The Spirit of Christmas 2011

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra The Spirit of Christmas

Box Office 0151 709 3789 www.liverpoolphil.com

Cover - The Snowman by Raymond Briggs Š Snowman Enterprises Ltd 1982, 2011

The Spirit of Christmas Celebrate the festive season in style with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

We open the season with Carl Davis leading The Best Christmas Sing-along Ever!, with family favourites Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, White Christmas and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

This year, our traditional carol concerts, Spirit of Christmas, are presented by John Suchet, one of the UK’s best-known newscasters and journalists and now the voice of Classic FM’s morning show.

Sing along to your favourite carols with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir.

The whole family can join in the fun with The Snowman plus Santa’s Singalong, a screening of Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman, followed by a highenergy Christmas singalong*.

Families will also the perennial classic, The Wizard of Oz, with the soundtrack performed live by the orchestra.

The Best Christmas Sing-along Ever!

Saturday 10 December & Saturday 17 December 7.30pm

Carl Davis CBE (Hon) conductor Mary Carewe soprano – Liverpool Philharmonic Training Choir and Melody Makers

When Carl Davis promises the best Christmas sing-along ever, he delivers!

Join Carl, the Orchestra and star soprano Mary Carewe as they crack open their musical selection box for a Christmas party like no other. Whether it’s the serenity of Bach and Tchaikovsky or such all-time family favourites as Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, White Christmas and Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Carl knows exactly how to get an audience into the Christmas spirit – and don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of chance to join in too!

Tickets £16, £21, £28, £33, £40 Under 25s/students/claimants £7

Plus, don’t miss our very popular New Year’s Eve Concert (just a few tickets still remain!) and Handel’s Messiah in the New Year.

Carl Davis CBE (Hon) conductor

3

The Spirit of Christmas Friday 16 December / Tuesday 17 December Wednesday 18 December / Thursday 19 December Friday 20 December 7.30pm Ian Tracey conductor Tine Thing Helseth trumpet John Suchet presenter – Simon Emery Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir director

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir

Liverpool Philharmonic’s traditional celebration of Christmas has been much loved by generations, and this year is just as you remember it, full of glorious music and favourite readings that capture the magic and mystery of the festive season. John Suchet, one of the UK’s best-known newscasters and journalists, Beethoven scholar, and now the voice of Classic FM’s morning show is our presenter this year. Making her Liverpool Philharmonic debut, playing the instrument that possibly above all others conjures up visions of snowy Christmas mornings and Yuletide cheer, is the 23-year-old Norwegian trumpeter, Tine Thing Helseth, whose album, My Heart is Ever Present, a collection of her favourite Christmas songs, went ‘gold’ in the Norwegian classical chart. The “full bodied and stirring” (Liverpool Echo) Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir stars.

Tickets £16, £21, £28, £33, £40 Under 25s/students/claimants £7

John Suchet © Classic FM

4

Tine Thing Helseth

The Snowman plus Santa's Sing-along Saturday 17 December 2.30pm Sunday 18 December 11.30am / 2.30pm Thursday 22 December 11.30am / 2.30pm

The Wizard of Oz with Live Music Friday 30 December 2.30pm/7.30pm

Alasdair Malloy presenter/soloist Timothy Henty conductor

John Wilson conductor

Join us for our annual holiday extravaganza for the whole family, this year featuring the film The Snowman

by Raymond Briggs, accompanied by the full orchestra.

As usual you’ll be invited to sing-along to your Christmas favourites and Santa will make a special appearance. A highenergy treat to get everyone in the mood for Christmas!

(The Snowman by Raymond Briggs by arrangement with Snowman Enterprises Ltd www.thesnowman.co.uk)

Tickets £12, £15 £8 children

We all remember the moment in The Wizard of Oz when black and white transforms into colour. And you’ll never forget hearing those glorious songs performed live,with the classic movie, by a full symphony orchestra. Forget that scratchy old soundtrack – for the first time, you’ll hear Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Follow the Yellow Brick Road and the whole of the score in full orchestral Technicolor. Whether you’re introducing your children or grandchildren to The Wizard of Oz for the first time or – like conductor John Wilson – you know every line and still can’t get enough of it, this is the ultimate seasonal family treat.

Tickets £13, £18, £24, £29, £36 Under 25s/students/claimants £7

The Snowman © Raymond Briggs

The Snowman © Raymond Briggs

5

Y ED IT IT IL M B LI ILA A AV

Handel’s Messiah Saturday 7 January 7pm (note start time)

New Year's Eve Saturday 31 December 7.30pm

John Wilson conductor Clare Teal vocalist

See in the New Year with a swing, as bandleader extraordinaire John Wilson transforms the Orchestra into the ultimate big-band. It’ll be a night of pure showbiz glamour, all silky strings, blaring brass and swooning saxes as midnight draws closer; a glittering hitparade of jazz standards by Gershwin, Porter and Irving Berlin in arrangements by Nelson Riddle and Billy May, as well as toe-tapping dance numbers and classic showtunes. Noone does it quite like John Wilson. He’s joined by Clare Teal, one of the UK’s most successful British jazz singers.

Bring in 2012 in unforgettable style!

Handel Messiah – Paul Agnew conductor Klara Ek soprano Iestyn Davies countertenor Allan Clayton tenor Roderick Williams bass Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

Tickets £16, £21, £28, £33, £40

Handel’s Messiah isn’t so much an oratorio as a national institution.

Everyone knows the Hallelujah chorus, but if that’s all you know, you’re in for a wonderful revelation – because every note is just as inspired.

Whatever your beliefs you’ll be stirred by some of the most uplifting music of all time, including Ev’ry Valley, I Know That My Redeemer Liveth and For Unto Us A Child is Born. It’s a New Year tradition in Liverpool, and this year, early music expert Paul Agnew and a top-notch team of singers take it to the next level, with a rare performance of Messiah the way it was done at the great Birmingham Festival of 1784 – bigger, brassier, and more glorious than ever.

Tickets £16, £21, £28, £33, £40 Under 25s/students/claimants £7

Clare Teal vocalist

6

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

6 Myrtle Street/Hope Street

Visitor car parking Mount Pleasant

Secure All Day Parking.

Cost > £5

Opposite Metropolitan Cathedral.

Avaliable Monday - Friday after 5.30pm, and all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Cost > £2 (up to 3 hrs) £3 (over 3 hrs).

3 HOPE ST

RIDGE CAMB

ERRY ST

LL

ST

6 LEECE ST

1 FALKNE

CANNING ST 39

0 A5

NING ST

LIVERPOOL CATHEDRAL

E ST

HOP

T CAN GREA

DUKE ST

R ST

ST

2

ST

CATHERINE

BERRY ST

HOPE ST

CALEDONIA ST

DUKE ST

5

E MYRTL

MYRTLE ST

HARDMAN ST

UPPER

ST

MULB

ST

LD

ST OXFORD

RODNEY

ST

Situated on Falkner Street, this car park is open on concert nights from 5.30pm, until 20 mins after the end of concerts.

Gates will be locked after this period.

Do not use if unstaffed. Cost > £4

BO

ST

T CE S

W HA NS RE

LIVERPOOL CENTRAL

PLEASA NT

4

NT

REN

CLA

MOUNT

METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL

GROVE

ST

BRO

Adjacent to Philharmonic Hall on Caledonia Street. Cost > £5

L HIL

M

ST

E

L HIL LOW WN

1 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

2 Blackburne House Car Park

OUN T PL EAS A

ELL

PP ER

LOW WN BRO S RUS

LIME ST STATION

HI

ST GEORGE’S HALL

TUNNEL ENTRANCE

AS

WAY ENS

QUE

Please note that car parks 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 are not operated by the Liverpool Philharmonic. Times/priceswere correct at time of print. Please check opening and closing times and prices of these car parks before parking.

M

*does not apply to New Year’s Eve or Spirit of Christmas concerts

Continue along the motorway until its end and then follow the signs for the city centre, cathedrals and universities (c.3 miles). Turn left at the Metropolitan Cathedral and head past the Everyman Theatre along Hope Street (see map). If lost, use this maxim: find one cathedral, head for the other. The Phil is halfway between the two.

4 University of Liverpool

LI

Group discounts Groups of 10 or more can save up to 20% on tickets*! Call Dawn Williams on 0151 210 2918 for details.

Directions from the M62

Generally open on concert nights from 5.30pm. Secure with CCTV and manned patrols.

Cost > £3 on production of your concert ticket. Tickets must be produced and payment made to the Constables Lodge on arrival.

Opposite Cambridge Pub. Avaliable Monday - Friday after 5.30pm, and all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Cost > £2 (up to 3 hrs) £3 (over 3 hrs).

LIME ST

Booking fees: All credit/debit card orders are subject to a £1.50 per ticket service charge. If you would like tickets posted to you, there is a 75p per order charge. Orders paid for by cheque incur a £1 per order fee. Group tickets incur a 50p per ticket charge.

Car Park

CO

Online www.liverpoolphil.com

Philharmonic Hall is within walking distance of Lime Street and Central Stations. We are also on the frequent 86 bus route. www.merseytravel.gov.uk has comprehensive transport information and a ‘Journey Planner’ service, or you can call Traveline on 0871 200 2233.

5 Liverpool Cathedral

Visitor car parking Cambridge Street

ST

Telephone 0151 709 3789

Public Transport

3 University of Liverpool

R

By post By post or in person in advance. Box Office, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BP.

How to find us

HA NO VE

Booking Information

7

Gift Vouchers

Tickets are a wonderful Christmas present, but if you’re not sure which performance to choose, a gift voucher is a great idea!

Gift vouchers can be redeemed for tickets to any Liverpool Philharmonic event and are available in any amount.

To order, call 0151 709 3789 or visit www.liverpoolphil.com/giftvouchers or in person at Box Office, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BP.

Dedicate a Seat at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall The perfect Christmas gift for music lovers

Make your mark on Liverpool Philharmonic Hall by choosing a dedication for us to engrave on a brass plaque and secure to a seat of your choice in the auditorium (subject to available seats).

Receive all the benefits of Silver Membership including access to our Private Patrons’ Bar at Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra concerts, and receive invitations to exclusive events throughout the Season including Open Rehearsals and Pre-Concert Receptions.

Dedicate a seat for just £10 a month (£120 a year). Call 0151 210 2921, email fundraising@liverpoolphil.com or visit our website www.liverpoolphil.com/dedicate

Principal Funders

Thanks to the City of Liverpool for its financial support Principal Partner

Higher Education Partner

Media Partner

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society Founded 1840 A company limited by guarantee Registered in England number 88235 Registered charity number 230538