Award-winning festival, Manchester Classical, takes place this weekend (27-29 June), a vibrant celebration showcasing Manchester as a premier European hub for world-class artists and classical music.
Taking place at The Bridgewater Hall and hosted by BBC Radio 3’s Elizabeth Alker, the festival includes diverse and exciting concerts throughout the weekend by the Hallé, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Opera, Manchester Collective, Riot Ensemble and Royal Northern College of Music.
Whether a seasoned concert-goer or keen to try something new, the festival is inclusive for everybody. The Bridgewater Hall is a fully accessible building with wheelchair seats and step free access available. A BSL interpreter and surtitles will be present for some shows and a Sennheiser infrared hearing system is available in the main auditorium. An accessibility guide is available here.
Audiences can book tickets for individual concerts, or if they would like to make a day of it, weekend and day passes are also available.
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There is also an engaging programme of FREE performances and activities which have now been announced, including:
- Family crafts, trails and treasure hunts
- Instrumental petting zoo
- Costume rail dress-up provided by English National Opera
- Chetham’s School of Music performances
- Bharatiya Vrund Gaan: The Indian Choir of England performance and piano recital
- Hallé archive talks and listening stations
- Singing for Breathing and Wellbeing workshop
- Streetwise Opera
- RNCM Community Chorus
- AMC Gospel Choir
Find out more at https://www.mcrclassical.org
The main stage performances include:
Friday 27 June – Festival Launch
The Hallé kicks off the festival on Friday evening in a concert celebrating the music of minimalist composer Steve Reich with Radiohead’s guitarist Jonny Greenwood taking the solo spot in Pulse, scored for winds, strings, piano and electric bass. The concert also includes Reich favourites Clapping Music and Variations for Vibes, Piano and Strings.
Saturday 28 June – Main Stage Highlights
At 11am, the Hallé Children’s Choir starts the day with a performance of songs from stage and screen. RNCM Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will take to the stage at 2pm to perform Mahler’s glorious Second Symphony. At 5pm, the innovative Riot Ensemble bring a contemporary set and at 8pm, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conclude the day with an orchestral programme conducted by Anja Bihlmaier, including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, featuring piano soloist Hayato Sumino.
Sunday 29 June – Main Stage Highlights
At 10.30am, family audiences will be treated to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Quentin Blake’s heartwarming Box of Treasures, with the film shown on the big screen. Enjoy a concert of Opera Favourites at 1pm with one of the finest professional operatic ensembles in the UK today, the Chorus of ENO, accompanied by the Hallé. Manchester Collective takes the afternoon slot at 3.30pm with an adventurous show The Body Electric featuring music by Bach, Missy Mazzoli, and Julia Wolfe.
The weekend draws to a spectacular conclusion at 6.30pm with a landmark joint concert featuring members of the main stage ensembles performing Respighi’s The Pines of Rome and featuring John Adams’ ‘fanfare for orchestra’, Short Ride in a Fast Machine. Conducted by Alpesh Chauhan, the concert will also feature a new commission by Iain Farrington, raising the roof of The Bridgewater Hall as musicians from the main stage ensembles take to the stage for an epic combined performance.
