Fantasia Dukas: Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Out Of Africa Mozart: Clarinet Concerto (slow movement)
Platoon Barber: Adagio for Strings
LA Confidential Mendelssohn: Overture The Hebrides
Four Weddings And A Funeral Handel: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Seven Years In Tibet Debussy: Clair de Lune
Grand Budapest Hotel J. Strauss II: Roses from the South
The King’s Speech Beethoven: Symphony No.7 (2nd movement)
The Halle Orchestra. Image credit – Russel Hart.
