RNCM Live Spring 2012 by RNCM

Welcome to the Spring season at the RNCM Ben Cottrell’s Beats & Pieces (16 February) are currently reinventing the big band sound like no other and we welcome the group home on their ﬁrst major national tour. B&P are joined this Spring by Empirical (21 January) and the Portico Quartet (10 March), two more pioneering bands winning over legions of new fans wherever they play. Marcus Roberts (23 March), a close friend and disciple of Wynton Marsarlis, has forged his own classic sound over the years, and makes his RNCM début this season; meanwhile, the trademark hear-a-pin-drop compositions of Tord Gustavsen (17 March) whisper with all their beauty to be heard. Gustavsen’s visit features in our ongoing Nørth season (see opposite), as do two of the Spring’s festivals: New Music North West (3 – 10 March), a major celebration of the ink-still-wet contemporary music of our region; and the annual RNCM Day of Song (29 April), this year inspired by the words of William Shakespeare. Festivals feature large beyond – a Day of Percussion (12 February), weekends dedicated to Brass (27 – 29 January) and Strings (17 – 18 March), and to open the season the annual RNCM Chamber Music Festival (13 – 15 January), which this year brings the sounds and sights of Paris alive with colourful music composed over three centuries. The French theme is extended by the complete piano music of Ravel, as surveyed by Steven Osborne (16 February, and concluding 14 June), whilst the young early music ensemble Grand Désir (13 February) brings alive the chanson and basse danse of medieval Burgundy, music that is pure and reﬁned. Debussy sits at the heart of a mixed programme from Peter Donohoe (8 March), whilst Calefax (22 March) reinvent the wind quintet, Eclipse (24 April) reinterpret the traditional folk music of our islands, and Twelfth Day (31 March), collaborating with Gaelic polymath Joy Dunlop, celebrate the role of women in the tunes and the dances of their native Scotland. The ease with which Naturally 7 (6 February) create the melodies, harmonies, beats and lyrics of their à capella sound is jaw-dropping and, judging by the feedback from their 2009 gig here, their return is bound to be a hot Spring ticket. There is Latin warmth and high energy too in the Cuban piano sound of Buena Vista Social Club protégé, Roberto Fonseca (24 March). Tim Garland returns with his Lighthouse Trio (26 April), continuing his Ignite series with a collaboration with RNCM Strings, whilst the RNCM Big Band performs tunes by Loose Tubes with Steve Berry (4 February) and stages a battle of the American and British songbooks with the incomparable Yorkshire chanteuse Clare Teal (28 March). 22

Look out for the return of our International Artist Diploma series, featuring four students on the cusp of major musical careers, in recital this term (10 and 17 February, 16 and 23 March) and featuring as concerto soloists next (19 and 20 May). The RNCM Chamber Orchestra works with Tecwyn Evans on Mendelssohn (30 March), whilst the RNCM Symphony Orchestra tackles Brahms and Dvorˇák with James Burton and the new RNCM Symphony Chorus (3 February). Meanwhile, on stage we unveil a new production of Handel’s Xerxes (22, 25, 27, 29 and 31 March), a typically complicated tale of love, kingship and the most glorious music, whilst the Guys and Dolls (25 – 28 April) of our RNCM Youth Perform group bring prohibition New York to life in the suitably subterranean RNCM Studio Theatre. There are over 20 free lunchtime concerts this Spring, featuring everything from solo performers to full symphony orchestras, and we’ve drawn these together in a separate listing on pages 39 – 41. And look out too for our free Spotlights (marked with ), a chance to see just a little of the music that we make here at the College every day of the year. We look forward to seeing you at the RNCM this Spring.

Toby Smith Director of Performance and Programming

From rolling English hills to windswept Scottish isles, the fjords and lakes of Scandinavia and the frozen landscapes of the Arctic, Nørth explores music from the northern frontiers of Europe. From the traditional music of the British Isles and the best in Nordic jazz to the symphonic music of Elgar, Holst, Vaughan Williams, Sibelius, Grieg and Nielsen, and everything in between, this is music for a cold climate that warms us all. The bagpipes of Peter Maxwell Davies’ Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise heralded the opening of the Nørth season back in October. Since then, we’ve experienced the ice instruments of Terje Isungset, explored the polar regions on HD ﬁlm with a live orchestra, chilled out to Christian Wallumrød’s jazz-froma-cold-climate, and thrown ourselves into one last céilidh with Uiscedwr. This Spring we continue our exploration of the orchestral music of the North, including key scores by Elgar and Britten, Grieg and Sibelius, and the music inspired by Mendelssohn’s excursions to Scotland. From Sweden we welcome trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger in recital and trombonist Christian Lindberg gives one of his legendary masterclasses. Norwegian jazz pianist and composer Tord Gustavsen makes a welcome return, whilst Twelfth Day set Scottish folk tales to music and Eclipse tell the tales of English folk music. Shakespeare is the inspiration behind this year’s Day of Song, and at the very heart of the Spring sits New Music North West, the largest celebration of the contemporary music of our region to date in this century. Nørth continues through to midsummer, as the nights become shorter and music ﬁlls the warming air.

RNCM Historic Instrument Collection Open 12 - 1pm before every lunchtime concert (see p39-41 for details), 6 - 7pm before the performances of Xerxes (see p31) and 6 - 7.15pm where this symbol appears. Festival opening times are listed on the appropriate pages. 3

FRIDAY 13 – SUNDAY 15 JANUARY

RNCM CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL L’ESPRIT DE PARIS: CHAMBER MUSIC FROM THE CULTURAL HEART OF FRANCE In the short yet magniﬁcent history of the RNCM Chamber Music Festival, we’ve travelled throughout Central and Eastern Europe and to the New World. This year, I have chosen to visit one of the main cultural centres of the Old World - Paris. For me, Paris conjures up vibrancy - the architecture, the food and, of course, Parisians themselves are gloriously colourful. And this translates to the music of this wonderful city. Indeed, the colourful sound is what I ﬁnd so attractive in French chamber music. That sound never stops developing; there is always a touch of freshness in it, throughout the centuries.

JANUARY

This year’s Festival programme explores the repertoire that emerged from the courts and churches of Paris in the early 18th century, the wealth of sumptuous music by the Romantic composers of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and beyond, including works by composers from ‘Les Six’ and Olivier Messiaen. Two of the great masters of French music, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, are given special attention on Saturday and Sunday of the Festival respectively.

So alongside some two hundred RNCM students, our chamber music professors, a selection of world renowned visiting artists including the Ysaÿe and Talich Quartets plus the Gould Piano Trio, and our Junior Fellows in Chamber Music the Finzi Quartet will present the most delicate French sound to you, trying to define the undefinable - elegance, flair, L’Esprit de Paris… Petr Prause artistic director RNCM

Full Festival Ticket Friday Ticket Saturday Ticket Sunday Ticket

£135 £50 £42 £50

Individual tickets as listed

During the Festival, the RNCM Historic Instrument Collection will be open on Friday 13 (1pm – 2pm), Saturday 14 (1pm – 2pm) and Sunday 15 January (1pm – 2pm).

Luthiers and Bow Makers Exhibition Throughout the Festival, a comprehensive exhibition featuring the UK’s leading luthiers, bow makers and retailers will be on display. Whether you’re just curious, or looking for a new instrument, this is a major opportunity to try out some of the best contemporary work. Instrument and bow makers exhibiting include: Colin Adamson, Noel Burke, Neil Ertz, Christopher Halstead, William John, Gary Leahy, Helen Michetschläger, Kai-Thomas Roth, Marc Soubeyran, George Stoppani, Colin Tulloch and Jonathan Gibbs Books.

10am RNCM Concert Hall

Paris Romantique

2pm Carole Nash Recital Room

5.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Masterclass with Peter Cropper

The Revolutionary Violin

Camille Saint-Saëns Septet in E ﬂat major Op 65 Gabriel Fauré Piano Quartet in C minor Op 15 César Franck Piano Quintet in F minor

Christopher Rowland International Masterclass

Tickets £9

The violinist and leader of the Lindsay String Quartet for over 40 years works with RNCM musicians.

Concessions available

César Franck Sonata in A major for violin and piano

with Peter Sheppard Skærved The violinist Peter Sheppard Skærved explores the birth of the 19th century string sound, and the explosion of bow technology led by François Tourte. This lecture surveys the period from the emergence of the French violin virtuoso Giovanni Viotti in Paris in the 1780s up until the death of Pierre Baillot in 1842, and will feature excerpts of music for solo violin from the period, performed on a variety of bows.

12pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Tickets £9

Paris Baroque

Concessions available Supported by Christopher Rowland International Masterclass Fund

Tickets £9

4pm RNCM Concert Hall

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Finzi Quartet

Gould Piano Trio

Henri Dutilleux Ainsi la nuit César Franck String Quartet in D major

Gabriel Fauré Piano Trio in D minor Op 120 Germaine Tailleferre Piano Trio Bohuslav Martinu˚ Piano Trio No 1: Five Short Pieces Camille Saint-Saëns Piano Trio No 2 in E minor Op 92

Jean-Philippe Rameau Brass Quintet ‘Le rappel des oiseaux’; Concerto No 6 in G minor ‘La Poule’ Marin Marais Couplets de Folies d’Espagne François Couperin Les Bacchanales Tickets £9 Concessions available

2pm RNCM Concert Hall

Musicians from Chetham’s School of Music, Purcell School, and St Mary’s Music School Claude Debussy Symphony in B minor for piano four hands Maurice Ravel Chansons madécasses Claude Debussy Le triomphe de Bacchus for piano four hands Maurice Ravel Rhapsodie Espagnole for two pianos Claude Debussy Lindaraja for two pianos Bohuslav Martinu˚ String Quartet No 3 Tickets £9 Concessions available

Sara Wolstenholme, Natalie Klouda violin Ruth Gibson viola Lydia Shelley cello Tickets £9 Concessions available

5.30pm RNCM Theatre

Songs after Victor Hugo Hector Berlioz La Captive Georges Bizet Adieux de l’hôtesse arabe; La chanson du fou Gabriel Fauré Rêve d’amour; L’absent; Dans les ruines d’une abbaye César Franck Passez! Passez toujours! Camille Saint-Saëns Guitare Edouard Lalo Guitare Georges Bizet Guitare Jules Massenet Guitare

Concessions available

Lucy Gould violin Alice Neary viola Benjamin Frith piano Tickets £17 Concessions available

SATURDAY 14 JANUARY 10am RNCM Concert Hall

Children’s Concert RNCM tutors and musicians from Junior RNCM Maurice Ravel Ma mère l’oye for piano four hands Arthur Honegger Chansons de la petite sirène for voice, ﬂute and string quartet Claude Debussy Petite suite for piano four hands Camille Saint-Saëns The Carnival of the Animals A concert featuring Saint-Saëns’ famous suite, The Carnival of the Animals, a favourite with young and old alike. Some familiar faces will make up our animal kingdom, with performers including the Festival Artistic Director and RNCM tutors. Tickets £9 Free admission for 18s and under, by ticket only Concessions available

11.30am RNCM Concert Hall

Debussy Integrale Part I Claude Debussy Divertissement for piano four hands; Ariettes oubliées; Piano Trio in G major Tickets £9 Concessions available

9.45pm Carole Nash Recital Room

From Dawn to Dusk Jean Françaix Aubade for 12 cellos Jacques Ibert Capriccio for 10 instruments Free admission, no ticket required

11.30am Carole Nash Recital Room

Masterclass with Miguel da Silva Claude Debussy String Quartet in G minor Op 10

Tickets £9

The Ysaÿe Quartet’s viola player, Miguel da Silva, works with RNCM musicians on Debussy’s only string quartet, ahead of this evening’s concert.

Concessions available

Tickets £9 Concessions available

JANUARY

FRIDAY 13 JANUARY

2pm RNCM Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Debussy Integrale Part II

Ysaÿe Quartet

Claude Debussy Cinq Poèmes de Baudelaire; Chansons de Bilitis; Fêtes Galantes de Verlaine II; Danse Sacrée et Profane; Trois Ballades de François Villon; Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé

Gabriel Fauré String Quartet in E minor Op 121 André Boucourechliev Miroir 2: Five pieces for string quartet Op 29 Claude Debussy String Quartet in G minor Op 10

Tickets £9 Concessions available

Guillaume Sutre, Luc-Marie Aguera violin Miguel da Silva viola Yovan Markovitch cello Tickets £17

2pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Luthiers Demonstration Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga String Quartet No 3 in E ﬂat major Laurence Tompkins String Quartet (world première) Fabrice Fitch String Quartet Luigi Cherubini String Quartet No 3 in D minor Music both old and new on instruments provided by our exhibiting luthiers – an excellent opportunity to hear the most recent contemporary string instruments in concert. Free admission, no ticket required

Concessions available

La Jeune France

TriΔngle ensemble

Concessions available

Louise Farrenc Piano Trio in E ﬂat major Op 44

JANUARY 6

Claude Debussy Six épigraphes antiques; En blanc et noir for two pianos; Sonata for cello and piano; Sonata for ﬂute, viola and harp; Sonata for violin and piano Tickets £9 Concessions available

Maurice Ravel String Quartet in F major

Tickets £9 Concessions available

Concessions available

2pm RNCM Concert Hall

Ravel Integrale

Tickets £9

Debussy Integrale Part III

Masterclass with Vladimír Bukacˇ

RNCM Head of Composition Adam Gorb leads an exploration of Milhaud’s String Quartets 14 and 15, two works which can be played both independently and simultaneously.

Ástor Piazzolla Tangos

10am RNCM Concert Hall

11.30am RNCM Concert Hall

Les Six Darius Milhaud Fanfare Op 400 for two trumpets and two trombones Francis Poulenc Sextet Op 100 for piano and winds Darius Milhaud Suite d’après Corrette Op 161b for reed trio Arthur Honegger Three Counterpoints for piccolo, english horn, violin and cello Darius Milhaud Divertissement Op 299b for wind quintet

with Adam Gorb

11.30am Carole Nash Recital Room

Tickets £9

SUNDAY 15 JANUARY

Milhaud Octet Experiment Darius Milhaud String Quartets No 14 and No 15 Op 291

Tango Night Free admission, no ticket required

5.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Concessions available

9.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

4.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room

5pm RNCM Concert Hall

Tickets £9

Viola player with the Talich Quartet, Vladimír Bukacˇ works with RNCM musicians on Ravel’s string quartet, ahead of this evening’s concert.

André Jolivet Suite liturgique for voice, oboe, cello and harp Olivier Messiaen Chants de terre et de ciel

Free admission, no ticket required

Arthur Honegger Rapsodie for two ﬂutes, clarinet and piano Francis Poulenc Suite française Op 80

Maurice Ravel Piano Trio in A minor; Sonata in G major for violin and piano; Introduction and Allegro for ﬂute, clarinet, harp and string quartet; Sonata for violin and cello; Tzigane for violin and piano

5.30pm RNCM Theatre

Absolution Saxophone Quartet RNCM International Artist Diploma in Chamber Music Recital Alfred Desenclos Quatuor pour saxophones Maurice Ravel (arr Absolution) String Quartet in F major, ﬁrst movement Pierre Max Dubois Quatuor pour saxophones Jean Rivier Grave et Presto Tickets £9 Concessions available

Tickets £9 Concessions available

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall 4.15pm RNCM Theatre

Talich Quartet

Tempest Flute Trio

with Lynsey Marsh and Jeremy Young

RNCM Chamber Ensemble of the Year 2011

Joaquín Turina La Oración del Torero Op 34 Maurice Ravel String Quartet in F major Oliver Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time

The trio performs Debussy’s Syrinx and new works by Daniel Kidane, Linda Verrier, and the young composer and former BBC Young Musician of the Year, Mark Simpson. Tickets £9 Concessions available Supported by the Fidelio Charitable Trust

Jan Talich, Roman Patocˇka violin Vladimír Bukacˇ viola Petr Prause cello Lynsey Marsh clarinet Jeremy Young piano Tickets £17 Concessions available

TUESDAY 17 JANUARY

SATURDAY 21 JANUARY

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

10am - 5pm RNCM Concert Hall

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Piano Duo Prize

Manchester Camerata

Spotlight

Composers’ Project Workshop Day

Moments of Plastic Jubilation

Come and learn about the inner workings of contemporary composers in this workshop day featuring ten new works written by composers studying at the RNCM and Chetham’s School of Music. Led by composer Peter Wiegold and conductor Eduardo Portal, an ensemble of Camerata players will rehearse and discuss new compositions inspired by portraits in Manchester Art Gallery.

A bold introduction to the eclectic and wildly exciting fusion music emerging from 21st century Australian composers.

Free admission, by ticket only

Nathaniel Facey alto saxophone Shaney Forbes drums Tom Farmer bass Lewis Wright vibes

This competition gives an opportunity for selected RNCM piano duos to perform a varied 30 minute programme and will be adjudicated by renowned pianist and chamber musician, Noriko Ogawa. Tickets £7 Concessions available

RNCM

Promoted by

Free admission, no ticket required

7.30pm RNCM Theatre

Empirical

Empirical is the project of four young British jazz musicians who aim to expand on the traditions of jazz and their unique music manages to be both timeless and totally now. In just a few short years, they have carved out a place as one of jazz’s most exciting young bands and have won numerous awards, including the 2010 MOBO for best jazz act and Jazzwise and Mojo albums of the year.

EMPIRICAL

Tickets £18 £16 £14 Concessions available www.empiricalmusic.com

RNCM

JANUARY

Elements Of Truth is their third album, and the second with this current line-up. The band performs compositions and improvisations that express ideas taken from beyond music in a uniquely democratic style. Each member is given equal responsibility for the direction of the music in composition and in the moment of improvisation. It is this mixture of shared responsibility and openness that gives their music such a unique edge as they draw on inﬂuences from ﬁlm and TV, proverbs and sayings and even sports!

MONDAY 23 JANUARY 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Manchester Chamber Concerts Society Arcanto Quartet J S Bach Fugues 1, 4, 6 and 9 from The Art of Fugue Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet in F major Op 135 Franz Schubert String Quartet in G major D 887 Antje Weithaas, Daniel Sepec violin Tabea Zimmermann viola Jean-Guihen Queyras cello Formed in 2002, the Arcanto Quartet has been described as one of the most stimulating and enjoyable ensembles to listen to. In this concert they bring us a selection from Bach’s monumental The Art of Fugue, a work conceived on mathematical principles, yet one that is hugely expressive. Beethoven’s late F major quartet is another work of towering genius and Schubert’s G major brims with melodic delights. Tickets £22 (platform seats £11)

JANUARY

Concessions available www.chamberconcerts.org Promoted by MCCS

TUESDAY 24, FRIDAY 27 and TUESDAY 31 JANUARY

WEDNESDAY 25 JANUARY

6pm RNCM Theatre

RNCM Brand New Orchestra

RNCM Opera Scenes RNCM students perform selected staged excerpts drawn from operas based on the works of Shakespeare, Goethe and Da Ponte. 24 January: Operas by Verdi, Gounod, Vaughan Williams, Britten and Rossini, based on works by Shakespeare. 27 January: Operas by Massenet, Gounod and Thomas, based on works by Goethe. 31 January: Operas by Mozart, written to librettos by Da Ponte. Free admission, no ticket required RNCM

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Aljoša Škorja, Yibin Seow, Duncan Ward conductors An opportunity to hear new works for symphony orchestra by RNCM composition students in this workshop performance. Free admission, no ticket required RNCM

FRIDAY 27 JANUARY

RNCM FESTIVAL OF BRASS

Festival Prelude

With no fewer than twelve world or UK premières, a roster of performers that includes some of the ﬁnest brass soloists and bands on the planet, and a celebration of the achievements of emerging brass talent, the 2012 RNCM Festival of Brass promises to be one of the most wide ranging yet. From brass band classics, to jazz-based concertos and new music of serious and a lighter kind, there will be something on offer to suit all musical tastes, much of it chosen with the 2012 Olympic celebrations in mind.

Music for brass ensemble played by Euphony, Philip Jones Award-winners from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

The festival welcomes two world class trumpeters, in Håkan Hardenberger and Rex Richardson, a collection of great euphonium players, including David Child’s world première of UFO Concerto by Johan de Meij, and the gifted young trombonist Peter Moore, who appears in the Festival’s ﬁnal concert featuring BBC Radio 2’s re-vamped Young Brass Awards. This year’s featured composers are John Golland, whose 70th anniversary falls in 2012, and Judith Bingham, 60 next year. There will also be a comprehensive trade exhibition featuring the UK’s leading retailers and manufacturers displaying the latest in brass instruments and accessories.

6.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Free admission, no ticket required

7.45pm RNCM Concert Hall

Tredegar Town Band Sacred and Profane Ray Steadman-Allen Victorian Snapshots – On Ratcliff Highway Gavin Higgins New work (world première) Gavin Higgins Destroy, Trample, as swiftly as She Wilfred Heaton My Master’s Will Philip Wilby Lowry Sketchbook

Black Dyke Band

Ian Porterhouse conductor

An Olympic Celebration

Tickets £16 £14

Judith Bingham Four Minute Mile Mark-Anthony Turnage (arr Houlding) Set to Luke Carver Goss Pure Gold: a 4x3 Relay Race (A New Music 20x12 commission world première) John Golland Scherzo for tuba John Golland Peace for euphonium John Golland Sounds Modest Mussorgsky (arr Howarth) Pictures at an Exhibition Nicholas Childs conductor Joseph Cook tuba Gary Curtin euphonium Ian Macmillan narrator Manchester Chorale Tickets £16 £14 Concessions available

Paul Hindmarsh artistic director Supported by The Golland Trust

SATURDAY 28 JANUARY

RNCM

10am RNCM Theatre

Jazz Masterclass with Rex Richardson During the Festival, the RNCM Historic Instrument Collection will be open on Saturday 28 January (1pm – 2pm).

11.30am RNCM Concert Hall

Tickets £7 Concessions available

Concessions available

1.45pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Open Forum Johan de Meij in conversation with Paul Hindmarsh. Free admission, no ticket required

3pm RNCM Concert Hall

Brassband Bürgermusik Luzern Landscapes and Legends Dean Gofﬁn Rhapsodic Variations ‘My Strength, My Tower’ Kit Turnbull New work for euphonium and band (world première) John Golland Concerto for brass band Judith Bingham The Stars Above, the Earth Below Wilfred Heaton Variations on Annie Laurie Peter Meechan Legend of King Arthur Michael Bach conductor David Thornton euphonium Tickets £16 £14 Concessions available Supported by

JANUARY

FRIDAY 27 – SUNDAY 29 JANUARY

5.30pm RNCM Theatre

Junior RNCM Brass Band Les Neish, Jon Malaxetxebarria conductors The Junior RNCM Brass Band performs a selection of works by J S Bach, Louis Prima, Howard Snell and William Rimmer. Free admission, no ticket required

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Meet the Composers Artistic Director Paul Hindmarsh in conversation with the composers whose work is being premièred during the Festival. Free admission, no ticket required

SUNDAY 29 JANUARY 10am RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Brass Ensemble with students from McGill University Canada William Walton (arr Howarth) Spitﬁre Prelude and Fugue Tom Harrold Twisted Splinters (world première) Vanja Ljsjak Concerto for euphonium, symphonic brass and percussion Arthur Bliss Greetings to a City John Miller conductor Steven Mead euphonium Tickets £7 Concessions available

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

11.30am RNCM Concert Hall

Foden’s Band

Fairey (Geneva) Band

Band classics… and all that jazz

Song and Dance

Philip Sparke Pittsburgh Overture Jim Stephenson Concerto No 2 ‘Rextreme’ Andy Scott New work (world première)* John Ireland Comedy Overture Wilfred Heaton Partita

Maurice Johnstone Concert March ‘Beauﬁghters’ John Golland Euphonium Concerto No 1 Simon Dobson A Symphony of Colours* Wilfred Heaton Just as I am Kenneth Hesketh Danceries II (world première of new version)

Howard Snell, Michael Fowles* conductors Rex Richardson trumpet Tickets £16 £14 Concessions available

Frank Renton, Mark Peacock* conductors Matthew White euphonium Tickets £16 £14 Concessions available

1.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Håkan Hardenberger Lunchtime Recital

Thorvald Hansen Sonata for cornet and piano Op 18 Marcel Bitsch Four Variations on a theme of Domenico Scarlatti for cornet and piano Luciano Berio Sequenza X for trumpet and piano resonance Håkan Hardenberger trumpet Jonathan Scott piano A celebrity recital by one of the world's great trumpeters. Tickets £7 Concessions available

2.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Trumpet Masterclass with Håkan Hardenberger

JANUARY

Free admission, no ticket required

3.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Cory Band Heaven and Earth Gareth Wood Helvetica Johan de Meij UFO Concerto (world première) Judith Bingham Prague John Golland Bellna Eric Ball Resurgam Philip Wilby The New Jerusalem Robert Childs conductor David Childs euphonium

6.30pm RNCM Theatre N

Tickets £16 £14

Festival Finale featuring the recipients of the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Awards 2012 Music to include: Lucy Pankhurst Petrichor (world première) Simon Dobson Trombone Concerto* (world première) RNCM Brass Band Nicholas Childs conductor Jon Malaxetxebarria* conductor Peter Moore* trombone BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Award recipients: The Carnoustie and District Youth Brass Band James Fountain cornet Ross Knight tuba In a new initiative for this year’s Festival, the ﬁnal event of the 2012 Festival of Brass features performances from the newly announced recipients of the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Awards 2012, in the three categories of Youth Band, Soloist under 18 and Soloist under 21. The recipients will be joined by the RNCM Brass Band directed by Nicholas Childs and a panel of experts will select an overall Young Brass Award recipient during the concert. Amongst the repertoire for this unique celebration is a new trombone concerto by Simon Dobson performed by the 2008 BBC Young Musician of the Year, Peter Moore, plus new writing from Lucy Pankhurst, Dan Price, and Jonathan Bates. Tickets £10 Concessions available Supported by www.prsformusicfoundation.com

Concessions available

Full Festival Ticket £90 Saturday Day Ticket £39 Sunday Day Ticket £42 Individual tickets as listed

MONDAY 30 JANUARY

FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY

SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

The Frederic Cox Award for Singing

Spotlight

Mladi

Calum Macleod Quartet with Strings

This is the ﬁrst of three major RNCM vocal competitions this Spring, offering an opportunity to spot the stars of tomorrow. Previous winners of this Prize include Simon Keenlyside, Amanda Roocroft and Kathryn Rudge. Tonight’s adjudicator is Elaine Padmore, former Director of Opera of the Royal Opera House.

Janácˇek reﬂects on his school days in the quirky Mladi (youth) wind sextet, whilst the Villa-Lobos Quintetto en Forme de Chorus demonstrates the popular music of street bands in Brazil.

Come and experience the sound of two quartets combined to create something that is jazz, but not as you know it.

Concessions available

RNCM

Free admission, no ticket required

7.30pm RNCM Theatre 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Chorus Aaron Parker Paths through winter trees (world première of an RNCM commission) Samuel Barber Piano Concerto Op 38 Antonin Dvorˇák Te Deum Op 103 Johannes Brahms Song of Destiny Op 54 James Burton, Carlos del Cueto, Gergely Madaras conductors Maya Irgalina piano Brian Hughes chorus director An Aaron Parker world première opens tonight’s proceedings, followed by RNCM International Artist Diploma student Maya Irgalina, who will perform Barber’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Piano Concerto. We’re delighted to mark the début of the College's new Symphony Chorus with a performance of Brahms’ Song of Destiny – a juxtaposition of the bliss of the gods and the sufferings of mankind plunging into the abyss. Also featured is Dvorˇák’s setting of the great Latin hymn, Te Deum Laudamus. Tickets £17 £14 Concessions available

STEVE BERRY

RNCM

RNCM Big Band with Steve Berry Mike Hall director Steve Berry double bass For the ﬁrst of two Spring shows, the RNCM Big Band is joined by double bass supremo, Steve Berry. Alongside his busy teaching career (he teaches here at the RNCM, at LIPA and at Chetham's), Steve has a jaw-dropping CV and has played with the likes of Loose Tubes, Ute Lemper, Kathryn Tickell, Art Farmer and Mike Walker, to name just a few. Drawing on material Steve has composed over the last 30 years, tonight’s concert includes pieces originally heard with Loose Tubes, through to recent works for LIPA’s Large & Loose ensemble, as well as LIPA’s exchange programme with University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Tickets £18 £16 £14 Concessions available www.room4music.com

RNCM

JANUARY | FEBRUARY

Tickets £10

Free admission, no ticket required

SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY

MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY

10am – 5pm RNCM Concert Hall

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

7.30pm RNCM Theatre

East London Clarinet Choir

Spotlight

Naturally 7

Woodwind Orchestra Play Day

B.Y.O.B. (Build Your Own Boat)

Shea Lolin artistic director Keiron Anderson, Paul Harris, James Rae, Chris Swann guest tutors

An absorbing young jazz fusion trio, drawing on contrasting musical backgrounds to create a highly engaging, specialised and spontaneous group that will stimulate your senses!

Tickets £35 from 0208 553 4973 or www.elclarinetchoir.co.uk

FEBRUARY

Concessions available Sponsored by Rico, Sempre Music, Vandoren, Wood, Wind & Reed Promoted by East London Clarinet Choir

Free admission, no ticket required

‘This is one of the must-see performances of all time.’ Brian Eno Tickets £20 Concessions available www.naturallyseven.com RNCM in association with

NATURALLY 7

Open to all orchestral woodwind instruments, this annual event provides the opportunity to make music directed by some of the country’s leading specialists, meet fellow woodwind players and browse the trade stands.

Naturally 7 take classic close-harmony style to stratospheric new heights, mixing beat boxing, basslines and uncanny instrumental imitation with rap and hook-laden soul, pop and jazz. This is a vocal group in a league of its own, and their genuinely fresh use of the voice and astonishingly versatile talent have garnered diverse fans including Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Jay Leno and Brian Eno.

TUESDAY 7 FEBRUARY

THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY

FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Paganini Prize

Spotlight

Seascapes Taking inspiration from the sea surrounding Aldeburgh, Benjamin Britten's coastal String Quartet No 1 is brimming with wonderful fantasy, vast serenity and frothy humour. Free admission, no ticket required

RNCM violinists and viola players compete for this prestigious annual prize, adjudicated by RNCM International Tutor in Violin, Gérard Poulet. Tickets £7 Concessions available

Rossini String Sonata No 6 Although primarily remembered for a handful of operas, this work, written when the composer was a mere 12 years old, displays a phenomenal mastery of string writing. Free admission, no ticket required

RNCM

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Masterclass with Hatto Beyerle

Joris van den Berg

The co-founder of the Alban Berg Quartet, current artistic director of the European Chamber Music Academy and one of the world’s foremost foremost professors of chamber music works with a selection of RNCM chamber music groups in this masterclass. Tickets £9 Concessions available Supported by Christopher Rowland International Masterclass Fund

RNCM

Free admission, to reserve your place contact Junior RNCM on 0161 907 5264

RNCM International Artist Diploma Cello Recital J S Bach Cello Suite No 5 in C minor BWV 1011 Gaspar Cassadó Suite for solo cello Ludwig van Beethoven Variations on the theme ‘Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen’ from Die Zauberflöte WoO 46 Sergei Prokofiev Cello Sonata in C major Op 119 Frédéric Chopin Polonaise Brillante Op 3 Joris van den Berg cello Martijn Willers piano Tonight’s concert is the first of four recitals featuring the four young artists on the RNCM International Artist Diploma course, specifically designed for soloists on the cusp of high-profile performing careers. Dutch cellist Joris van den Berg made his début at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw after he won first prize at the 2006 Dutch National Cello Competition. He also won an RNCM Gold Medal in 2010, the highest accolade for performance at the College.

HATTO BEYERLE

The Junior RNCM Open Day provides an opportunity for prospective Junior RNCM students to visit the RNCM, meet current staff, students and parents, and to listen to the Juniors perform in several showcase concerts.

RNCM

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Christopher Rowland International Masterclass

Junior RNCM Open Day

This series continues on February 17 with the clarinettist Rocio Bolanos. Tickets £10 Concessions available

RNCM

FEBRUARY

Spotlight

SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY

SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY

RNCM DAY OF PERCUSSION Welcome to the 2012 RNCM Day of Percussion our 20th annual event showcasing a wealth of percussive talent from around the world. As RNCM Director of Percussion Studies, I am particularly pleased that this year’s event features such a wide variety of percussive skills and styles for you to experience. We really have something for everyone - legendary drummer Clem Cattini, bodhrán virtuoso Cormac Byrne, cymbal specialist Graham Johns, international percussion soloist Pedro Carneiro, orchestral percussion specialist Paul Patrick and jazz mallet supremo Arthur Lipner. Throughout the day we will be showing Arthur Lipner’s ﬁlm Talking Sticks, which explores the roles of creativity and culture in today’s society. It’s a personal documentary of images and interviews by Arthur Lipner, and was ﬁlmed in Mexico, Ghana, Brazil and Norway. It is an inspirational journey you won’t forget! Alongside all of this we present an extensive trade exhibition featuring many of the leading percussion retailers and manufacturers all under one roof. I look forward to seeing you there! Simone Rebello artistic director

FEBRUARY

RNCM

9.40am RNCM Theatre

12.20pm RNCM Theatre

5pm RNCM Theatre

Paul Patrick

Arthur Lipner

Cormac Byrne

and now for something completely different

Getting to know Vibes and Marimba (and all that jazz)

Bodhrán, Bones and Spoons

From kitchen knives to dustbins, whistles to waterphones, Paul will explore the weird, wacky and wonderful world of some of the more unusual percussion instruments. Prepare to be amazed and entertained as Paul explains how he has amassed a huge collection of instruments over 30 years and shows the way in which they are played and incorporated into the orchestral repertoire.

Arthur Lipner’s workshop begins by covering the essentials such as mallet selection, grip and technique, and then discusses structural aspects of the vibes such as fans/motor and wheels, considering how they affect the performer and the music. Arthur will engage all the audience to participate and get a taste of the joys of jazz, improvisation and composing on the spot - so bring your notebook, four mallets, and get ready to have some fun!

Talking Sticks A ﬁlm by Arthur Lipner Arthur Lipner’s ﬁlm will be shown on a loop throughout the day – you can drop in and out at your convenience.

2.20pm RNCM Theatre

Clem Cattini Playing the band, playing the song Legendary rock and roll drummer Clem Cattini presents a session focusing on how to play within a song, as well as within the band.

11am RNCM Concert Hall

Graham Johns Cymbals in the Symphony Orchestra A study in the sonic possibilities of cymbals and how they can enhance some of the greatest repertoire written for the orchestra, with detailed discussions about technique and sound production.

3.40pm RNCM Concert Hall

Pedro Carneiro Extending the surface: building new shapes, forms and tools for musical expression Pedro’s class begins with a physical warm up, followed by a presentation of his custom hand-made mallets. He will discuss ideas on articulation, illustrated with musical examples and interspersed with performance.

7pm RNCM Concert Hall

Evening Concert Arthur Lipner with the RNCM Percussion Ensemble American jazz vibes and marimba player, Arthur Lipner takes to the stage (accompanied by the RNCM Percussion Ensemble directed by Simone Rebello) to present a concert of music featuring several of his own compositions, including his recent concerto Mallet Fantasia. This piece is the culmination of a life-long dream for the composer. Training in the traditions of jazz and improvisation, which traditionally use small combos or Big Bands, Arthur always wanted to perform with an orchestra or wind ensemble but never really found music that would express his artistic visions. After taking courses at Juilliard, he has now realised that ambition: Mallet Fantasia is a mixture of themes and textures which reﬂect Arthur's interests in jazz, world music and the orchestral traditions of America and Europe. Day Ticket £26 Concession Day Ticket £24 Early Booking Rate £22 (book by 31 January) For group discounts please contact the Box Ofﬁce

Tickets for individual events on the day £9

FEBRUARY

from 10.30am Carole Nash Recital Room

Cormac Byrne will introduce you to the fascinating world of Irish and folk percussion. Primarily focusing on the bodhrán, he will demonstrate the extraordinary progression of this instrument, its role in the music, and the vast expression available from this humble traditional frame drum. The session will also include an insight into bones and spoons playing!

MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY

TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Grand Désir

Musical Castaway with Lynne Dawson

Danse et Chanson Anita Orme Della-Marta recorders, harp Anne-Marieke Evers mezzo-soprano Marc Lewon lute Elizabeth Rumsey viola d’arco Grand Désir is a Dutch ensemble that specialises in music from the Middle Ages. The ensemble won the audience prize at the 2009 York Early Music Festival International Young Artists' Competition, described as an ensemble ‘with that rare and indefinable quality that set them apart from the other finalists.’ Since then they have given numerous performances and radio broadcasts in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Australia, and released their first CD, Danse et Chanson, on the Aliud label. Tonight’s programme brings the music of this acclaimed CD to life, alternating between two of the most important musical forms of the Middle Ages: the basse danse, a courtly dance from Burgundy, and the popular chanson, a French song based on extant poetry and championed by composers such as Dufay and Binchois. Deriving from plainchant, these melismatic melodies have a beauty of their own, floating effortlessly above modal, almost melancholic harmonies, together creating a beguiling and fascinating historical musical journey.

RNCM Friends Lynne Dawson, the RNCM’s Head of Vocal Studies, talks with RNCM Head of Opera, Stefan Janski, sharing memories, stories and the music that would keep her company as a Musical Castaway. For further information or to join the Friends, contact the Friends Administrator on 0161 907 5338. Tickets £12.50, including light refreshments RNCM

WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Masterclass with Christine Brewer One of the world’s great sopranos, admired and acclaimed for her performances on the opera stage, in recital and on disc, Christine Brewer works with RNCM singers on a selection of song repertoire. Tickets £11 Concessions available

RNCM

Tickets £17 £14 Concessions available www.granddesir.com

CHRISTINE BREWER

FEBRUARY

RNCM

WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY

THURSDAY 16 - SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY

THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

The Darkness and the Light, Sparrow Hall – The Opera

6pm RNCM Studio Theatre

Spotlight

Steven Osborne

Vivaldi with a Twist

RNCM Outreach

A musical for children

The Complete Solo Piano Music Part I

Music by Ian Stephens Lyrics by Yvonne Rea, Katie Clinton and the young people of the Action For Achievement Project

Chris Baldwin music Susan Pleat words

6pm RNCM Studio Theatre

Yvonne Rea, Katie Clinton, Tracy Gallagher, Mark Burns directors Ian Stephens musical director Heláena Williamson choreographer Lyn Wakeﬁeld producer Following its successful première at The Bluecoat in Liverpool, young people from the Action for Achievement project bring their new production - about life growing up on the Sparrow Hall Estate - to the RNCM. The work was created from scratch during an intensive eight-week project in the Autumn, with the help of composer Ian Stephens, director Mark Burns and a group of singers and instrumentalists from the RNCM. Free admission, by ticket only Promoted by Action For Achievement in partnership with RNCM Outreach Supported by Arts Council England and the John Moores Foundation

RNCM

Green Lady

Green Lady tells the story of Liam, a shy and lonely gardener in a local park, who one day ﬁnds a fossil of a sea anemone. Following some magic, together Liam and Anemone take a difﬁcult and remarkable journey in search of the sea. This production is suitable for children aged seven upwards and their families. Tickets £4.50 Concessions available Promoted by Masquerade Productions

A unique take on the famous Double Trumpet Concerto, performed on slightly unorthodox instruments to give it a brand new sense of character and timbre. Free admission, no ticket required

Maurice Ravel Sonatine; Gaspard de la nuit; Pavane pour une infante défunte; Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn ; A la manière de… Chabrier; A la manière de… Borodin; Serenade Grotesque; Menuet in C sharp minor; Jeux d’eau; Prelude; La Valse We’re delighted to welcome RNCM alumnus Steven Osborne for the first in this cycle of Ravel’s complete solo piano works. The subtle colours and textures of Ravel’s piano music are often compared to those of his older contemporary Debussy but, in fact, Ravel got there first, defining a new, distinctly French style of pianism with Jeux d’eau in 1902. Tonight’s helping also features the composer’s evocation of a pavane that a young princess might, in the 16th or 17th century, have danced at the Spanish court, alongside Ravel’s epic piano masterpiece, Gaspard de la nuit, a set of three ferocious pieces derived from the macabre prose-ballads of Aloysius Bertrand. You can catch the second part of Osborne’s project at the RNCM on June 14. Tickets £17 £14 Concessions available www.stevenosborne.co.uk

FEBRUARY

STEVEN OSBORNE

RNCM

THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY

FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY

7.30pm RNCM Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

9.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Rocio Bolanos

Spotlight

RNCM International Artist Diploma Clarinet Recital

Equilibrium Duo

Babel

A rare opportunity to hear six cutting edge 20th century works for this modernistic partnership of bass clarinet and percussion.

RNCM Outreach

Beats & Pieces Big Band

Ben Cottrell director Manchester-based Beats & Pieces take the classic big band sound and add slamming bass and drums, wah-wah funk and retro 70s fusion to cook up a musical brew reminiscent of the abandon and ambition of 1980s-born Jazz Warriors and maverick collective Loose Tubes. Led by founder and musical director, Ben Cottrell, the group received rave reviews for their Ronnie Scott’s début this year, described by The Guardian as a ‘tour de force’, and were winners of the 2011 European Young Artists’ Jazz Award. ‘What a début. Their performance would have reassured anyone who wonders whether the big band tradition can connect with a twentysomething audience that knows its Radiohead but thinks that Stan Kenton is probably a window-cleaner in Coronation Street.’ The Times Tickets £14 Concessions available www.beatsnpieces.net RNCM in association with

Claude Debussy Première rhapsodie Edison Denisov Sonata for solo clarinet Johannes Brahms Clarinet Sonata No 1 in F minor Op 120 No 1 Luigi Bassi Fantasy on themes of Rigoletto Igor Stravinsky Three pieces for solo clarinet Richard Strauss Duet concertino for clarinet, bassoon and piano Rocio Bolanos clarinet Ben Powell piano Linda Begbie bassoon Rocio Bolanos is the second of our International Artist Diploma recitalists this Spring. Rocio obtained a Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction from the RNCM and subsequently became a Junior Fellow. As well as a four year stint playing with the Orquesta Joven de Andalucia, she has also played with the Hallé, RLPO and BBC Philharmonic orchestras.

Free admission, no ticket required

THURSDAY 23 and FRIDAY 24 FEBRUARY 7pm RNCM Studio Theatre

Kate Pearson composer Convinced of their own invincibility, an ambitious group of children build a tower that will lead them to a new world but when disaster strikes, chaos and confusion take over, and things will never be the same again… Created by local primary schools, composer Kate Pearson and RNCM students, this brand new musical, inspired by the story of the tower of Babel, explores themes of imagination and ambition, triumph and disaster, unity and division. Free admission, by ticket only RNCM

The International Artist Diploma series continues on March 16 with the violinist Sophie Rosa. Tickets £10 Concessions available Supported by

BEATS & PIECES BIG BAND

FEBRUARY

RNCM

MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY

TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY

6.30pm RNCM Lecture Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Theatre

Pre-concert talk

Organ Recital Prize

Manchester Universities Gilbert and Sullivan Society

RNCM Deputy Head of Chamber Music Jeremy Young talks to pianist Piers Lane about his busy life as a soloist and chamber musician.

HMS Pinafore

Free admission, no ticket required

RNCM student organists each present a 30 minute recital encompassing a wide range of styles and repertoire in the ﬁnals of this prestigious prize. Tonight’s adjudicator is international organist, Jane Parker-Smith.

James Hendry, Thomas Jarvis conductors Philip Sweet director HMS Pinafore continues to be one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular music comedies. This new production, set in the time of Jane Austen, also features a specially written entr’acte, The Sailors' Farewell, by director Philip Sweet. Tickets £10, except Saturday 7.30pm £12 Concessions available Promoted by MUGSS

SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Stockport Grammar School Chorus and Chamber Choir, Chorale and Cheshire Sinfonia Gala Concert George Frideric Handel The King Shall Rejoice Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No 38 in D major ‘Prague’ Franz Joseph Haydn Mass in D minor ‘Nelson’ Michael Dow, Peter Stallworthy conductors Musicians from Stockport Grammar School celebrate the 525th anniversary of the school through collaboration with Chorale, Cheshire Sinfonia and professional soloists. Tickets £10 Concessions available Promoted by Stockport Grammar School, Chorale and Cheshire Sinfonia

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Manchester Chamber Concerts Society Louise Hopkins and Piers Lane

Tickets £7 Concessions available

RNCM

FRIDAY 2 and SATURDAY 3 MARCH 7.15pm RNCM Theatre

Danielle Pitchford Dance Academy The pupils of Danielle Pitchford Dance Academy present Magic at the Movies, an evening of songs and dances from favourite movies including Happy Feet, Hairspray and Pirates of the Caribbean. Tickets £8 from 07884 225099 or danceacademy@hotmail.co.uk Promoted by Danielle Pitchford Dance Academy

Jean Sibelius Malinconia Op 20 Leoš Janácˇek Pohádka Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata No 4 in C major Op 102 No 1 Antonín Dvorˇák Romantic Piece No 4 Op 75 Sergei Rachmaninov Sonata in G minor Op 19 Acclaimed British cellist Louise Hopkins and Australian pianist Piers Lane present a musical feast that includes Sibelius’ brooding Malinconia and Beethoven’s mercurial C major Sonata, rounded off by Rachmaninov in a lyrical and Romantic vein. Tickets £22 (platform seats £11) Concessions available www.chamberconcerts.org Promoted by MCCS

FEBRUARY | MARCH

WEDNESDAY 22 SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 7.30pm SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2.30pm

FRIDAY 2 MARCH

SATURDAY 3 MARCH

SUNDAY 4 MARCH

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

7pm RNCM Concert Hall

7.30pm RNCM Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Spotlight

Manchester Welsh Society

Friends of Bury Music Centre

Remembering Ray

Duo Beaux Bois

St David’s Day Concert

Bury Music Centre Bands Concert

A concert in Aid of Cancer Research UK

An array of folk-laced crossover music written and arranged for the unique combination of violin and marimba duo.

The Rhos Male Voice Choir Aled Phillips conductor Elgan Llyˇr Thomas tenor

Free admission, no ticket required

Tonight’s programme features classical and traditional music and song in Welsh and English in this celebration of St David’s Day.

Bury Youth Concert Band Training Concert Band Intermediate Concert Band Saxophone Group Steven Sandiford, Nick Wallwork, Anna Shipton, Ruth Evans conductors

Music to include: Raymond Lomax Arrangements for Percussion Sergei Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor Op 18 Anton Bruckner Locus Iste Ralph Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music

The young musicians of Bury Music Centre have frequently showcased their talents here with many students going on to play professionally. Tonight provides another opportunity to enjoy an inspiring evening of concert band music performed by the emerging gifted musicians of Bury.

Northern Symphony Orchestra St George’s Singers Amici Chamber Choir Stephen Threlfall conductor Wendy Dolby piano Jayne Carpenter soprano Mark Rowlinson bass

Tickets £6 from 0161 764 8442

A Graduate of the RNCM, Raymond Lomax (1955 - 2002) was a timpanist, choral trainer, impressario, scholar, arranger and conductor. This concert marks 10 years since his untimely death and celebrates his inspiration and teaching which contributed so much to the musical life of the region.

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Masterclass with Christian Lindberg A living legend of the trombone world, with 300 premières and 70 solo recordings under his belt, we are delighted to welcome back Christian Lindberg to the College to work with RNCM trombonists. Tickets £9 Concessions available

RNCM

Tickets £16 Concessions available Promoted by Manchester Welsh Society

Concessions available Sponsored and promoted by Friends of Bury Music Centre

Tickets £18

CHRISTIAN LINDBERG

MARCH

Concessions available Promoted by Amici

SATURDAY 3 – SATURDAY 10 MARCH

NEW MUSIC NORTH WEST The spectrum and quality of music being created in the North West today warrants a major celebration. Some of the most impressive creative minds in the world of music live in the North West. With over 20 concerts featuring well over 60 composers, this festival showcases the musical brilliance and diversity which we all have on our doorstep. World premières from major composers such as Adam Gorb, Philip Grange, Kevin Malone, Simon Parkin, Camden Reeves and Richard Whalley are heard alongside established works by composers in their 80s as well as new sounds from composers who are still in their teens. Leading British composer Colin Matthews acts as a musical thread and catalyst with several of his chamber and ensemble works performed throughout the festival. From the fabulous electro-acoustic sonic theatre of MANTIS to some of the greatest performers on the world stage, including the Quatuor Danel, the BBC Philharmonic and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's Ensemble 10/10, you will hear the best musicians playing the ﬁnest music from the composers living in our midst. Be prepared for a musical feast! Clark Rundell artistic director RNCM in association with Supported by

MARCH

www.prsformusicfoundation.com

SATURDAY 3 and SUNDAY 4 MARCH Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, University of Manchester

MANTIS MANTIS (Manchester Theatre in Sound) showcases electroacoustic music by local, UK and international guest artists, presented using the MANTIS 56-loudspeaker sound diffusion system. Highlights include works for saxophone and real-time digital signal processing with Spanish saxophonist Xelo Giner, a concert of 8-channel acousmatic works by Jonty Harrison and new works by MANTIS students. For more information, see www.mantisfestival.com. Tickets £7.50 £5 £4 per concert, available from Martin Harris Centre box ofﬁce only on 0161 275 8951 or online at www.quaytickets.com

MONDAY 5 MARCH 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Lunchtime Concert Joe Duddell Nightswimming for piano trio Ian Stephens Ode to Autumn for soprano and piano Timothy Jackson Anything But

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Chamber Concert

1.15pm Martin Harris Centre for Music and

RNCM Brass Band and University of Salford Brass Band

A selection of new works by composers from the RNCM and the University of Manchester, plus performances of two works for violin and piano by Colin Matthews - Cappricioletto and Chaconne with chorale and moto perpetuo and Laurence Tompkins’ Unlacing for cello duo. Free admission, no ticket required

Drama, University of Manchester

Lunchtime Concert Edward Gregson Five Songs of Innocence and Experience David Ellis Two for Six Op 55 for saxophone quartet Colin Matthews String Quartet No 2 Free admission, no ticket required

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM New Ensemble and Vaganza James Wishart Dot.song John Casken Nearly Distant Jae-moon Lee New work (world première) Anthony Gilbert Encantos Geoff Poole Carved in Stone David Önaç Piano Concerto Mark Heron, Leo Geyer, Theo Vinden conductors Chloe Saywell soprano David Önaç piano

2.30pm Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, University of Manchester

Vaganza Young Composers Workshop A celebration of the creativity of the youngest generation, this workshop is the outcome of Vaganza’s education projects in local Manchester schools. Free admission, no ticket required

5.15pm Martin Harris Centre for Music and

Tickets £7.50

Drama, University of Manchester

Concessions available

Chamber Concert

2.30pm RNCM Lecture Theatre

Exploring the North West

Free admission, no ticket required

with David Horne

MARCH

TUESDAY 6 MARCH

New works by composers from the RNCM and the University of Manchester, plus a performance of a selection of movements from Colin Matthews’ Eleven Studies in Velocity for solo piano.

Free admission, no ticket required

5.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Whether by birth or relocation, the North West of England is home to a remarkably diverse community of composers. Through spoken, audio and video presentations, this afternoon's wide-reaching survey will give a taste of the creative range featured in the week's Festival. Free admission, no ticket required

Elgar Howarth Fireworks Lucy Pankhurst In Pitch Black Martin Ellerby Chivalry Gary Carpenter Chi Philip Sparke Salford Fanfare Darryl Barry Salford Sinfonietta Peter Graham The Adventure of the Final Problem and The Great Race from ‘In League with Extraordinary Gentlemen’ Goff Richards A Sweet Shepherdess from ‘Cross Patonce’ Arthur Butterworth The Royal Border Bridge, Berwick upon Tweed, from ‘Three Impressions for Brass’ Russell Gray, Howard Evans conductors David Thornton euphonium Tickets £7.50 Concessions available

1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Lunchtime Concert Simon Parkin New work for cello duo (world première) Gavin Wayte towards After Bach for solo piano Colin Matthews Three Enigmas for cello and piano Free admission, no ticket required

2.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Music by Manchester Composers Jamie Forbes Thompson performs works for piano by Manchester composers past and present, including Thomas Pitﬁeld, John Foulds, Martin Butler and David Horne. Free admission, no ticket required

5.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room

7.30pm Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, University of Manchester

Vaganza and RNCM New Ensemble Simon Joyner New work (world première) Alan Williams Bog Bodies Colin Matthews Sun’s Dance Ian Gardiner L’escalier en Spirale Zakiya Leeming New work (world première) Stephen Pratt The Miraculous Mandolin Marco Bellasi, Andrew Gregory, Thomas Jarvis, Jamie Phillips conductors Conrad Marshall ﬂute Dov Goldberg clarinet Tickets £7.50 Concessions available

THURSDAY 8 MARCH

7.30pm BBC Philharmonic Studio,

1.10pm Martin Harris Centre for Music and

MediaCityUK, Salford

Drama, University of Manchester

Quatuor Danel Richard Whalley Interlocking Melodies Philip Grange New work (world première) Camden Reeves Dactylozooid Complex Cho Yen Lee New work (world première) Free admission, no ticket required

1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Saxophone Ensemble Music to include: Adam Gorb Burlesque Gary Carpenter Missa Beata Virgine José Puello New work (world première) Rob Buckland, Andy Scott directors

BBC Philharmonic and RNCM New Ensemble Anthony Burgess Manchester Overture Joe Duddell Azalea Fragments Gary Carpenter Fred and Ginger David Horne Submergence Claude Debussy (arr Colin Matthews) Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé Kenneth Hesketh Doctrine of Affection Colin Matthews The Island Mark Heron, Clark Rundell, Duncan Ward conductors Sarah Ogden soprano Free admission, by ticket only, to reserve your ticket call RNCM Box Ofﬁce (limited availability) www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/philharmonic

Free admission, no ticket required

2.30pm Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, University of Manchester

Chamber Concert

Quatuor Danel Seminar

Emily Howard Masquerade Ian Vine 39 and 40 from forty works for Richard Mary Bellamy Celestine Martin Suckling Three Venus Haiku Works by Matthew Sergeant and Larry Goves

The Quatuor Danel workshops quartets by the University’s PhD students and composition students from the RNCM.

Free admission, no ticket required

4.15pm Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, University of Manchester

Free admission, no ticket required

Colin Matthews in conversation Free admission, no ticket required

MARCH

WEDNESDAY 7 MARCH

FRIDAY 9 MARCH 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Lunchtime Concert Edwin Roxburgh At the Still Point of the Turning World* Colin Matthews Oboe Quartet No 2 Paul Goodey* oboe Free admission, no ticket required

2.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Sound Ideas RNCM Outreach A performance of new works by GCSE students, taking their inspiration from Carol Ann Duffy’s collection of poems The World’s Wife. Free admission, no ticket required Supported by The Michael Tippett Musical Foundation

5.15pm RNCM Studio Theatre

Afternoon Concert Tim Benjamin Prologue and Scene One from Emily (world première) Rebecca Lea soprano Jonathan Ainscough bass-baritone Free admission, no ticket required

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

SATURDAY 10 MARCH

Ensemble 10/10

Junior RNCM New Music Day

featuring Adam Gorb’s Anya 17 Colin Matthews L, bent Richard Whalley A very serious game Ailís ní Ríain In Sleep… Adam Gorb Anya 17 Clark Rundell conductor Sarah Parkin mezzo-soprano Anya 17: Andrea Tweedale Anya Joanne Holton Mila Lucy Baines Natalia, Carole Amy Webber Elena Sean Boyes Uri, Gabriel Thomas Hopkinson Viktor Tonight’s performance by the RLPO’s contemporary music ensemble includes pieces by Colin Matthews, Richard Whalley and RNCM alumna Ailís ní Ríain, followed by a semi-staged version of Adam Gorb’s new opera Anya 17. Anya 17 is the first of its kind - an opera raising awareness of sex trafficking in the UK. Latest figures reveal that up to 800,000 young women and children are trafficked into EU countries every year. Following the success of their oratorio Eternal Voices, Head of Composition at the RNCM Adam Gorb once again collaborates with librettist Ben Kaye to present this challenging and highly relevant work. Please note that this event contains themes and material that people may find upsetting. Tickets £10 Concessions available

9.45pm RNCM Studio Theatre

MARCH

Late Night Concert

Tim Benjamin Mrs Lazarus Rebecca Lea soprano Free admission, no ticket required

2pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Young Composers’ Forum An opportunity for young composers aged 18 and under to meet together and receive feedback on their scores from fellow composers and Junior RNCM tutors Emily Howard and Matthew Sergeant. Free admission, by registration only. To book your place, please contact Junior RNCM on 0161 907 5264.

4pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Junior RNCM Composers’ Concert A performance of works by past and present Junior RNCM students, performed by the JRNCM New Music Ensemble conducted by Gavin Wayte. Free admission, no ticket required

7.30pm Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, University of Manchester

University of Manchester Chamber and String Orchestras Music to include: Kevin Malone Recorder Concerto: Angels & Fireﬂies (world première) Jonathan Evans conductor John Turner recorder Tickets £10 Concessions available

WEDNESDAY 7 MARCH

THURSDAY 8 MARCH

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

The Joyce and Michael Kennedy Award for the Singing of Strauss

Spotlight

Senior students from the RNCM School of Vocal Studies compete in the ﬁnals of The Joyce and Michael Kennedy Award for the Singing of Strauss, singing Lieder or arias by the composer. This year’s adjudicating panel is chaired by celebrated soprano, Lillian Watson.

A concert exploring the diverse and exciting range of styles within the piano trio repertoire through a performance of these two contrasting works.

Tickets £10

Haydn and Shostakovich Piano Trios in E minor

Free admission, no ticket required

Concessions available

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM

Peter Donohoe Piano Recital Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata in A major Op 101 Johannes Brahms Six Piano Pieces Op 118 Sergei Prokofiev Sonata No 6 in A major Op 82 Claude Debussy Masques; D’un cahier d’esquisses; L’isle joyeuse Tonight, RNCM alumnus Peter Donohue returns to the College for this fundraising recital. Peter’s programme includes a Debussy triplebill, the first of Beethoven’s late period sonatas and Brahms’ intensely personal miniature, dedicated to the ailing Clara Schumann. Completing the bill is Prokofiev’s Sonata No 6, a piece that has an almost violent energy, and contains what Hans Richter called ‘the shattering pulse of the 20th century’. Tickets £17 £14 No concessions Proceeds will be donated to the RNCM Peter Donohoe Prize Fund

MARCH

PETER DONOHOE

RNCM

SATURDAY 10 MARCH

SUNDAY 11 MARCH

12.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

7.30pm RNCM Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Junior RNCM Formal Concert

Portico Quartet

Manchester Camerata

William Byrd Singers

A varied and entertaining programme provided by the students of the Junior RNCM.

Duncan Bellamy drummer Jack Wyllie saxophone Milo Fitzpatrick double bass Keir Vine hang

Portrait of War

Mass in C minor

Maurice Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No 21 in C major K 467 Richard Strauss Metamorphosen

Johann Michael Haydn Ave Regina Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Vesperae Solennes de Confessore K 339 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Mass in C minor K 472

RNCM

6.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre

Spotlight In the Still of the Night Senior students from the RNCM explore some interesting arrangements of jazz standards together with some rather less familiar territory. Free admission, no ticket required

Portico Quartet step out on a UK tour with their third, self-titled album, due for release on Real World Records in January 2012. Fiery saxophone and ethereal hang blend with dubstep beats, electronic sparks and a very modern kind of jazz improvisation in a translucent mix that can both mesmerise and thrill. 'They feed on Steve Reich mathematics, Radiohead dread, African desert grooves and ECM northern melancholy to travel into a new, chiming, cavernous sound-world that is exotic and hypnotic.' Mojo

MARCH

Ravel’s light-hearted Le Tombeau de Couperin, written in memory of friends who died ﬁghting in the First World War, is a world away from Strauss’ beautifully intense and mournful Metamorphosen, an emotional homage to the destruction of Germany in the Second World War. Separating these two works is Mozart’s popular and masterful Piano Concerto No 21.

'Genuinely innovative…there isn’t a band that sounds remotely like them.' The Observer

After the concert, stay on and enjoy free music with us in the RNCM Café Bar, in association with Manchester Jazz Festival.

Tickets £15

Tickets £25 £18.50 £10

Concessions available www.porticoquartet.com RNCM in association with

Gábor Takács-Nagy conductor Kathryn Stott piano

Concessions available Promoted by

William Byrd Singers The Eighteenth Century Orchestra Keith Orrell conductor Stephanie Pfeffer soprano Alexandra Wynn mezzo-soprano Sipho Fubesi tenor Louis Hurst bass The Byrds perform two of Mozart’s greatest works at classical pitch with period instruments and four outstanding young soloists from the RNCM, led by Gold Medal winner Stephanie Pfeffer. Tickets £17 Concessions available Promoted by William Byrd Singers

PORTICO QUARTET

Free admission, no ticket required

MONDAY 12 – WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH

WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH

THURSDAY 15 MARCH

FRIDAY 16 MARCH

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

7.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre

Norman George Violin Scholarship

The Elizabeth Harwood Memorial Award for Singers

Sophie Rosa

This competitive award, open to all RNCM violinists, sees ﬁnalists present a movement from a classical sonata, two pieces by Fritz Kreisler and an orchestral solo. This reﬂects the repertoire performed by violinist Norman George, whose friends have donated this prize in his memory. Tonight’s adjudicator is violinist Gina McCormack, one of the country’s leading artists and former leader of the Sorrel and Maggini Quartets.

The Elizabeth Harwood Memorial Award was founded in memory of the much-loved Yorkshire soprano and provides support for an outstanding ﬁnal year singer. Tonight’s adjudicating panel will include the celebrated singer, Donald Maxwell.

Perception Leah Fogo book, music and lyrics Sophie Day director Scott Stait musical director In this new musical by Leah Fogo, Maggie comes home one day to ﬁnd her whole life turned upside down. Her childhood sweetheart has a side that she knows nothing of and as the media close in and scandal ﬂares, we are left wondering if we can ever truly know the ones we love? Tickets £7.50 Concessions available Promoted by University of Manchester Musical Theatre Society

Tickets £7 Concessions available

RNCM

Tickets £10 Concessions available

RNCM

RNCM International Artist Diploma Violin Recital Franz Schubert Violin Sonata in A major D 574 'Grand Duo' Francis Poulenc Violin Sonata Johannes Brahms Violin Sonata No 3 in D minor Op 108 Jean Sibelius Nocturne Op 51 No 3 Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Valse-Scherzo Op 23 Sophie Rosa violin Elena Nemtsova piano Sophie Rosa studied the violin with Professor Wen Zhou Li at Chetham’s School of Music and is now continuing her studies with him on the International Artist Diploma course. During her undergraduate studies at the RNCM, Sophie toured China with the RNCM String Ensemble, performed with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, and received several prizes including the Gold Medal Award in 2010. Recently, she has also performed at Wigmore Hall and the Royal Festival Hall. The ﬁnal concert in the International Artist Diploma series takes place on March 23 with a performance by the pianist Maya Irgalina. Tickets £10 Concessions available

RNCM

MARCH

University of Manchester Musical Theatre Society

SATURDAY 17 and SUNDAY 18 MARCH

SATURDAY 17 MARCH

RNCM STRINGS WEEKEND

Morning Workshops

The Strings Weekend focuses on the great teaching that is offered at the RNCM, with a series of masterclasses given by some of Europe's most distinguished tutors. Audiences will be able to witness the transformation that can be achieved in a short space of time as they observe teaching of the highest quality. Students taking part in the masterclasses will be from the RNCM and specialist music schools and other young musicians are also invited to attend. In addition to these classes there will be ‘bite-size' sessions and workshops on speciﬁc string techniques.

A variety of workshops and masterclasses will run throughout the morning, including:

Free admission, by ticket only

12pm RNCM Concert Hall

Throughout the weekend there will be a makers' exhibition where you can try out new instruments and bows and meet the luthiers who regularly attend our string events.

Yair Kless violin Pascal Sigrist piano

Malcolm Layﬁeld, Chris Hoyle artistic directors RNCM

MARCH

9.45am: Viola Masterclass with Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir 10am: Qigong demonstration: breathing, movement and meditation with Thomas Riebl 11am: Bow Arm workshop for cellists with Karine Georgian 11am: Violinist Peter Manning in conversation with Malcolm Layﬁeld

There will be performances by RNCM staff and students, including a celebrity recital by our newly appointed International Chair in Violin, Yair Kless. We are delighted to be joined by our other International Tutors: Thomas Riebl (viola) and Božo Paradžik (double bass). This will also be an excellent opportunity to hear a range of student ensembles, including the RNCM String Ensemble in the ﬁnal concert.

We do hope you can join us for what will be a stimulating weekend of string pedagogy and performance. We hope the experience will enrich your love of string playing and our wonderful repertoire.

from 9.45am Various RNCM venues

Yair Kless Violin Recital Eugène Ysaÿe Poème Elégiaque Op 12 Maurice Ravel Sonata in G major for violin and piano Op 77 Sergei Prokoﬁev Sonata No 1 in F minor Op 80

Tickets £6 Concessions available

2pm RNCM Concert Hall

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

12pm RNCM Concert Hall

from 2pm Various RNCM venues

RNCM Guitars

RNCM Prizewinners' Concert

Thomas Riebl and Friends

Afternoon Workshops

Joseph Haydn String Quartet Op 54 No 2 Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata in A major for cello and piano Op 69 Johannes Brahms Trio in E ﬂat major Op 40

Free admission, by ticket only

Zelkova Quartet Caroline Pether, Simran Singh violin Rhiannon James viola Rachel Shakespeare cello

from 2pm Various RNCM venues

Afternoon Workshops Masterclasses and workshops continue into the afternoon, including: 2pm: Violin Masterclass with Peter Manning 3pm: Cello Masterclass with Karine Georgian 4pm: Guitar Masterclass with Aquarelle Guitar Quartet 4pm: An Introduction to Dalcroze with Karin Greenhead Free admission, by ticket only

Joris van den Berg cello Martijn Willers piano Rosemary Attree violin David McCann cello Philip Eames piano

Music to include: Franz Schubert Sonata in A minor D 821 ‘Arpeggione’ Thomas Riebl viola Ben Powell piano Thomas Riebl performs Schubert’s ‘Arpeggione’ sonata on a 5-string viola, made by master luthier Bernd Hiller. The viola has an added lower string, which for this performance will be tuned to E, the bass note of Schubert's sonata.

4.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Duos Concert

Concessions available

2pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Harps Eira Lynn Jones director

5.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Morning Workshops

RNCM Viola, Cello and Double Bass Ensembles

A variety of workshops and masterclasses will run throughout the morning, including:

Music to include: York Bowen Phantasy Quartet Georges Bizet (arr Salles) Carmen Fantasy Daryl Runswick Strauss in the doghouse

9.45am: Violin Masterclass with Leland Chen 9.45am: Cello Masterclass with Emma Ferrand 9.45am: Double Bass Masterclass with Božo Paradžik 10.30am: Dalcroze: An application of movement for string players with Karin Greenhead

RNCM harpists present a programme of solo, duo and ensemble pieces, including WalterKühne's Fantasy on the themes from Eugene Onegin, Savourna Stevenson's sparkling solo for folk harp, Emily's Calling, and ensemble works by Bernard Andres and Carlos Salzedo.

Concessions available

Free admission, by ticket only

Concessions available

from 9.45am Various RNCM venues

Tickets £6

2pm: Viola Masterclass with Thomas Riebl 2pm: A lively discussion on Double Bass teaching and playing with Jırˇí Hudec and Božo Paradžik 3pm: Violin playing in an hour with Malcolm Layﬁeld 3.45pm: Harp Masterclass with Eira Lynn Jones

Tickets £6

Tickets £10

SUNDAY 18 MARCH

Masterclasses and workshops continue into the afternoon, including:

Free admission, by ticket only

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Duo No 2 in B major for violin and viola K 424 George Frideric Handel/Johan Halvorsen Passacaglia: Duo for violin and viola Gioachino Rossini Duetto for cello and double bass Peter Liang, Sophie Rosa violin with Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir viola Mikhail Nemtsov cello with Jırˇí Hudec double bass Tickets £6 Concessions available

6pm RNCM Concert Hall N

RNCM String Ensemble Antonín Dvorˇák Serenade for Strings in E major Op 22 Edvard Grieg Holberg Suite Malcolm Layﬁeld conductor Tickets £10 Concessions available

Day Tickets £18 Weekend Ticket £30

MARCH

Music to include: Klaus Wusthoff Samba Quica Paul Hindemith Trio Roland Dyens Rhythmaginaires

Viola Recital

SATURDAY 17 MARCH

MONDAY 19 MARCH

THURSDAY 22 MARCH

6.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Theatre

6.30pm RNCM Lecture Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Spotlight

Tord Gustavsen Ensemble

Pre-concert talk

Calefax

Tord Gustavsen piano Mats Eilertsen double bass Jarle Vespestad drums Tore Brunborg saxophones

Gerald Larner is regarded as one of the leading experts on French music. Tonight he will talk to members of the Doric Quartet and Kathryn Stott about Chausson and Debussy.

Pianist Tord Gustavsen’s upcoming release, The Well, is the ﬁfth in a string of highly acclaimed ECM albums recorded with his trio and extended ensemble. This new work takes Tord’s signature Norwegian minimalism and bluesy grooves to darker, denser musical ﬁelds, where spacious melodies play against complex folk rhythms and harmonic intricacies.

Free admission, no ticket required

Michelangelo Rossi Three Toccatas Claude Debussy (arr Hekkema) Estampes Dmitri Shostakovich (arr Wesly) Preludes and Fugues Op 87 Nos 4, 7 and 15 J S Bach (arr Hekkema) Goldberg Variations

Borealis Saxophone Quartet This Spotlight provides a rare insight into contemporary Scandinavian works for saxophone quartet. Free admission, no ticket required

Tonight Tord plays in a quartet format with some of the most intriguing players on the vibrant and eclectic Scandinavian jazz scene, showcasing his latest release which still leans heavily on strong melodies and a less-is-more attitude. Tickets £18 £16 £14 Concessions available www.tordgustavsen.com

RNCM

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Manchester Chamber Concerts Society Doric Quartet with Jennifer Pike and Kathryn Stott Ernest Chausson String Quartet in C minor Op 35 Claude Debussy Violin Sonata Ernest Chausson Concert for violin, piano and string quartet Op 21 Alex Redington, Jonathan Stone violin Simon Tandree viola John Myerscough cello Jennifer Pike violin Kathryn Stott piano The Doric Quartet is joined by the outstanding violinist Jennifer Pike and MCCS’s Artistic Director, pianist Kathryn Stott, for a trilogy of French masterworks. In the second half the six musicians come together for Chausson’s rarely performed but hugely rewarding Concert for violin, piano and string quartet.

Oliver Boekhoorn oboe Ivar Berix clarinet Raaf Hekkema saxophone Jelte Althuis bass clarinet Alban Wesly bassoon The Amsterdam-based ensemble Calefax, established 25 years ago, is in great demand worldwide, not least because of its unique instrumentation. The quintet performs standing up, and always introduces itself and the programme to the audience. Moreover, the ﬁve musicians arrange, re-compose and interpret music from eight centuries to suit their unique constellation. Tonight’s programme features the ensemble’s take on Debussy’s Estampes, with its nods to Javanese gamelan and Spanish folklore, as well as the Goldberg Variations and Shostakovich’s Preludes and Fugues. Tickets £17 £14 Concessions available www.calefax.nl

RNCM

Tickets £22 (platform seats £11)

TORD GUSTAVSEN

MARCH

Concessions available www.chamberconcerts.org Promoted by MCCS

THURSDAY 22, TUESDAY 27, THURSDAY 29* and SATURDAY 31 MARCH 7pm SUNDAY 25 MARCH* 3pm RNCM Theatre

Xerxes George Frideric Handel Heather Ireson, Sarah Richmond* Xerxes Hanna-Liisa Kirchin, Helen Gregory* Arsamene Timothy Allan, Jonathan Alley* Elviro Gabriella Cassidy, Aimee Toshney* Romilda Elizabeth Karani, Eleanor Garside* Atalanta Alexandra Wynn, Lucilla Graham* Amastre Laurence Kirby, Stefan Berkieta* Ariodate

As part of a new RNCM collaboration with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, we’re delighted to announce that this production’s stage set and costumes are designed by RADA postgraduate student Velin Edrov. Tickets £32 £26 £19 (weekdays) £34 £28 £21 (weekends) Concessions available RNCM in association with

Roger Hamilton conductor Carlos del Cueto assistant conductor Stefan Janski director Velin Edrov stage set and costume designer Emma Chapman lighting designer Robin Humphreys principal music coach Kevin Thraves chorus master Antonio Tilli Italian language coach RNCM Opera Orchestra RNCM Chorus

Atalanta has fallen for Arsamene, yet he has feelings for Romilda - as does his brother, King Xerxes, when he is not declaring his love to a plane tree… Handel’s comedy-drama muses on love and kingship, as Xerxes wrestles with the conﬂict between his duty and his heart in a typically Handellian plot of misunderstandings, double bluff and cross-dressing. Featuring a number of famous arias, including the renowned Ombra mai fù, this sparkling new RNCM Opera production, sung in Italian with English surtitles, is sure to delight.

MARCH

Ancient Persia: a land of magniﬁcent palaces and scented gardens, offering shade from the heat of the sun and respite from both the pleasures and pains of true love…

FRIDAY 23 MARCH

SATURDAY 24 MARCH

6.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Spotlight

Marcus Roberts

Altrincham Choral Society

Chopin Sonata for Cello One of the few works composed by Chopin for an instrument other than the piano, this piece features all the lyricism and virtuosity we have come to expect from the composer’s music. Free admission, no ticket required

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Maya Irgalina RNCM International Artist Diploma Piano Recital Franz Schubert Piano Sonata in C major D 279 Frédéric Chopin Piano Sonata No 3 in B minor Op 58 Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Sonata No 2 in B minor Op 61 Alexandre Tansman Piano Sonata No 5 The ﬁnal International Artist Diploma recital features Belarusian pianist Maya Irgalina, who was the only pianist to be awarded the prestigious RNCM Gold Medal in 2010. Other awards to date include ﬁrst prize in the ProPiano Romania competition, plus she was also a prize-winner in the Dudley International Piano Competition, in which she performed with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. In 2009/2010, Maya was also the holder of the Yamaha Piano Scholarship, awarded annually at the RNCM.

Marcus Roberts piano Jason Marsalis drums Roland Guerin bass Pianist, composer, arranger and educator Marcus Roberts remains a singular ﬁgure in the pantheon of great American jazz pianists, with his ability to straddle both jazz and classical idioms with equal brilliance. Known as one of the most diverse artists in jazz, his highly innovative piano style and philosophy of jazz improvisation merges his love for great music from every era with his own creative imagination. Closely associated in his early career with the music of Wynton Marsalis, his Oscar Peterson-esque virtuosity, steeped in the gospel and bebop traditions, makes him a truly compelling artist in any context. Here he performs with his trio featuring the phenomenal Jason Marsalis, youngest son of Ellis Marsalis, on drums and Roland Guerin on bass, both based in New Orleans and immersed in its musical traditions.

Carmina Burana Music to include: Carl Orff Carmina Burana Karl Jenkins Adiemus (Songs of Sanctuary) Steven Roberts conductor Janet Fischer soprano Adrienne Murray mezzo-soprano Sipho Fubesi tenor Andrew Slater bass Lydia Bryan, Jonathan Scott piano Included in this evening’s performance is Carmina Burana, a work whose popularity has quickly led to it becoming a staple of the classical music repertoire. The opening and closing movement, O Fortuna, is a song of epic proportions, leading to its frequent inclusion in ﬁlm, TV and advertising as well on the concert platform. Tickets £12.50 Concessions available www.altrincham-choral.co.uk Promoted by Altrincham Choral Society

‘Marcus Roberts is a superb improviser with a considerable compositional gift.’ The Times Tickets £20 £15 Concessions available www.marcusroberts.com

RNCM in association with

Tickets £10 Concessions available

MARCUS ROBERTS

MARCH

RNCM

FRIDAY 24 MARCH

TUESDAY 27 MARCH

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Spotlight

RNCM Collectives

Four Seasons of Buenos Aires Experience the journey from French impressionism to Argentinian tango rhythms courtesy of Ástor Piazzolla. Free admission, no ticket required

RNCM ﬁrst and second year students take to the concert platform to perform a range of repertoire rehearsed over this term. Free admission, no ticket required RNCM

7.30pm RNCM Theatre

Roberto Fonseca + Ayanna The fully-fledged Buena Vista Social Club prodigy leads a new generation of Cuban artists on a journey that weaves in and out of the island’s traditional music, picking up jazz, classical and Afro-Cuban influences along the way to create an astonishingly original musical landscape. His new album YO looks back to Cuba’s African roots, while striking forwards with electronic elements, red-hot grooves and sultry lyricism that effortlessly updates the Cuban jazz lineage. Fonseca is supported tonight by Ayanna, the first non-American to win the legendary Amateur Night Live at the Harlem Apollo Theatre and whose beguiling vocals skip and swing over intimate, honey-sweet cello. Tickets £17.50 £15

MARCH

ROBERTO FONSECA

Concessions available www.robertofonseca.com RNCM in association with

WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH

THURSDAY 29 MARCH

FRIDAY 30 MARCH

6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

6.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre

Spotlight

RNCM Big Band with Clare Teal

Ryszard Bakst Memorial Prize for the Playing of Chopin

Spotlight

Awakening of Sleeping Charms This performance aims to shed some light on hidden gems for soprano and harp from the 19th century. Free admission, no ticket required

Mike Hall director Clare Teal vocals For its second outing this season, the RNCM Big Band is joined by popular chanteuse, the mighty Clare Teal. Yorkshire-born Clare is one the most successful female British jazz singers in decades, with a clutch of awards under her belt and a string of albums behind her, including the UK Top Ten hit Don’t Talk. A recent BBC website review commented on how ‘the huge warmth of Clare's voice was born to convey happiness’. Tonight, she will join our Big Band to showcase songs from both the Great American and Great British Songbooks. Tickets £18 £16 £14 Concessions available www.clareteal.co.uk

RNCM

RNCM pianists and pupils from Chetham’s School of Music compete for this prize, set up in memory of the great Polish pianist and RNCM tutor. Tonight’s adjudicator will be Bryce Morrison, considered among the world’s leading authorities on piano performance. Tickets £7 Concessions available

RNCM

An Eye for Optical Theory This Spotlight features the relentlessly energetic and emotive music of Michael Nyman, an icon of contemporary British culture. Free admission, no ticket required

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Chamber Orchestra with Tecwyn Evans Felix Mendelssohn The Hebrides Op 26 Eric Fogg Bassoon Concerto in D major Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No 3 in A minor Op 56 ‘Scottish’ Tecwyn Evans, Gergely Madaras conductors Richard Ion bassoon A Mendelssohn double-bill bookends tonight’s concert. The Hebrides overture was shaped by one of the composer’s earliest passions, travel, and the memory of a windswept journey at sea. Continuing this theme, the ‘Scottish’ Symphony was inspired by a visit to Holyrood Palace, scene of the grizzly murder of Mary Queen of Scots’ secretary Rizzio. Eric Fogg’s Bassoon Concerto was written in 1931 for Archie Camden, a professor of bassoon at the then Royal Manchester College of Music. The concerto, which has been unjustly neglected since, features a pair of rhythmically sparkling outer movements and a central slow movement of pure lyricism. Tickets £17 £14 Concessions available

CLARE TEAL

MARCH

RNCM

SATURDAY 31 MARCH

SUNDAY 15 APRIL

7.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Twelfth Day with Joy Dunlop

Salford Choral Society

A Scottish Song Cycle

Petite Messe Solennelle

Stockport Festival Chorus and Orchestra

Catriona Price ﬁddle, vocals Esther Swift harp, vocals Joy Dunlop vocals, dance

Matthew Hamilton conductor

A Child of our Time

Tickets £12 Concessions available www.twelfthdaymusic.com

RNCM

Tickets £17 Concessions available Promoted by Salford Choral Society

Written at the start of the Second World War, this oratorio has become one of Tippett’s most celebrated works. Reﬂecting his own musical and political beliefs, Tippett’s expression of ‘man’s inhumanity to man’ incorporates philosophical texts juxtaposed with a number of African-American Spirituals. Tickets £10 Concessions available Promoted by Stockport Festival Chorus

SUNDAY 1 APRIL 7pm RNCM Concert Hall

SUNDAY 22 APRIL

Oldham Choral Society

from 9am Various RNCM venues

St Matthew Passion East Lancashire Sinfonia Nigel P Wilkinson conductor John Pierce tenor (The Evangelist) Rhys Jenkins baritone (Jesus) Nicola Howard soprano Adrienne Murray alto Andrew Greenan bass Marking the start of Easter week, Oldham Choral Society performs Bach’s masterpiece St Matthew Passion, featuring an outstanding line-up of soloists, all of whom are RNCM alumni, and supported by the 130 plus voices of the choir and East Lancashire Sinfonia. Tickets £14

TWELFTH DAY

John Huw Davies conductor

Concessions available Promoted by Oldham Choral Society

The National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain The National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain is one of the leading youth brass band events in the country, showcasing over 40 youth bands who will compete for one of four national titles. Tickets £9 from 01924 629109 Concessions available Promoted by British Federation of Brass Bands Contests Ltd

MARCH | APRIL

Twelfth Day has joined forces with Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop to produce a song cycle focusing on the roles of Scottish women through the ages, which will feature new compositions alongside musical arrangements of Scottish and Gaelic poetry. By transforming literary material from prolific female bards into modern day musical works, the concert will explore the cultural history of Scottish women throughout society. Featuring three unique vocalists and, at first glance, the unusual combination of harp, fiddle and percussive step-dance, the arrangements will draw inspiration from the musicians’ combined experiences of individually growing up in Argyll, Orkney and the Scottish Borders.

Despite its title, Rossini’s last major work is neither small nor solemn! Indeed it is a spontaneous and infectious piece of writing, bubbling over with characteristic melodic, harmonic and rhythmic invention. This performance will be with Rossini’s original orchestration for keyboard instruments only.

TUESDAY 24 APRIL 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Eclipse An Apple for my Love Joy Smith celtic harps Layil Barr recorders, viol Bjarte Eike violin Nicholas Hurndall-Smith vocals Steven Player baroque dance, guitar Would you dance from London to Norwich with a Shakespearean actor? Should you obey your father or follow your heart? Would you choose a cruel sister over a fair one? Could you resist following a bardic harper into battle, and if you met a female pirate, would you live to tell the tale? Come and ﬁnd out with Eclipse's feast of Irish jigs, English folk songs, Celtic legends, baroque grounds and Purcell songs… Joined by dancer Steven Player and tenor Nicholas Hurndall-Smith, An Apple for my Love has been hailed for ‘generous measures of outrageous virtuosity balanced with some of the most sublime and beautiful singing I have ever heard’. Monumental cathedrals and wild sea shores, Cornish ﬁelds and Scottish castles... Everything you wanted to know about the British Isles and didn’t dare ask! Tickets £17 £14 Concessions available www.eclipse-baroquefusion.com

RNCM

WEDNESDAY 25 SATURDAY 28 APRIL 7.30pm SATURDAY 28 APRIL 2pm RNCM Studio Theatre

Guys and Dolls RNCM Youth Perform A musical fable of Broadway based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows Caroline Clegg director Jon Malaxetxebarria musical director Philip L Edwards lighting design This year’s production from the RNCM’s talented musical theatre group is a tale of gangsters, gambling and chorus girls, set in the bright lights of Broadway. Into this mix comes Sarah Brown, a Salvation Army ofﬁcer from the Save-A-Soul Mission, intent on turning them away from their ungodly lives. When Sky Masterson, the coolest high roller of them all, accepts a bet to make her fall in love with him, the scene is set for an exhilarating evening of romance, comedy and outright mayhem. With its sizzling dance routines and songs such as Luck Be A Lady and Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat, this Broadway hit will have you humming all the way home. ‘Everything about the production...ﬁzzed and sparkled with vivacity and humour.’ www.jildysauce.wordpress.com on Little Shop of Horrors, April 2011 This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd. on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York. Tickets £10

APRIL

Concessions available

RNCM

THURSDAY 26 APRIL

SATURDAY 28 APRIL

7.30pm RNCM Theatre

6.30pm RNCM Lecture Theatre

Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio + Ignite II

Manchester Camerata

Tim Garland reeds Gwilym Simcock piano Asaf Sirkis drums, percussion

Dr Laura Tunbridge, Senior Lecturer in Music at the University of Manchester, presents an exploration of string music in the Romantic period.

Tim Garland returns to the RNCM with his latest Ignite project showcase. This exciting initiative sees Tim working alongside our students to create brand new works to be premièred in Manchester. In this, the second of the series, Tim has been working with string players and the results of this collaboration will be unveiled tonight. The second half of the show features one of Tim’s other projects, the Lighthouse Trio, who return in their original line-up after a two year break working on other projects. The trio will be showcasing material from their new album, due out in May 2012, which positions the band as an orchestra unto themselves. The Lighthouse Trio has received rave reviews for its work over the last few years, with The Times pinpointing the group’s ‘sure-footed virtuosity, a dazzling standard.’ Tickets £18 £16 £14 Concessions available www.triolighthouse.com

RNCM

Talking Point

Admission free to ticket holders

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Portrait of Love Anton Webern Langsamer Satz (Slow Movement) Johannes Brahms (arr Hermann) Liebeslieder Waltzes Op 52 Antonín Dvorˇák (arr Matthews) Love Songs Op 83 Piotr llyich Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence Gábor Takács-Nagy conductor Anna Stephany mezzo-soprano From Webern, whose inspiration was his future wife, Wilhelmine Mörtel, to Tchaikovsky, whose muse was Nadezhda von Meck, his mystery patron whom he never actually met, this portrait features works by composers struck by love. After the concert, stay on and enjoy free music with us in the RNCM Café Bar, in association with Manchester Jazz Festival. Tickets £25 £18.50 £10 Promoted by

SUNDAY 29 APRIL

RNCM DAY OF SONG A SHAKESPEARE SONG DAY A warm welcome to our annual RNCM Day of Song, an event which has become an important and much-anticipated date in the College calendar. This year we have a literary theme to the day as we bring together the genius of Shakespeare and some of our great English song composers. We will draw on many aspects of RNCM music-making – our singers, pianists and instrumentalists – to produce a day full of variety, featuring spoken recitations and performances of wonderful settings of Shakespearean texts. The programme also includes a masterclass by Richard Wistreich and specially written works by our own composition students, as well as a performance by the RNCM Chamber Choir in the day’s closing concert. Do join us for a moving, stirring, thoughtprovoking occasion. Barbara Robotham, Susan Roper artistic directors

APRIL

RNCM

10.30am RNCM Concert Hall

2.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room

5.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room

6.30pm RNCM Lecture Theatre

A marriage of true minds

Masterclass with Richard Wistreich

Shakespeare through the centuries

Pre-concert talk with David Lindley

RNCM Dean of Research and Enterprise, Richard Wistreich works with RNCM singers on performing 16th and 17th century settings of Shakespeare and his contemporaries in appropriate style. Performers will sing with lute and theorbo accompaniment and gain insights into the performance values and ideals of the early modern era.

A rare opportunity to hear some less well known songs composed over two centuries. We begin with Thomas Morley and Robert Johnson, both contemporaries of Shakespeare, passing through less well known composers such as John Wilson, John Barister, Pelham Humphrey, alighting on our much loved Henry Purcell, moving on through Richard Leveridge, John Wildon, John Eccles, Thomas Chilcot, and ending the journey with Thomas Arne.

David Lindley, Professor of Renaissance Literature at the University of Leeds and an expert in the interrelationship between literature and music, explores song from Shakespeare’s lifetime.

Many composers have been inspired by Shakespeare, but none more so than Roger Quilter, whose settings have given us some of our best loved songs. In this concert you will hear all of his Shakespeare songs, framed by Shakespeare texts. Tickets £6 Concessions available

11.45am Carole Nash Recital Room

Madness and Magic Ophelia is one of Shakespeare’s most noted female characters. In this concert you see how she has appealed to the great Lieder composer Brahms in his Five Ophelia Lieder, and Strauss in his Ophelia Lieder Op 67. Magic and sorcery have appeared in many of Shakespeare’s plays and here we also introduce Ariel personiﬁed in two varied song cycles by Michael Tippett and Jonathan Dove. Ariel will introduce himself, and Prospero’s words bring the concert to a close. Tickets £6 Concessions available

1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Scenes, sonnets and recitations RNCM students put down their scores and pick up their scripts, as they recite a selection of scenes and sonnets from some of Shakespeare’s best loved plays. Tickets £6

APRIL

Concessions available

Free admission, no ticket required

4pm RNCM Concert Hall

To thine own self be true

Tickets £6 Concessions available

Free admission, no ticket required

7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Evening Concert Shakespeare in all his inﬁnite variety

A fascinating look at how the same text can inspire composers in many different ways. Amongst many others we shall hear how Gurney, Dring and Howells responded to Under the greenwood tree, and Finzi, Coates and Delius to It was a lover and his lass. You will hear the spoken texts and some fascinatingly diverse reactions. This concert will also feature performances of new works by two RNCM composition students written especially for the day.

A wide-ranging concert beginning with the RNCM Chamber Choir and Vaughan Williams’ Three Shakespeare Songs, and also featuring that composer's Serenade to Music, based on the The Merchant of Venice, and performed tonight in the arrangement for four soloists, piano and violin. This varied programme will also feature Stravinsky’s Three Shakespeare Songs, a Finzi song cycle, the Lady Macbeth Scena for mezzo-soprano and piano by Joseph Horovitz, and even a touch of Johnny Dankworth. In an evening not to be missed, Shakespeare’s Puck will have the ﬁnal say.

Tickets £6

Tickets £12

Concessions available

Day Ticket £30

There are 23 free lunchtime concerts this Spring, with solo and duo recitals most Mondays, orchestras and ensembles most Thursdays, and chamber music on three Fridays towards the end of term. We’ve grouped the series together here, for ease of reference, and you can extend your visit with lunch or afternoon tea in Brodsky or the Café Bar, or by taking a tour of the RNCM’s Historic Instrument Collection.

MONDAY 16 JANUARY 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Monday Recital Series J S Bach Prelude from Suite No 4 in E flat major BWV 1010 Zoltán Kodály Allegro maestoso ma appassionato from Sonata for solo cello Op 8 Frédéric Chopin (arr Bennett) Nocturne in D flat major Op 27 No 2* Karl Doppler Rigoletto Fantasie Op 38* Stephanie Tress cello Hyejin Jeon, Felix Niel* flute Hea Youn Chung* piano Bach’s fourth cello suite is a technically demanding piece which requires the performer to exhibit an improvisatory feel. Kodály's Sonata for solo cello is often considered to be the first major work for the instrument after Bach’s suites; it acknowledges influences from Debussy, Bartók and Hungarian folk music. The Nocturne in D flat major is one of Chopin's most graceful displays of ornamentation. Doppler, a pupil of Liszt, is best known for orchestral and instrumental arrangements, including this Rigoletto Fantasie.

THURSDAY 19 JANUARY

THURSDAY 26 JANUARY

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY

1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Wind Orchestra

RNCM Harp Ensemble

RNCM Chamber Orchestra

Gustav Mahler (arr Horne) Adagietto from Symphony No 5 in C sharp minor (world première) Gustav Mahler Um Mitternacht Gustav Mahler (arr Gorb) Rondo Burlesque from Symphony No 9 in D major (world première)

Carlos Salzedo Steel Paul Patterson Avian Arabesques: The Hovering Falcon; Legend of the Anka; Flight of the Phoenix Traditional (arr Macdearmid) Scottish traditional tunes Monika Stadler African Reﬂections

Jean-Philippe Rameau Tristes apprêts, pâles ﬂambeaux from Castor et Pollux Jean-Philippe Rameau Suite from Dardanus

Mark Heron, Andrew Gregory conductors Elizabeth Karani soprano

Eira Lynn Jones director

RNCM composition staff Adam Gorb and David Horne have fulﬁlled their long time ambition to arrange Mahler symphonic movements for wind orchestra and we’re delighted to present the world premières of their arrangements in today’s concert. Completing the programme is Mahler’s Um Mitternacht, part of a song cycle of ﬁve Lieder based on the poems of Friedrich Rückert.

Today’s programme begins with a short but intense piece by the composer and harpist Carlos Salzedo, who radically changed the image of the harp. Commissioning repertoire is an important part of the RNCM harpists' work, and today marks the ﬁrst performance at the College of Avian Arabesques, written by Paul Patterson. Our Scottish harpists present traditional tunes on clarsachs (folk harps), whilst the closing work reﬂects on the sounds of instruments from Africa: the kora and the balaphone.

MONDAY 23 JANUARY

Robert Schumann Frauenliebe und -Leben Op 42 Sergei Prokofiev Sonata No 2 in D minor Op 14* Aimee Toshney soprano Pauline Lee piano Ruta Skudraite* piano Frauenliebe und -Leben (A Woman's Love and Life) is a cycle of poems by Adelbert von Chamisso, written in 1830. Schumann wrote this setting in 1840, his most prolific year for this genre. Prokofiev’s Sonata No 2, composed in 1912 while he was studying at the St Petersburg Conservatory, is dedicated to his close friend and fellow student, Maksimilian Shmitgoff.

Castor et Pollux is arguably Rameau’s operatic masterpiece and the Chamber Orchestra opens today’s concert with Telaira’s meltingly tender lament for her lover Castor’s death. Our Rameau double-bill concludes with an orchestral suite from the opera Dardanus, packed with innovative music of great inspiration and dramatic sensitivity.

THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Chamber Ensemble William Walton Façade (complete)

1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Monday Recital Series

Mahan Esfahani conductor Heather Ireson mezzo-soprano

MONDAY 30 JANUARY 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Monday Recital Series Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata No 30 in E major Op 109 Franz Schubert Sonata in G minor for violin and piano D 408* Joao Costa piano Rebekah Reid* violin Laura Elliott* piano After the huge scale of his Hammerklavier Sonata Op 106, Beethoven opts for a much smaller, intimate setting here. Schubert’s Sonata in G minor was one of three violin sonatas written during the spring of 1816 when the composer was only 19 years old; there is a youthful, innocent simplicity to this music.

Yibin Seow, Aljoša Škorja, Duncan Ward conductors Joshua Cadman, Joseph Dexter, Matthew Kellett, Sarah Parkin narrators First ‘staged’ at the Aeolian Hall, London, in 1923, Walton’s Façade was performed from behind a decorated curtain by six instrumentalists, plus Edith Sitwell reciting 21 of her verses! Walton’s music precisely captures a mood of quirky nostalgia, with a light parodistic mixture that includes suggestions of jazz, music hall and even folk music.

JANUARY | FEBRUARY

LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

MONDAY 13 FEBRUARY

MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY

FRIDAY 2 MARCH

THURSDAY 8 MARCH

1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Monday Recital Series

Zelkova Quartet

RNCM Saxophone Ensemble

Ludwig van Beethoven Allegro, ma non tanto from Sonata in A major Op 69 No 3 Paul Hindemith Lebhaft, sehr markiert from Sonata for solo cello Op 25 No 3 Johannes Brahms Four Duets Op 28 and Von ewige Liebe and Die Mainacht from Op 43*

Gabriel Fauré Cinq mélodies ‘de Venise’ Op 58 J S Bach Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor BWV 582*

Franz Schubert String Quartet in D minor ‘Death and the Maiden’ D 810

Music to include: Adam Gorb Burlesque Gary Carpenter Missa Beata Virgine José Puello New work (world première)

David John Williamson cello Edmund Evans piano Louis Hurst* baritone Sophie Goldrick* mezzo-soprano Ewan Gilford* piano The Sonata in A major, written in 1808, comes from Beethoven's most productive compositional period. 50 years on, Brahms began to write these two sets of duets: the songs from Op 28 in particular look forward to Brahms' more mature work in their expression and technical facility.

THURSDAY 16 FEBRUARY 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Chamber Ensemble Darius Milhaud La création du monde Op 81 Jacques Ibert Divertissement Marco Bellasi, Jon Malaxetxebarria conductors

Entranced by the rhythms he heard in the jazz clubs of 1920s Harlem, Milhaud returned to Paris and composed La création du monde. The cultural scene was infused by a spirit in which entertainment could be enjoyed guilt-free, unfettered by the austerity of the Great War. From this scenario, Ibert drew Divertissement from the score he wrote for Eugène Labiche’s farce, The Italian Straw Hat. The listener can make their way through blues and jazz, spiky modernism, Viennese waltzes and even the Wedding March from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream!

Gabriella Cassidy soprano Simon Passmore piano David Hardie* organ Composed in 1891, this song cycle of ﬁve melodies is based on poems by the French poet Paul Verlaine, from his collections Fêtes galantes and Romances sans paroles. One of his most important and well-known works, Robert Schumann described the variations on Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor as ‘intertwined so ingeniously that one can never cease to be amazed’.

For the ﬁrst of three Friday lunchtime concerts featuring RNCM Chamber Ensembles, we present Schubert’s Death and the Maiden quartet. This is arguably the greatest of the composer’s three late quartets, chieﬂy on account of its harrowing emotional honesty. This piece is characterised by its unrelenting rhythmic force, which is introduced by the opening movement’s principal theme, then carried by the desperate song of the variations, and in turn followed by a whirling Presto-like a grim dance of death.

MONDAY 5 MARCH THURSDAY 1 MARCH

1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Monday Recital Series

RNCM Concert Orchestra

Joe Duddell Nightswimming for piano trio Ian Stephens Ode to Autumn for soprano and piano Timothy Jackson Anything But

Edward Elgar Enigma Variations Op 36 Paul Mann, Aljoša Škorja conductors Elgar composed his Variations on an Original Theme in 1899 and it was the composer himself who ﬁrst used the term ‘Enigma’ when referring to the work. For over 100 years, musicologists have tried to unravel what this enigma might be; however, this conundrum is irrelevant to the glorious music of the variations themselves, which were all given cryptic titles referring to Elgar’s ‘friends pictured within’, as his dedication has it.

This trio of pieces celebrates the music of composers from the North West. Referencing the band REM, Duddell's Nightswimming is a playful work focusing on imaginative interaction between the three instruments, while horn player and composer Timothy Jackson’s Anything But will be anything but what you’d expect!

Rob Buckland, Andy Scott directors The RNCM Saxophone Ensemble plays a programme of original works for this lunchtime concert, including works by RNCM composition tutors Adam Gorb and Gary Carpenter. Burlesque features an abundance of grace notes, ﬂutter tonguing and sounds inﬂuenced by the klezmer idiom, with outbursts alternating with passages of joyous lyricism. Missa Beata Virgine, originally written for a choir of voices, is performed in today’s concert in its arrangement for saxophone choir. These and other pieces by composers from the North West are joined by a new piece by the Dominican composer José Puello, a student from the University of Manchester.

MONDAY 12 MARCH 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Monday Recital Series Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sonata in B flat major for violin and piano K 454 Andy Scott Nemesis* Rosemary Attree violin Philip Eames piano Alastair Penman* soprano saxophone Michael Clark* vibraphone The Sonata in B flat major is considered to be Mozart’s greatest contribution to the violin sonata repertoire and displays a great equality between the two instruments. Andy Scott’s Nemesis is a three movement work, written in a contemporary classical style with jazz and Latin influences.

THURSDAY 15 MARCH

MONDAY 19 MARCH

MONDAY 26 MARCH

FRIDAY 30 MARCH

1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Concert Orchestra

Monday Recital Series

RNCM Chamber Ensemble

Johannes Brahms Academic Festival Overture Johannes Brahms Variations on a theme of Joseph Haydn Op 56a

André Jolivet Chant de Linos Dave Maric Trilogy*

Dominick Argento Selection from Letters from Composers Francis Poulenc Napoli Suite for solo piano*

Franz Schubert Piano Quintet in A major D 667

Written as a ‘thank you’ for his honorary doctorate from the University of Breslau in 1879, the Academic Festival Overture is one of two contrasting compositions, the other being the Tragic Overture, that Brahms intended as companion pieces. Brahms was notoriously critical of his own work and for many years avoided writing orchestral works. These variations were his ﬁrst purely orchestral piece since the Serenade of 1860 (13 years earlier) and compositionally and instrumentally, they show Brahms at his most inventive and appealing.

Hollie Macdonald ﬂute Mui Ki Yau piano Natasa Hadjiandreou* percussion Jolivet composed Chant de Linos as a competition piece for the Paris Conservatoire in 1944. He was interested in the evocation of ritual in his music, and wrote that a chant de linos was an ancient Greek mourning chant, with wailing and dancing. Dave Maric is a British composer of acoustic and electronic music. Trilogy, his ﬁrst commissioned work, is a solo piece written for the percussionist Colin Currie.

THURSDAY 22 MARCH 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

FRIDAY 16 MARCH 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Chamber Ensemble Franz Schubert Octet in F major D 803 Our second Friday lunchtime chamber concert features a selection of movements from Schubert’s serenely conﬁdent Octet. This composition is doubly unique: it is the composer’s only work for eight players, and no other composer has written for the same combination – two violins, viola, cello, bass, clarinet, horn and bassoon. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Octet is Schubert’s effortless uniﬁcation of the potentially disparate instrumental colours, with the clarinet and violin taking the dominant roles.

RNCM Brass Ensemble Leoš Janácˇek Capriccio Ricardo Lorenz Monkey to the Sky (UK première) John Miller, Marco Bellasi conductors Lan Hu piano Matthew White euphonium Today’s concert opens with Janácˇek’s remarkable left-handed piece for piano, inspired by a request from the pianist Otokar Hollman who had lost his right hand during the First World War. Also featured is the UK première of Ricardo Lorenz’s Monkey to the Sky. Jointly commissioned by the RNCM and Robert Benton (Adjunct Professor of Tuba & Euphonium at Adrian College, USA), one of the ideas behind this piece was to use the same line-up as Janácˇek’s Capriccio, although in this composition the euphonium takes centre stage as the soloist.

Lisa Newill-Smith soprano Jamie Parker guitar Martin Jacoby* piano Written in 1968, Argento’s Letters from Composers is a song cycle for high voice and guitar on texts from letters by Chopin, Mozart, Schubert, Bach, Debussy, Puccini and Schumann. A selection of four of these songs will be performed in this concert. Dedicated to the pianist Juliette Meerovitch, Poulenc began writing his Napoli Suite for solo piano during a trip to Italy in 1922. This rarely performed work is characterised by its quirky exuberance.

Our third and final Friday lunchtime chamber concert features Schubert’s A major piano quintet. During an Austrian walking tour, Schubert met a wealthy patron of the arts who asked him to compose a work for one of his musical gatherings. The resulting Trout Quintet is an irresistibly good-natured piece of music – dramatic, soulful and lively – and the rippling variations and gypsy-influenced finale all display a staggering wealth of invention.

THURSDAY 26 APRIL 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Concert Orchestra THURSDAY 29 MARCH 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

RNCM Concert Orchestra Benjamin Britten Passacaglia from Peter Grimes Op 33b Benjamin Britten Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes Op 33a Lancelot Fuhry, Yibin Seow conductors Today’s lunchtime concert features two excerpts from the orchestral score of Britten’s greatest opera. Peter Grimes marked a watershed for Britten and a post-war rebirth for British opera. Though the action is focused on the ambiguous ﬁsherman Grimes, the opera’s magniﬁcent score evokes another principal character: the sea itself. The vivid Sea Interludes, written to allow scene changes, are now concert pieces in their own right, and the music conjures up the different moods of the sea off the Suffolk coast, from moonlit calm to a stormy tempest.

Jean Sibelius Symphony No 7 in C major Op 105 Matthew Coorey, Andrew Gregory conductors After the formal experiments of his Fifth Symphony, Sibelius ﬁnally went the whole hog and created this one movement symphony that contains all the traditional four movement symphony’s characteristics of contrast and development. It is possibly the greatest of all his works: extraordinarily ﬂuid, expressive and even epic in character.

MARCH | APRIL

Philippe Bach, Duncan Ward conductors

Join the RNCM Friends

Be inspired, enriched and enchanted. ‘It is always an inspiration to visit the RNCM and have the privilege of enjoying the results of the very hard work of the students and staff.’

Guest events and opportunities to see behind the scenes of the RNCM are open exclusively to members of the RNCM Friends. Friends membership subscriptions and donations help with everything we do, especially in supporting our students with bursaries, travel grants and prizes. Booking is now open for this season’s events. Pick up a joining form in College or contact us (see below). The new membership scheme has something for everyone, and now is the perfect time to join. There are four levels of Friends membership and two Benefactor levels for those who would like to make a more personal donation. Membership also makes an ideal gift for music-loving friends or family. Membership starts from as little as £2.50 per month. We need your help now more than ever to support the music stars of the future. By joining the Friends, you will have access to exceptional events which will allow us to show you more of this unique place. For more information, contact the Friends Administrator on 0161 907 5338 or friends@rncm.ac.uk or visit our website at www.rncm.ac.uk/friends

TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room

Musical Castaway with Lynne Dawson Lynne Dawson, RNCM’s Head of Vocal Studies, talks with RNCM Head of Opera, Stefan Janski, sharing the music that would keep her company as a Musical Castaway. Lynne is one of Britain's most versatile and popular sopranos with a career that has spanned more than three decades and brought her enormous success as both an opera and concert singer. She has sung and recorded with many of the world’s leading conductors including Giulini, Barenboim, Mehta, Gardiner, Chailly, Harnoncourt, Minkowski and Mackerras, and her personal discography boasts more than 80 recordings and includes many of her most frequently performed opera and concert repertory. Join us on this exciting journey to discover the music, memories and stories from Lynne’s life so far. Tickets £12.50 including light refreshments

TUESDAY 20 and WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH 7.30pm RNCM Theatre

Opera Preview Evening RNCM Opera is proud to present Handel’s masterpiece Xerxes. This comedy-drama, set in ancient Persia amongst magniﬁcent palaces and scented gardens, muses on love and kingship with a typically Handellian plot of misunderstandings, double bluff and cross-dressing. This sparkling new RNCM Opera production, sung in Italian with English surtitles, is sure to delight. We are once again double casting this opera. Consequently, Friends and Benefactors are invited to join RNCM staff at one of the two dress rehearsals on either Tuesday 20 March or Wednesday 21 March. For further details and cast lists please see page 31. Tickets £12.50

THURSDAY 10 MAY 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall 2pm Carole Nash Mezzanine

Friends Day with RNCM Director of Percussion Studies, Simone Rebello RNCM alumna and Director of Percussion Studies, Simone Rebello leads the RNCM Percussion Ensemble in what is sure to be a suite of explosive performances at this lunchtime concert. Friends will be thrilled to have the opportunity to see one of our past Lady Groves Award winners, Le Yu, perform once again as half of the Aurora Percussion Duo, alongside the talented Delia Stevens. Full programme details will be published in the Summer brochure. Places are limited and include: reserved seating in the Concert Hall for the lunchtime concert; traditional afternoon tea to follow, featuring a selection of ﬁnger sandwiches and delectable cakes, on the Carole Nash Mezzanine; exclusive chance to chat with Simone and students afterwards over tea and cake. Tickets £12.50 Tickets available from the RNCM Box Ofﬁce 0161 907 5555 www.rncm.ac.uk

Supporting the RNCM Support a student Quite simply, many students would not be able to take up their places at the RNCM without support from those individuals, trusts and businesses who generously help ease the ﬁnancial burden and hence allow our students to concentrate on their music and let their talents be nurtured. You could be one of those benefactors and enjoy a unique relationship with one of the music stars of the future.

Name a seat Are you a regular visitor to the RNCM? Do you have a favourite place in the Theatre or Concert Hall? Stuck for a gift for the music-lover who has everything? You can name a seat for yourself, for a friend, or perhaps in memory of a loved one.

A legacy for the future If you would like to make a lasting difference, then please consider leaving a legacy. Your solicitor will be able to advise you on how to leave a bequest to the RNCM and, because we are a registered charity, you may also ﬁnd this to be a very tax-effective way of giving something back to music which has given you so much pleasure. For more information, contact the Development Ofﬁce on 0161 907 5392 or development@rncm.ac.uk or visit www.rncm.ac.uk/supportus 43

RNCM Connecting with the Community Emmanuel Church in Didsbury is the setting for a series of Saturday morning recitals, which regularly features RNCM performers. Starting at 11am, Spring dates are:

RNCM Youth Perform, prepares for a production of Guys and Dolls (see page 36 for details). RNCM Youth Perform is open to anyone between the ages of 13 and 19 with a passion for performance. It rehearses weekly and is directed by RNCM students and the theatre director Caroline Clegg. No previous experience is necessary.

Saturday 21 January Saturday 11 February Saturday 3 March

For more information about our work visit the RNCM Outreach web page for more information www.rncm.ac.uk/ communityoutreach or contact Fiona Stuart or Heidi Johnson on 0161 907 5281.

RNCM in the City Didsbury Coffee Concerts

Saturday 28 January Saturday 18 February Saturday 17 March

RNCM Outreach is grateful for the support of the Michael Tippett Musical Foundation.

St Ann’s Recitals Take a break from the ofﬁce and the shops, by enjoying ﬁrst class music from senior RNCM students in the peaceful surroundings of St Ann’s Church in Manchester city centre. Choose from chamber concerts on Wednesday lunchtime at 1pm or piano recitals on Saturday afternoons at 3pm:

Wednesday 25 January Wednesday 15 February Wednesday 7 March

Saturday 21 January Saturday 25 February Saturday 24 March

RNCM Outreach Spring is a busy time for RNCM Outreach as we continue our work with schools, colleges and community groups across the North West. January sees the start of this year’s Sound Ideas project, our ﬂagship GCSE composition programme which this year includes composition labs at the RNCM for the ﬁrst time. In February, four primary schools will work alongside RNCM students and composer Kate Pearson to create and perform Babel, a new mini-opera based on a story of ambition, triumph and disaster (see page 18 for details). We continue to run special theme days related to our performance programme and throughout the Spring term our musical theatre group, 44

Looking for musicians? Are you seeking live musicians for a forthcoming event or concert? RNCM musicians who have reached an exceptional level of performance regularly undertake professional engagements throughout the UK. The Professional Engagements team co-ordinates a large number of engagements for music clubs and societies as well as for individuals, companies and event organisers, matching performers to engagements and negotiating fees in line with current industry rates. We offer a wide range of ensembles and soloists, from string quartets for weddings to concert pianists for concertos, as well as a number of groups covering jazz repertoire. To ﬁnd out more, contact Abi Collins on abigail.collins@rncm.ac.uk or 0161 907 5352.

Looking for a venue? The RNCM is home to one of the largest theatres in Manchester, a stylish concert hall, a versatile studio theatre, the Carole Nash Recital Room, a lecture theatre, plus a variety of smaller spaces – and all are available for hire. As one of the North West’s leading performance venues, the RNCM is the perfect place to host your event. Whether you are organising a multi-day convention, a live broadcast, a one night concert or a small meeting, or even if you’d just like to have a look around, get in touch with Clare Preston-Pollitt on clare.preston-pollitt@rncm.ac.uk or 0161 907 5289 to ﬁnd out more.

Eating and Drinking at the RNCM BRODSKY Brodsky is the restaurant, bar and grill at the RNCM serving morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, all-day snacks, pre-concert dining and much more.

PRE-CONCERT DINING For pre-concert dining, we are now offering an extended Brodsky menu and a daily specials board. From 5pm we also offer a full service operation with our waiting staff taking drinks and food orders at your table. You can now book a table any day of the week (Monday to Saturday) for the Brodsky menu. Call us on 0161 907 5353/5252 to reserve your table.

CAFÉ Open from 8am until the interval during evening performances, our Café serves freshly ground coffee, tea and soft drinks, alongside a selection of hand-made sandwiches, soups, jacket potatoes and cakes. We also offer an extensive salad bar and a hot dish of the day selection from 12 noon – 2pm and 5pm 7pm (NB Opening times vary during weekends and vacations).

AFTERNOON TEA Priced at £9.95 per person, this is the perfect way to relax following a lunchtime concert. Booking is required in advance so please call 0161 907 5353/5252 to reserve your table.

CONCERT BAR The Concert Bar is open from Monday to Saturday from 6pm, during and after concerts. Interval drinks can be pre-ordered from the Concert Bar to beat the queues (NB Opening times vary on Sundays and during vacations).

Wherever possible, the RNCM uses Fairtrade products All food items and menus are subject to availability

Booking Information How to Book

Gift Vouchers

Post/In Person Box Ofﬁce, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD Telephone 0161 907 5555 Fax 0161 907 5330 Email box.ofﬁce@rncm.ac.uk Online www.rncm.ac.uk (except for Group Bookings and Flexible Series)

RNCM Gift Vouchers are available from the Box Ofﬁce.

Advance bookings can be made in person, online, by phone or fax including the day of performance up until 6pm. Tickets must be paid for within 4 working days of the booking. Reservations made within 4 days of the performance must be paid for at least 30 minutes before the start of the concert.

Box Ofﬁce Opening Times Monday - Saturday 11am - 6pm or until 8.30pm on performance nights, and Sunday one hour before performances, between September and June. Online booking is available 24 hours a day. The Box Ofﬁce will be closed from Friday 23 December until Tuesday 3 January for the Christmas vacation.

Payment We accept VISA, MasterCard and Maestro credit/debit cards. If you are paying by credit/ debit card, don’t forget to include the expiry date or issue number where applicable and a daytime telephone number so we can contact you with any queries. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Royal Northern College of Music’. A 50p per ticket administration charge will be added to bookings made by telephone and online bookings are subject to an 85p ticket booking fee which is charged to the RNCM by the supplier of this service. 46

Ticket Exchange & Refunds The RNCM does not operate a refund policy. Please check your tickets as soon as you receive them, as refunds are only made in the case of a cancelled performance. We can credit your account with the cost of the tickets if you are unable to attend. Tickets must be returned to the Box Ofﬁce 24 hours in advance of the concert. Your credit minus a £1 administration fee per ticket can be used to purchase tickets for any other RNCM promoted events within the next 12 months. This facility is not available for non-RNCM promoted events.

Concessions For events marked with the RNCM logo, under 18s in full-time education, students and senior citizens can obtain 10% off each ticket on production of the appropriate identification. Claimants (in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance) can purchase single tickets for just £6 on production of the appropriate identification. Disabled patrons are entitled to 50% off full price tickets for themselves and where disabled patrons are also eligible for other concessions, the greater concession will apply. We also offer 50% off full price tickets for an essential companion accompanying a disabled patron. For all other events please contact the Box Office for precise details of concessions as they do vary according to the event promoter. Please note all concessions are subject to availability and it is advisable to book well in advance to ensure the seats you require are available.

Sonic Card is a free scheme for students run by the BBC Philharmonic, Manchester Camerata, The Bridgewater Hall and the RNCM. It gives students the opportunity to buy tickets to a diverse range of concerts for just £3. Students can sign up at the Sonic Card desk before any featured concert or at www.soniccard.co.uk

Group Discounts Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more (including school groups) for all events marked with the RNCM logo. For more details (and to book) call our Groups Co-ordinator, Jeni Hawkswell on 0161 907 5441 (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 11am – 3pm).

Flexible Series Discounts Put together your own Flexible Series and save at least 15% on the cost of your tickets. Simply choose the concerts you’d like to attend (marked with the next to each event) and create your own tailor-made package.

Email & Mailing List Keep in touch with events at the RNCM by joining our free mailing list or join our email list for regular monthly updates. Contact the Box Ofﬁce or visit www.rncm.ac.uk Artists and programmes are correct at the time of going to press and we reserve the right to change artists and/ or programmes without notice if necessary. We aim to deliver a quality events programme with efﬁcient and courteous service at all times. If you have any comments please contact Liz Grindrod, Head of Marketing & Communications, RNCM, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9RD.

Access The RNCM offers a range of facilities to disabled patrons:

Please call Reception on 0161 907 5300 to reserve a disabled parking space. Wheelchair access is available, via lifts, to all performing venues and public spaces. Low-level counters available at Box Office and Bar. Disabled toilet facilities on all levels. Guide dogs are admitted. Please advise the Box Office when booking your ticket if you are bringing a guide dog. The RNCM Concert Hall and RNCM Theatre are fitted with Sennheiser infra-red hearing assistance systems and receivers. These are available from Front of House staff on request. Receivers can be used in conjunction with a normal hearing aid (which should be switched to the ‘T’ position) or an earpiece available at the venue. The RNCM Studio Theatre, Carole Nash Recital Room and RNCM Lecture Theatre are fitted with induction loops (hearing aids should be switched to the ‘T’ position).

N Large print and audio versions of this brochure are available from the Box Ofﬁce (also by email) Please call the Box Ofﬁce on 0161 907 5555 for all other detailed information for disabled visitors.

About the Venue RNCM THEATRE STAGE

2 The University of Manchester Booth Street car park situated off Booth Street West. Closes at midnight.

Log on to www.gmpte.com for details of public transport in the Greater Manchester area.

3 Aquatics Centre car park situated off Booth Street East. Closes at 11pm.

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LO W

SG AN

DO NR

LON D

ICK

RD RD

O RO

TA KS

ICK

INE

T HS

KIN

EST

TW HS

T OO

26 32 31

T LE S

TH OR

16 K 17

N ST

KVIL

27 26

3/$.

YD LLO

K 27

SAC

16 J

T RS NO VE OS GR AQUATICS CENTRE

FO OX

I 25

MAN

16 I

TO M602 (M60) + M6 NORTH

TO A57, A628 + M67

A5 WAY

RID

D ST

N UNIA

FAIRFIEL

BBC

16 H 17

LES

5103 OAD A ESS R

41 42

OXFORD RD

PRINC

18 17 21 20 24 23 28 27 29 28

MANCHESTER PICCADILLY

A B C D E F G

WHITWORTH ST WEST Train

E F G

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 16 17 C

25 29 33 B C D

CK ST

MEDLO

1 1

CONCERT PLATFORM

RT WO

Metrolink

FO OX

1 1

A B C D E F 27 32 37 43 46 48

BRIDGEWATER HALL

ST T HS

T SS ES

C B A 1 1 1

INC

RNCM CONCERT HALL

ER ST

CIE

29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29

RT L

28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28

2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 2

A B C D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S

1 RNCM secure car park, located next to the College in the basement of the Sir Charles Groves Hall of Residence, off Rosamund Street West. Open from 5pm weekday evenings, and anytime over weekends and bank holidays costing £3. Closes at midnight.

3 3 2

11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

34 B 35 C 35 D 35 E 36 F 36 G 37 H 37 J 38 K 38 L 38 M 38 N 38 P 38 Q 38 R 37 S 36 T 37 U

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

4 4

A B C D E F G H J K L M N P Q R S T U

Parking

The RNCM is located 1 mile south of Manchester City Centre, in the heart of the Education Quarter, on the corner of Oxford Road and Booth Street West. Oxford Road connects the RNCM by bus to the City Centre, and all of Oxford Road, Piccadilly and Victoria train stations. Oxford Road Station is an easy 8 minute walk away.

5 5

How to ﬁnd us

TO M56 + M6 SOUTH

DENMARK ROAD

Sponsors and Supporters Christopher Rowland International Masterclass Fund

Event Partners

Regular Funders

Professional Partners

The Golland Trust

John Moores Foundation

The Michael Tippett Musical Foundation