Sunday 17 May:

Royal Northern College of Music – The Hot Sardines.  Jazz meets gypsy swing for up and coming group The Hot Sardines, whose debut album was named one of the albums of the year by iTunes.  Combining brass, piano, vintage vocals and even a tap dancer, it’s a show which must not be missed.  Tickets £20.  7.30pm.

Tuesday 19 May:

Bridgewater Hall – Dancing Feet: Jonathan Scott Spring Lunchtime Organ Recitals.  Jonathan Scott performs music from the world of ballet and dance as well as displaying his own stunning footwork with some incredible virtuoso pedal parts.  The programme is set to include Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance; Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in D Major and Tchaikovsky’s Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty.  Tickets £10.50.  1.10pm.

Thursday 21 May:

Chetham’s School of Music – Chetham’s Showcase.  Leading Chetham’s students perform concerts showcasing their talents in this ever impressive Showcase series.  James Swarbrick (guitar), Paul Mitchell (trumpet), Grace Macdonald (saxophone), Toby Hession (piano) are set to feature.  Tickets £10.  7.30pm.

Bridgewater Hall – The Halle.  The Halle’s cycle of Shostakovich concertos comes to a close as world leading pianist Benjamin Grosvenor joins proceedings.  Gareth Small is also featured on the trumpet.  Programme set to include Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen; Shostakovich’s Concerto No 1 for Piano Trumpet and Strings and Piano Concerto No 2 and Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, in which actors from Manchester Metropolitan University’s School of Theatre will participate.  Tickets £41 – £13.  7.30pm.

Saturday 23 May:

Royal Northern College of Music – Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.  The RNCM presents its final concert in the French Piano Recital Series, which features Jean-Efflam Bavouzet returning to the RNCM to perform Boulez’s Sonata No 1, Debussy’s Etudes 1 and 2, Ohana’s Four Etudes and Ravel’s Oiseaux tristes; Une barque sur l’ocean and Alborada del gracioso.  Tickets from £14.  7.30pm.

Bridgewater Hall – Wayne Marshall.  Talented organist Wayne Marshall returns to perform and accompany works by two 20th century masters of the French tradition.  Manchester Chamber Choir, Hollie-Anne Bangham (mezzo soprano), Stuart Orme (baritone) and Stephanie Stamopoulos (cello) will also be featured during a programme of Dupre’s Prelude and Fugue in A-flat; Symphony No 2 in C-sharp and Four motets as well as Durufle’s Prelude and Fugue on ‘Alain’ and Requiem.  Tickets £20-£14.  7.30pm.

Image courtesy of Matt Trudeau / Flickr published under creative commons license