We look forward to welcoming you to join Birmingham’s celebrations of Britten’s centenary, in performances presented by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham International Concert Season, Ex Cathedra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and Birmingham Royal Ballet. For a taste of the music, listen to our Spotify playlist.
BRITTEN DISCOVERY DAY
Saturday 12 January 2013, 10.30am–5pm, CBSO Centre
A day-long series of talks, live music and discussion examining Benjamin Britten, his music, and his world: from the influence of the Suffolk coast to the innocence of childhood and the darkness of the human condition.
A BOY WAS BORN
Saturday 12 January 2013, 7.30pm, Town Hall
Ex Cathedra Choir
Academy of Vocal Music
Jeffrey Skidmore – conductor
Alexander Mason – organ
Britten:
Jubilate in C 4’
A Hymn to the Virgin 4’
A Boy Was Born 32’
Choral Dances from Gloriana 10’
A Hymn to St Cecilia 10’
Rejoice in the Lamb 15’
YOUNG BRITTEN AND BEETHOVEN’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2
Sunday 13 January 2013, 5.30pm, Town Hall
Britten Sinfonia
Angela Hewitt – piano
Britten: Simple Symphony 16’
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 27’
Britten: Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge 24’
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 (Classical) 16’
WINTER WORDS FROM IAN BOSTRIDGE
Wednesday 16 January 2013, 7.30pm, Town Hall
Ian Bostridge – tenor
Julius Drake – piano
Schubert: Twelve songs from Winterreise (A Winter’s Journey) 35’
Ives: Memories; Thoreau; 1, 2, 3; Remembrance (A sound of a distant horn); Feldeinsamkeit 12′
Britten: Winter Words 22’
A SPRING SYMPHONY
Thursday 17 January, 7.30pm & Saturday 19 January 2013, 7pm, Symphony Hall
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner – conductor
Susan Gritton – soprano
Kelley O’Connor – mezzo
Allan Clayton – tenor
CBSO Chorus, Youth Chorus & Children’s Chorus
Bridge: Suite, The Sea 19’
Elgar: Sea Pictures 23’
Britten: A Spring Symphony 45’
FREE pre-concert talks: 17 January at 6.15pm; 19 January at 5.45pm.
OSBORNE PLAYS BRITTEN’S PIANO CONCERTO
Wednesday 6 February 2013, 7.30pm, Symphony Hall
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov – conductor
Steven Osborne – piano
Sibelius: The Bard 8’
Britten: Piano Concerto 34’
John Oswald: B9 part 1 (World premiere of the orchestral version) 15’
Sibelius: Symphony No. 6 30’
FREE pre-concert performance at 6.15pm: Conservatoire Showcase!
Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Seal, performs Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem.
FAMILY CONCERT: PETER AND THE WOLF
Sunday 10 February 2013, 3pm, Symphony Hall
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Michael Seal – conductor
Catherine Arlidge – presenter
Programme includes music from Britten’s Four Sea Interludes.
FREE craft workshops and music in the foyers from 1.30pm.
BOSTRIDGE SINGS BRITTEN
Wednesday 6 March 2013, 7.30pm, Symphony Hall
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Michael Seal – conductor
Ian Bostridge – tenor
Elgar: In the South 20’
Britten: Les Illuminations 23’
Britten: Prelude and Fugue 9’
Elgar: Enigma Variations 32’
ILLUMINATING BRITTEN
Saturday 18 May 2013, 7.30pm, CBSO Centre
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, introduced by BCMG Artist-in-Association John Woolrich
Berg: Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano
Britten: Elegy
Copland: Nocturne and Ukelele Serenade
Britten: Going downhill on a bicycle
Knussen: Cantata
Henze: Olly on the Shore
Berg: Adagio
Britten: Suite
Britten: Phantasy Quartet
NELSONS CONDUCTS BRITTEN’S WAR REQUIEM
Tuesday 28 May 2013, 7.30pm, Symphony Hall
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Andris Nelsons – conductor
Kristine Opolais – soprano
Mark Padmore – tenor
Hanno Müller-Brachmann – baritone
CBSO Chorus, CBSO Youth Chorus and CBSO Children’s Chorus
Britten: War Requiem 77’
FREE pre-concert talk at 6.15pm.
LUNCHTIME ORGAN CONCERT- THOMAS TROTTER WITH CELIA CRAIG
Monday 3 June 2013, 1pm, Symphony Hall
In a special international partnership, Thomas performs with Celia Craig, Principal Oboe of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
A Marcello: Concerto in D minor for Oboe 10’
J Rheinberger (arr Hermann J Busch): Rhapsodie 6’
Britten: Six Metamorphoses after Ovid 14’
G Litaize: Prélude et Danse Fuguée 7’
R Ampt: Rondo for a Happy Day 6’
J Noyon: Concertino Pastorale 7’
BELCEA QUARTET AND TILL FELLNER
Monday 1 July 2013, 7pm, Town Hall
Belcea Quartet
Till Fellner – piano
Schubert: String Trio in B flat 22’
Britten: String Quartet No. 1 28’
Dvorák: Piano Quintet 35’
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET: THE PRINCE OF THE PAGODAS
Award-winning Director David Bintley’s new version of Benjamin Britten’s only ballet score makes its UK premiere in February 2014 at Birmingham Hippodrome. First performed by the National Ballet of Japan, Bintley’s choreography draws inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e paintings by Kuniyoshi as well as the gestural language of noh theatre. The Prince of the Pagodas promises to be one of the cultural highlights of the year. Tickets on sale from March 2013. www.brb.org.uk
