1 Welcome to 2015 The newly refurbished RNCM at the RNCM Concert Hall

These are exciting times for the RNCM, in an A special treat awaits our jazz audiences with environment which is at its most stimulating and artists including GoGo Penguin, Courtney motivating, when the artistic offer in Pine and Polar Bear and we are proud to be is currently changing the cultural landscape of welcoming the National Youth Jazz Orchestra the North West. with a programme that should bring the house down. Making Tracks continues with their Heralding the official opening of our new state- fabulous artists, and we also welcome Megson, of-the-art Concert Hall later on this Spring, the The Old Dance School and the London African season kicks off with the RNCM Chamber Gospel Choir. RNCM Youth Perform goes to Festival presenting three generations of the town with Bernstein’s fantastic score On the best in chamber music in the Czech Republic, Town and our Day of Song investigates Berlin represented by the Guarneri Trio Prague, the and the world of Cabaret. Talich Quartet and the . Spring 2015 reaches its climax with The RNCM Collaborations and partnerships are Big Weekender, where we celebrate the strengthened as we co-curate a stunning four- diversity and breadth of our programming. day programme with FutureEverything, featuring Highlights include: Britten’s magical opera contemporary artists such as Ólafur Arnalds A Midsummer Night’s Dream, RNCM Big and an impressive sound sculpture (Nyloid). Band with Nikki Iles and Tina May, rock and New adventures ignite as Park Lane Group pop gigs in a nightclub setting in the Studio partners up with the RNCM to present a festival Theatre, and an exciting Family Day, this time of young artists and British contemporary music. based on the BBC Ten Pieces. In addition there The music of today becomes stronger still with are installations, interactive performances Sound and Music supporting ddmmyy featuring and alumni recitals, all culminating in the the music of Bryn Harrison, and Third Ear with performance of Mahler 2 (Resurrection), with Manifesto featuring vocalist Loré Lixenberg, Jane Irwin and Sarah Connolly, conducted by laptops and wax cylinders; our second season Jac van Steen in the now officially-launched of Decontamination, responding to Brian Concert Hall. Eno’s Music for Airports; a focus on the music of Gerald Barry, in partnership with the BBC Philharmonic, and the Ida Carroll Trust with Sir Harrison Birtwistle. There are exquisite classical gems throughout the season, including Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos with the RNCM Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Camerata perform Elgar’s poignant

Cello Concerto, and we transform the RNCM into Vienna with our Strings Festival. Our Festival of Brass features the UK’s best brass bands and Dr Michelle Castelletti – Artistic Director their soloists; there is a stellar line-up for Day of Percussion; and a French Piano Recital Series launched with Pascal Rogé performing Debussy,

Ravel and Poulenc. Photography Life Parr, Anthony by photography cover Front 2 3 Thursday 8 January HIGHLIGHTS 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall Friday 9 January RNCM Concert Orchestra 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Bedřich Smetana Vltava and Šárka from Talich Quartet Má vlast with Jeremy Young Antonín Dvořák Slavonic Dance in G minor Bedřich Smetana No 1 in Op 46 No 8* E minor ‘From my Life’ Matthew Wood, Thiago Santos* conductors Leoš Janáček String Quartet No 1 ‘Kreutzer Free admission, no ticket required Sonata’ Promoted by RNCM Antonín Dvořák Piano Quintet No 2 in A major Op 81 Tickets £17 Concessions available Friday 9 – Sunday 11 January RNCM Chamber Music Saturday 10 January Festival 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Má Vlast (My Country) Guarneri Trio Prague Featuring some of the finest Czech musicians Luboš Fišer Piano Trio performing today including the legendary Bedřich Smetana Piano Trio in G minor Op 15 Talich Quartet, the Guarneri Trio Prague, Antonín Dvořák Piano Trio No 3 in F minor Czech ambassadors for over 25 years, Op 65 and the Pavel Haas Quartet, one of the Tickets £17 finest quartets working anywhere in the Concessions available world today, the 2015 Festival celebrates the breadth of Czech chamber music from the 18th century through to the present day Sunday 11 January and, as always, will be brought to life by 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall performances from students of the RNCM. Pavel Haas Quartet For full details, visit with Delia Stevens www.rncm.ac.uk/chamberfestival Bedřich Smetana String Quartet No 2 in Supported by the Albert and Eugenie Frost D minor Music Trust Leoš Janáček String Quartet No 2 ‘Intimate Letters’ Pavel Haas String Quartet No 2 ‘From the Monkey Mountains’ Tickets £17 Concessions available

Full Festival Ticket £135 Friday Day Ticket £55 Saturday Day Ticket £55 Sunday Day Ticket £45 Promoted by RNCM

4 5 Megson Monday 12 January Thursday 15 January 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall Monday Recital Series RNCM Concert Orchestra Francis Poulenc Oboe Sonata FP 185 Edward Elgar Chanson du Matin Op 15 No 2* Robert Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor Amy Roberts oboe Op 129 Philip Sharp piano * Frédéric Chopin Nocturne in E flat major Clark Rundell, Carlos Agreda Arango conductors Op 55 No 2 cello Frédéric Chopin Fantasy in F minor Op 49 Elena Daunyte Free admission, no ticket required Ewa Tytman Csiba piano Promoted by RNCM Free admission, no ticket required

Promoted by RNCM

Monday 19 January 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room Wednesday 14 January 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room Monday Recital Series Wednesday 21, Thursday 22, Wednesday 28 Thursday 22 January January and Tuesday 3 February 7.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre Franz Schubert Klavierstücke Nos 2 and 3 Alexander Panfilov 6pm RNCM Theatre RNCM International Artist D 946 Megson Sid Ramchander piano Diploma Piano Recital RNCM Opera Scenes Stu Hanna and Debbie Hanna are the husband J S Bach Partita No 1 in B flat major BWV 825 Dominick Argento Casa Guidi; The Italian RNCM singers perform a range of excerpts and wife duo Megson. Three times nominated Robert Schumann Etudes Symphoniques Cook and the English Maid; Manners at the drawn from a wide variety of operas by in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and double Op 13 Opera composers including Donizetti, Delibes, Mozart, winners of the 2011 Awards they Modest Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition Jennifer Parker mezzo-soprano Gounod, Britten, Smetana and Offenbach. draw heavily on their Teesside heritage to create a unique brand of . Their Alexander Panfilov performs the first of four solo James Hendry piano Free admission, no ticket required Promoted by RNCM infectious sound is a mix of heavenly vocals, recitals this term by students on our International Free admission, no ticket required lush harmonies and driving rhythmic guitars Artist Diploma (IAD) course. The Moscow-born Promoted by RNCM and mandolas. As fRoots magazine puts it ‘if pianist is the winner of many international you don’t like the music here then you have a competitions and prizes, including an RNCM Thursday 22 January problem…’ Gold Medal, as well as first place in the Taranto Monday 19 January 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall Tickets £12 and Brant International Piano Competitions. 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall He has also performed at many major venues Concessions available RNCM Wind Orchestra www.megsonmusic.co.uk across the globe, including Carnegie Hall, Danish String Quartet Promoted by RNCM Tonhalle Zürich and Wigmore Hall. Alexander Carl Nielsen Paraphrase on Nearer my God Manchester Chamber Concerts is generously supported by the Musicians’ Society to Thee Company Carnwath Scholarship and The Helen Jacob Ter Veldhuis (arr R Mark Rogers) Mackaness Award. Felix Mendelssohn Capriccio in E minor Tallahatchie Concerto Thursday 22 January Op 81 No 3 James MacMillan Sowetan Spring 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Tickets £10 String Quartet No 9 in Concessions available Dmitri Shostakovich Mark Heron, Matt Weites conductors RNCM Brand New Promoted by RNCM E flat major Op 117 Erin Royer saxophone String Quartet in Free admission, no ticket required Orchestra C sharp minor Op 131 No 14 Promoted by RNCM Adam Kornas, Thiago Santos, Tickets £25 £12.50 Concessions available Carlos Agreda Arango conductors www.chamberconcerts.org Hear newly composed music for symphony Promoted by MCCS orchestra, as RNCM composers unveil their + latest work. 6.30pm Forman Lecture Theatre Free admission, no ticket required Pre-concert talk: Professor Barry Cooper on Beethoven Promoted by RNCM Op 131 Free admission to ticket holders + 6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room Spotlight: Get Lost! – Michael Finnissy’s Lost Lands Free admission, no ticket required 6 7 Friday 23 – Sunday 25 January Saturday 24 January Sunday 25 January 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall 6pm RNCM Concert Hall RNCM Festival of Brass Spirit of Celebration Foden’s Band Grimethorpe Colliery Band The Spirit of Celebration will be manifest Bramwell Tovey Deo Gloria Gilbert Vinter Symphony of Marches throughout this year’s Festival. Some of the Bramwell Tovey Trumpet Concerto ‘Songs of Elgar Howarth Concerto for cornet and brass country’s finest brass bands and international the Paradise Saloon’ (UK première of brass band band soloists pay tribute to composers who have version) Percy Fletcher Epic Symphony made a significant contribution to the brass Andrew Baker Atrium Phase (world première) Imogen Holst The Unfortunate Traveller band medium; two of whom, Elgar Howarth Edward Gregson Connotations Elgar Howarth Cantabile (for John Fletcher) and Edward Gregson, celebrate important Eric Ball Song of Courage Edward Gregson Symphony in Two Movements anniversaries and are extensively featured Tovey, Gregson, Michael Ball, Howarth, Robert Childs conductor throughout the Festival programme. Wilby Variations on a Theme of Michael Iain Culross cornet With nine bands, world-renowned soloists Tippett Michael Dodd, Phillipe Schwartz euphonium Andy Scott Forgotten Place and world or UK premières of new works from Tickets £16 £14 Bramwell Tovey The Night to Sing Andrew Baker, Martin Ellerby, Gavin Higgins Concessions available and Bramwell Tovey, the 2015 RNCM Festival Bramwell Tovey, Michael Fowles conductors Full Festival Ticket £94 of Brass will be an important opportunity Mark O’Keefe trumpet Saturday Day Ticket £46 Sunday Day Ticket £42 to reflect on the wider impact of the brass Tickets £16 £14 band movement and to thank the performers Concessions available Promoted by RNCM and composers who have shaped it over so many years. We’re all looking forward to the celebration and will be sure to make a joyful noise! For full details, visit www.rncm.ac.uk/festivalofbrass

HIGHLIGHTS Friday 23 January 7.45pm RNCM Concert Hall Black Dyke Band Edward Gregson Variations on Laudate Dominum Elgar Howarth Sonatina for cornet and band Martin Ellerby Malcolm Arnold Variations arr Elgar Howarth Music from the Elizabethan Court Martin Ellerby The Four Elements (Partita for euphonium and brass band) (world première) Edward Gregson The Trumpets of the Angels Nicholas Childs, Elgar Howarth conductors Richard Marshall cornet Gary Curtin euphonium Mark O’Keefe trumpet Darius Battiwalla organ Tickets £16 £14 Concessions available

8 9 Tuesday 27 – Wednesday 28 January HIGHLIGHTS Monday 26 January Thursday 29 January Before the Road: Tuesday 27 January 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room 1.15pm RNCM Studio Theatre The Music of Gerald Barry Monday Recital Series Denis Zhdanov The RNCM and BBC Philharmonic are delighted Lunchtime Concert Claude Debussy Violin Sonata in RNCM International Artist Diploma G minor L 140 Piano Recital to present a festival of the extraordinary Irish Gerald Barry Trumpeter composer Gerald Barry. A musical maverick Dan Ryan New work for solo cello Corey Wickens violin Franz Schubert (arr F Liszt) Selected Lieder and at times even a surrealist, the only thing to Gerald Barry Triorchic Blues Charles Vincent Barsaga piano Franz Schubert Piano Sonata in G major D 894 expect from Barry’s music is the unexpected. New work for solo violin Claude Debussy Images Books 1 and 2 Alex Symcox Jean Françaix Three movements from Danses Characters are turned on their head, violence is Gerald Barry Water Parted Igor Stravinsky (arr G Agosti) The Firebird juxtaposed with poetic beauty and the listener is exotiques Free admission, no ticket required Our second IAD recital features Ukrainian invariably taken on an unforgettable journey. Maurice Ravel Habanera from Sites Auriculaires pianist Denis Zhdanov. Denis made his début ‘Barry’s is a world of sharp edges, of precisely 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Cécile Chaminade Valse carnavalesque recital in Łódź, Poland in 2007 to great critical defined yet utterly unpredictable musical Op 73 acclaim. Since then, he has gone on to play objects. His music sounds like no one else’s in major concert halls including Warsaw RNCM New Ensemble Leif Kaner-Lidstrom, Hayley Parkes piano in its diamond-like hardness, its humour, and Philharmonic Hall, Salle Cortot, Paris and Palau Gerald Barry Before the Road sometimes, its violence.’ Tom Service, The Free admission, no ticket required de la Música Catalana, Barcelona. He has also Tom Harrold New work Promoted by RNCM Guardian won numerous prestigious international music Gerald Barry Hard D for Volharding ensemble For full details, visit competitions including the 56th International Gerald Barry Octet Maria Canals Piano Competition in 2010 and www.rncm.ac.uk/barryfestival William Marshall New work Thursday 29 January the 2nd International Piano Competition (Czerny- Gerald Barry Feldman’s Sixpenny Editions 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall Stefańska in Memorium) in Poznań, Poland in

Clark Rundell, Daniel Parkinson, Matt Weites 2011. conductors RNCM Concert Orchestra Tickets £10 Tickets £8 Benjamin Britten An American Overture Op 38 Concessions available Concessions available Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten www.deniszhdanov.com Promoted by RNCM + Béla Bartók Dance Suite 6.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre Gergely Madaras, Adam Kornas conductors Pre-concert event: Gerald Barry gives an insight into Free admission, no ticket required his life and music with Clark Rundell Promoted by RNCM Free admission, no ticket required

Wednesday 28 January 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room Lunchtime Concert Gerald Barry Ø George Rimmer New work Gerald Barry Five Chorales from The Intelligence Park

Free admission, no ticket required

7.30pm BBC Philharmonic Studio, MediaCityUK BBC Philharmonic Gerald Barry La Jalousie Taciturne; Wiener Blut for orchestra; Kitty Lie Over Across From The Wall; Day; Baroness von Ritkart; From The Intelligence Park Clark Rundell conductor Free admission, by ticket only Once open, ticket applications will be available at bbc.co.uk/ tickets. Tickets are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Promoted by RNCM and BBC Philharmonic 10 11 Friday 30 January 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall RNCM Chamber Orchestra Maurice Ravel Le tombeau de Couperin Francis Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos in D

minor FP 61 Nightingale Mark Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No 3 in A minor Op 56 ‘Scottish’ Piero Lombardi Iglesias conductor Yoon-Jee Kim, Jackie Jaekyung Yoo pianos The RNCM Chamber Orchestra’s first concert of the year opens with Ravel’s beautiful tribute to the fallen of the First World War, followed by Poulenc’s delightful concerto, in which the composer’s unashamed eclecticism is given full rein. The programme is completed by Mendelssohn’s ‘Scottish’ Symphony, inspired by a visit to Edinburgh’s Holyrood Palace and the Saturday 31 January Sunday 1 February tragic story of Mary Queen of Scots. 7pm RNCM Concert Hall 10.30am RNCM Concert Hall Tickets £15 Concessions available John Wilson Piano Manchester Amateur Promoted by RNCM Spectacular III Choral Competition + Adult Choir Category Internationally-renowned pianists including 9.45pm Carole Nash Recital Room RNCM alumni, join forces to raise funds Tickets £10 Late-Night Spotlight: A Nocturnal Journey Concessions available for the John Wilson Junior Fellowship in – An intimate recital of Chopin Nocturnes Saturday 31 January www.themacc.org.uk Free admission, no ticket required 7.30pm RNCM Theatre Accompaniment. With no fewer than eight Promoted by Jon Atkin grand pianos on stage, John Wilson will be

RNCM Big Band joined by Peter Donohoe, Julian Evans, John

Gough, Nicholas Rimmer, Martin Roscoe, with Mark Nightingale Sunday 1 February Jonathan Scott, Keith Swallow and Andrew 3pm and 7pm RNCM Studio Theatre Mark Nightingale director, trombone Wilde performing music by Granados, Saint- The first RNCM Big Band show of the year Saëns and Liszt. Also in tonight’s line-up is Yoon-Jee Kim, Kim, Yoon-Jee Trouble in Tahiti marks the return of a hugely popular previous improvisation superstar Harry Harris. Leonard Bernstein guest and one of the country’s finest jazz and Tickets £27.50 £22.50 £17.50 Jackie Jaekyung Yoo Jackie session trombonists, Mark Nightingale. Mark Post-concert drinks and buffet £15 Stuart Overington musical director came under the spotlight at a tender age as Concessions available Jonathan Ainscough director Promoted by RNCM Lead Trombonist in the National Youth Jazz Behind the picture-perfect façade of 1950s Orchestra. As well as playing regularly in his suburbia, two lonely people struggle to save own big band, quintet and a couple of other their crumbling marriage in this 45-minute ensembles, Mark has also performed with the opera-in-miniature, performed by RNCM singers likes of Alan Barnes, Lee Konitz, Kenny Wheeler as a prelude to RNCM Youth Perform’s On the and Colin Towns to name just a few. Tonight, Town in April. he will dazzle us with an evening of his own Tickets £7 arrangements, compositions and virtuosity. Concessions available Tickets £18 £15 Promoted by RNCM Concessions available www.mark-nightingale.co.uk Promoted by RNCM + 9.45pm RNCM Café Bar Late-Night Spotlight: A Tale of Two Cities – A celebration of the music of Fela Kuti and Mulatu Astatke Free admission, no ticket required

12 13 Monday 2 February Thursday 5 February 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room Matthew Halsall Matthew Monday Recital Series Piano Duo Prize Anthony Plog Postcards Tonight’s competition for piano duos is Eugène Bozza Caprice adjudicated by the Japanese pianist Noriko Ogawa, who performs at the RNCM later Illiam Quane trumpet this month, and returns again to give a public Hayley Parkes piano masterclass on 21 April. Jorge Gómez Crespo Norteña Tickets £7 Máximo Diego Pujol Preludio Tristón Concessions available Quique Sinesi Cielo Abierto Promoted by RNCM Yvonne Bloor guitar Free admission, no ticket required Promoted by RNCM Friday 6 February 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall

Monday 2 February Friday Chamber Series 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall with Peter Cropper Saturday 7 February Joining Matthew for this show are the irresistible 7.30pm RNCM Theatre Manchester-based acoustic-electronica trio GoGo Louis Spohr Octet in E major Op 42 The Frederic Cox Award Penguin, whose skittering break-beats, infectious Free admission, no ticket required Gondwana Records piano melodies and powerful and propulsive for Singing Promoted by RNCM presents: basslines all contribute to a sound that is wholly Come and hear the singing stars of tomorrow in their own. Their latest album v2.0 was nominated the first of three major RNCM vocal competitions Matthew Halsall & for the Barclaycard Album of this year. Previous winners include Simon Friday 6 February The Gondwana Orchestra the Year 2014. Completing the bill is Mammal Keenlyside, Amanda Roocroft and Kathryn Rudge. From 6.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room + GoGo Penguin Hands, a trio of like-minded musicians drawing Tickets £10 + Mammal Hands on influences from Steve Reich to Bonobo and Concessions available Spotlight Triple-Bill Pharoah Sanders to Cinematic Orchestra to Manchester-based trumpeter, composer, Promoted by RNCM produce their own beautiful, inimitable music. Tonight in our regular series of free, student-led arranger, band-leader and record label boss concerts, we hear an eclectic mix of old and Matthew Halsall is one of the rising stars of Tickets £16 Concessions available new repertoire from our brass department. European Jazz and his Gondwana Records Thursday 5 February www.gondwanarecords.com 6.30pm Fewkes Horn Quartet – British label is home to some of the UK’s best music. Promoted by Gondwana Records 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall Contemporary Horn Music Tonight’s very special show features Halsall’s The Gondwana Orchestra, local heroes 7.10pm RNCM Cornets - Original works by RNCM Chamber Ensemble GoGo Penguin and new discoveries Mammal student composers Igor Stravinsky Suites Nos 1 and 2 for small Hands for a brilliant night of the very best in orchestra 7.50pm Just a Closer Walk – A Selection of contemporary music. Igor Stravinsky Dumbarton Oaks Sacred Music from Salutation Brass Halsall opens this triple-bill with music from Alice Adam Kornas, Carlos Agreda Arango, Free admission, no ticket required Coltrane alongside his own take on the Spiritual Promoted by RNCM Jan Wierzba conductors Jazz legacy of Alice and John Coltrane. He is Free admission, no ticket required joined on stage by The Gondwana Orchestra Promoted by RNCM featuring: Rachael Gladwin (harp), Jordan Saturday 7 February Smart (saxophones), Taz Modi (piano), Gavin From 10.30am Various venues Barras (double bass), Luke Flowers (drums), and featuring special guest Josephine Oniyama Junior RNCM Open Day (vocals). An opportunity to visit the Junior RNCM, meet current staff, students and parents, and listen to the Juniors perform. For full details, contact the Junior RNCM on 0161 907 5264. Free admission, no ticket required Promoted by RNCM

14 15 Sunday 8 February HIGHLIGHTS 10am RNCM Theatre RNCM Day of Percussion Hannah Roberts The 2015 RNCM Day of Percussion features an Opening Concert outstanding line-up of internationally renowned RNCM Percussion Ensemble artists including leading vibraphonist Anthony

Kerr, specialist Pete Lockett, 12pm RNCM Concert Hall acclaimed drummer Troy Miller and London Symphony Orchestra Principal Percussionist Manchester Marimba Neil Percy with London Philharmonic Orchestra

timpanist Simon Carrington, plus the unique Masters sound and sight of a marimba orchestra, with Liz Gilliver and Jim Gordon directed by Liz Gilliver and Jim Gordon. There A fascinating and informative programme are plenty of participatory events to get involved demonstrating the development of the marimba with, including workshops and lessons led by orchestra. RNCM percussion tutors, as well as an extensive trade exhibition to browse throughout the day. 2pm RNCM Studio Theatre For full details, visit Monday 9 February Wednesday 11 February www.rncm.ac.uk/dayofpercussion Pete Lockett 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Indian Rhythmic Systems: A Western Perspective Monday Recital Series Manchester Camerata A look at the rhythmic systems and drum Judith Weir King Harald’s Saga Georges Bizet Symphony in C major Edward Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor techniques from North and South India. Emma Walton soprano Op 85 Andy Scott Three Letter Word Symphony 3.20pm RNCM Theatre Esbjörn Svensson (arr McPhilemy) Viaticum No 40 in G minor K 550 saxophone Troy Miller Emma McPhilemy Gábor Takács-Nagy conductor Nick Seymour piano The Musical Drummer Hannah Roberts cello Free admission, no ticket required Tickets £32 £26 £19 £10 Troy explores the possibilities of becoming a Promoted by RNCM Concessions available well-rounded and in-demand drummer. www.manchestercamerata.co.uk Supported by Nigel Hirst

Monday 9 February Promoted by Manchester Camerata 4.40pm RNCM Concert Hall 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room + Neil Percy and 090215 6.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Simon Carrington Pre-concert performance: Webster Primary School Orchestral Artistry Tom Rose Same amount in fivers reveal their own musical creation Jack Sheen Hullabaloo and all types of Free admission, no ticket required An insight into how closely timpani and malarkey percussion function together, with technical and Bryn Harrison Four Cycles musical demonstrations. ddmmyy returns to the RNCM for the second of Thursday 12 February its three ensemble concerts, setting new works 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall 6.30pm RNCM Concert Hall by the series’ curators Tom Rose and Jack Sheen alongside Bryn Harrison’s epic Four Cycles in a RNCM Chamber Ensemble

Evening Concert programme that explores notions of repetition, Claude Debussy (arr Walter) Prelude à featuring Neil Percy, stasis, and our perception of time. l’après-midi d’un faune L 86* Simon Carrington, Pete Lockett, Tickets £6 Gustav Mahler (arr Schoenberg) Lieder eines Anthony Kerr, Troy Miller and Concessions available fahrenden Gesellen** www.ddmmyyseries.com The Marimba Consort Supported by Sound and Music Thiago Santos,* Daniel Parkinson,** Promoted by RNCM Steffan Morris** conductors Free admission, no ticket required Full Day Ticket £30 + Promoted by RNCM Individual session tickets £7 6pm Carole Nash Recital Room Concessions available Pre-concert talk: Bryn Harrison in conversation Promoted by RNCM with Jack Sheen Free admission, no ticket required 16 17 Friday 13 February

7.30pm RNCM Theatre Ksenija Sidorova Ksenija London African Gospel

Gospel Choir Gospel Choir London African African London With live shows at the O2 Arena and the Roundhouse in London, the London African Gospel Choir is a platform of excellence for African gospel singers, dancers and musicians, reflecting all African nations as one. One of their most memorable occasions was performing for the Nelson Mandela memorial service at the Great Hall, Westminster. Tonight they aim to excite and enthral our audiences with a spectacular show that brings a unique flavour to performance and presents a colourful night of cultural excellence. Tickets £18 £15 Monday 16 February Thursday 19 February Thursday 12 February Concessions available 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall 2.30pm RNCM Concert Hall www.thelagc.com 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room Promoted by RNCM Avi Avital, Ksenija Sidorova Chetham’s Symphony

Kathryn Williams and Itamar Doari Orchestra RNCM International Artist Diploma Saturday 14 February Between Worlds Family Matinée Concert: A Painted Flute Recital 7.30pm RNCM Theatre Manchester Chamber Concerts Pastoral Jonathan Harvey Nataraja National Youth Jazz Society A special family event introduced by the artist Laurence Tompkins la Kunah Ai Cayanuh and illustrator James Mayhew, featuring Ralph Manuel de Falla Siete canciones populares (world première) Orchestra Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No 3 ‘A Pastoral españoles Karlheinz Stockhausen Susani’s Echo My Funny Valentine Symphony’. Salvatore Sciarrino Hermes Astor Piazzolla Histoire du Tango Jazz is grown up music. It expresses the full Tickets £3 J S Bach Pa r t i ta i n A m i n o r BW V 1013 Ernest Bloch Nigun from Baal Shem depth and breadth of human emotions. From the Nikolai Budashkin Concerto for mandolin in No concessions George Crumb Vox Balaenae for Three Promoted by Chetham’s School of Music most visceral to mundane, angry to comedic, it Masked Players A minor articulates the profound. Love and romance are J S Bach Ciaconna from Partita in D minor Kathryn Williams flute intrinsic to all great art and the jazz tradition is BWV 1004 Kathleen Tertell cello rich in odes to amour! Béla Bartók Romanian Folk Dances Friday 20 February Carla Fernàndez Boix piano 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Stories of loss, admiration, joy, betrayal and plus Traditional Balkan folk music Our third IAD solo recital features flautist lust all feature in the jazz canon, and some Avi Avital mandolin Chetham’s Symphony Kathryn Williams. Originally from Ohio, Kathryn of the greatest moments in the history of the Ksenija Sidorova accordion moved to the UK in 2007 to study on a full music have been poured out during renditions Itamar Doari percussion Orchestra scholarship at the RNCM where she earned a of classic love songs - Miles Davis’ version of Tickets £25 £12.50 Images of World War I BMus with First Class honours and has recently My Funny Valentine, Billie Holiday’s You Don’t Concessions available completed a MMus with Distinction as an Know What Love is and Ben Webster on Days www.chamberconcerts.org George Butterworth A Shropshire Lad ABRSM Postgraduate Scholar. of Wine and Roses to name but a few. Promoted by MCCS Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor Op 37 Kathryn was the second-prize winner in To celebrate Valentine’s Day, NYJO will don Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphony No 3 the 2012 British Flute Society Young Artist their red roses and present an evening of ‘A Pastoral Symphony’ Competition and is a former winner of the elegant, romantic and swinging love songs, RNCM Concerto Competition. She is committed Tickets £18 £14 classic and original. Concessions available to a busy career of solo and chamber playing, Tickets £18 £15 Promoted by Chetham’s School of Music and has performed at St Martin-in-the-Fields and Concessions available Wigmore Hall. As an orchestral player she has www.nyjo.org.uk also had engagements with the Hallé, the BBC Promoted by RNCM Philharmonic, and Sinfonia Cymru. Tickets £10 Concessions available Promoted by RNCM 18 19

Troyka Manifesto

Monday 23 February Monday 23 February 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room 7.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre

Monday Recital Series Manifesto Claude Debussy Ariettes oubliées L 60 featuring Loré Lixenberg, Federico Reuben and Aleks Kolkowski Alexandra Lowe soprano Simon Passmore piano Artist manifesti were first written and performed in the early 20th century. Vocalist Loré Claude Debussy Cello Sonata in Lixenberg, laptop artist Federico Reuben and D minor L 135 Aleks Kolkowski on wax cylinders and horns Manuel de Falla (arr Gendron) Spanish bring these texts alive musically, highlighting Dance from La Vida Breve their ground-breaking and often astonishing Joshua Salter cello nature. Initially playful, provocative and radical Friday 20 February Saturday 21 February Yulia Vershinina piano reactions to the art establishment of the time, 7.30pm RNCM Theatre 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Free admission, no ticket required manifesti in later years often featured anti-war Troyka Soundscape Chamber Promoted by RNCM propaganda. All manifesti and works featured in Manifesto have had a profound influence on

Troyka is an explosive jazz-rock trio and multi- music as well as art, and can be seen as the Orchestra textured band with a wild and ground-breaking with Noriko Ogawa and Murray Monday 23 February early foundations of the performance art and style, led by Montreux Jazz Festival prizewinner sound art forms we are familiar with today. McLachlan in collaboration with KS Doors 7pm RNCM Concert Hall Chris Montague on guitar and loops, Joshua Dance Ltd The texts range from Marinetti’s Futurism Blackmore on drums and featuring Mercury Manifesto (1909) to George Maciunas’ Fluxus Music Prize nominee and BBC Award Winner Aaron Copland Two Pieces for String Scott Matthews Manifesto (1963) and an exhibition of rarely Kit Downes on keyboards. Recently, they have Orchestra The Wolverhampton singer-songwriter seen and exciting artifacts – including original chalked up blistering sets at Cheltenham Jazz Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Concerto for Two showcases songs from his recent album Home manifesto tracts, scores and photographs, as Festival, Love Supreme Festival, , Pianos and Orchestra in E flat major K 365 (Part One), along with favourites from his well as artworks by the manifesto authors – will Elbjazz Festival, Jazzfestival Frankfurt, Nattjazz Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings previous releases. be staged in our Studio Theatre, accessible Festival, Jazz in Duketown Festival and Jazz à la Franz Schubert Symphony No 5 in B flat major Tickets £16.50 before, during and after the performance. Villette, leading The Independent to describe the D 485 No concessions www.scottmatthewsmusic.co.uk Tickets £12 trio as: ‘Mingus meets Motorhead... improvised conductor Daniel Parkinson Promoted by DHP family jazz, metronomic beats and extreme volume…’ Concessions available Kate Simmons choreographer Supported by Sound and Music Tickets £14 £12 Tickets £15 Promoted by RNCM Concessions available Concessions available www.troyka.co.uk In aid of HelpMusiciansUK Promoted by RNCM Promoted by Daniel Parkinson Wednesday 25 February 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Sunday 22 February Organ Recital Prize Scott Matthews Scott 10.30am RNCM Concert Hall RNCM organists return to the refurbished Concert Hall to compete for this annual prize, Manchester Amateur adjudicated by Kevin Bowyer. Choral Competition Tickets £7 Concessions available Youth Choirs Category Promoted by RNCM Tickets £10 Concessions available www.themacc.org.uk Promoted by Jon Atkin

20 21 Wednesday 25 – Saturday 28 February FEATURING: Sounds and Signals from Wednesday 25 February the New Normal FutureEverything Festival 8pm RNCM Theatre Celebrating its 20th year, the FutureEverything Nyloïd This programme captures what exists in the Festival returns to the RNCM, to build on Koreless & Emmanuel Biard: spaces between the organic, the mechanical the artistic partnership between the two The Well (New Commission, and the digital; between the human and the organisations. Bringing the North’s foremost UK Première) non-human. We present artists who effortlessly conservatoire and venue together with an shift between the spaces of contemporary Tickets £12 INSTALLATION award-winning leader in digital culture offers classical, sound art, experimental electronica, an incredibly exciting opportunity for creative club culture and lo-fi DIY aesthetics. They partnership. This co-curated programme Thursday 26 February transcend the language of live performance, features installations, performances and new 8.30pm RNCM Concert Hall using bespoke musical instruments as fascinating commissions. One highlight is a UK première of sculptural devices, collaborating with creative ‘The Well’ by live visual artist Emmanuel Biard Ólafur Arnalds technologists and reimagining the stage as a and electronic musician Koreless, which builds new scenographic language. Tickets £20 on their collaboration at the RNCM as part of Promoted by Hey! Manchester FutureEverything Festival, 2014. In addition, and for the first time, we also present a film Film Programme programme in the RNCM’s Forman Lecture Thursday 26 and Friday 27 February Theatre. 7.30pm RNCM Theatre Introduced this year, the FutureEverything Festival film programme features new and Throughout the Festival, the RNCM hosts the Cod.Act: ‘Nyloïd’ existing works, including Metahaven’s City

After Hours Hub and the heart of the artistic FILM Rising exploring the Sounds and Signals from programme. This programme is presented Free admission, no ticket required the New Normal, by filmmakers spanning alongside the FutureEverything Conference at documentary and visual arts. The film Manchester Town Hall and labs and workshops Friday 27 February programme transforms the stage into a screen Rising City Metahaven: along Oxford Road. Taking place on Thu 26 7pm RNCM Studio Theatre for performance and artistic interpretation, & Fri 27 Feb, speakers include technology and allowing the audience to immerse themselves science fiction writer Warren Ellis, digital artist Deep Hedonia: ‘Unresolved in visions exploring the tensions between the Jer Thorp, Director of New Inc. Julia Kaganskiy, organic, the mechanical, the analogue and contemporary artist Paolo Cirio and many more. Projects’ the digital. Most screenings are free, and Full live programme / tickets: Free admission, no ticket required a full programme can be found at www.rncm.ac.uk/futureeverything www.futureeverything.org Saturday 28 February 7pm RNCM Studio Theatre Renzo Spiteri: Sounds After Hours Hub: Free Entry Unlimited Wednesday 25 - Saturday 28 6pm-late LIVE Open each evening throughout the Festival, the Ólafur Arnalds Ólafur Free admission, no ticket required HUB RNCM hosts the After Hours Hub at the heart of the artistic programme - a social space where Saturday 28 February visitors can explore the programme and meet 8pm doors, show starts 8.15pm RNCM Theatre other attendees and friends. A fully licensed café bar will be open all night, as the Festival Ariel Pink transforms the central concourse space. Each Plus special guest Gazelle Twin evening will feature DJ sets, performances and pop-up ‘secret shows’ from artists across the Tickets £15 Festival programme.

For full details, visit Full live programme / tickets: www.futureeverything.org www.rncm.ac.uk/futureeverything

22 23 Thursday 26 February Saturday 28 February Thursday 5 March 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall 12.30pm RNCM Concert Hall 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall RNCM Concert Orchestra Junior RNCM Formal Gilad Atzmon and The and Chamber Choir Concert Orient House Ensemble Gilad Atzmon Gilad Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart God is our A showcase performance featuring talented Maverick, award-winning saxophonist Gilad Refuge K20; Ave verum corpus K 618* soloists from Junior RNCM. Atzmon and The Orient House Ensemble are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Mass in C major Free admission, no ticket required back in the UK after an extensive world tour. For K 317 ‘Coronation Mass’ Promoted by RNCM the last 14 years, the quartet have been touring all over the world, stunning audiences with their Roger Hamilton, Stuart Overington* firebrand performances packed with drama, conductors luscious harmonies and wit. Free admission, no ticket required Saturday 28 February Promoted by RNCM 7pm RNCM Concert Hall Gilad Atzmon and The Orient House Ensemble are still one of the few jazz bands whose

audience is beyond the ‘usual’ jazz audience. Manchester Welsh Society Thursday 26 February St David’s Day Concert The band are a true example of a group whose appeal is as strong with fans of hard bop and 7.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre with Côr Godre’r Aran and Piantel be bop as it is with an audience to whom the Trio Da Kali An evening of classical and traditional music message of the music transcends the technical Making Tracks and song in Welsh and English in celebration of virtuosity displayed. St David’s Day. ‘A formidable improvisational array...a jazz The three musicians of Trio Da Kali hail from Tickets £17.50 giant steadily drawing himself up to his full the Mande culture of Mali, from a heritage Concessions available height...’ of distinguished griots, the caste of specialist Promoted by Manchester Welsh Society hereditary musical artisans. Aiming to showcase Tickets £18 Concessions available neglected repertoires and performance styles www.gilad.co.uk of the griots, they bring a fresh, contemporary, Sunday 1 March Promoted by RNCM creative twist to their musical art, breathing 3pm Carole Nash Recital Room new life back into this ancient tradition. Their Monday 2 March + performances offer a rare glimpse into the soul 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room 6.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre of the art of the griot, celebrating the African A Royal Concert for Spotlight: Doodle Quartet – An Evening of Klezmer continent’s finest, most subtle and sublime music. Louis XIV Monday Recital Series Music Free admission, no ticket required Tickets £14 RNCM Baroque Soloists J S Bach Toccata in C minor BWV 911

Concessions available Emily Hooker piano www.makingtrackslive.org.uk Roger Hamilton director Promoted by RNCM C P E Bach Duet for flute and violin H 598 The inspiration for this afternoon’s programme Thursday 5 March Béla Bartók Selection from 44 Duos for two comes from the private Sunday chamber 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room violins SZ 98 concerts given for Louis XIV during the final Norman George Violin months of his life in 1715. The ailing monarch Pola Kompf flute would call upon his court musicians, led by Clemence Prudhomme violin Scholarship François Couperin, to entertain him, and the Trio Da Kali Trio Free admission, no ticket required RNCM violinists compete for this prestigous music Couperin wrote for these occasions was Promoted by RNCM annual award. later published as a collection of so-called

Concerts Royaux. Tickets £7 Concessions available Today’s concert features two of these exquisitely Thursday 5 March fashioned pieces, alongside music by Jean- 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall Baptiste Lully, Jean-Philippe Rameau and Friday 6 March Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre. So enter the RNCM Guitars 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall palace of Versailles and enjoy music that is Craig Ogden director exuberant and poignant, opulent yet intimate: a Friday Chamber Series fitting tribute to one of the most important figures RNCM guitarists present a mixed programme Scarlett String Trio in music history. for a variety of combinations, including Malcolm Arnold’s Guitar Concerto and Cumbiamba for A showcase performance by the winners of the Tickets £10 RNCM Hirsch Prize. Concessions available guitar ensemble by Jaime Cordoba. Promoted by RNCM Free admission, no ticket required Free admission, no ticket required Promoted by RNCM Promoted by RNCM 24 25

Friday 6 – Saturday 7 March The Manchester PLG

Young Artists Festival Old Dance School The Tai Murray Tai In a new partnership with Park Lane Group, an organisation which has launched the careers of outstanding young artists for over 50 years, the RNCM collaborates to create an exciting programme focusing on British composers and the music of our time. For full details, visit Saturday 7 March Monday 9 March www.rncm.ac.uk/parklanegroup 7.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room The Old Dance School Monday Recital Series Friday 6 March 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room The Old Dance School’s expansive landscapes Sergei Prokofiev Five Poems of Anna of ear-bending contemporary folk place them Akhmatova Op 27 Anthony Brown saxophone as true innovators of the music. Duelling Anne-Marie Loveday soprano Leo Nicholson piano fiddles, soaring brass crescendos, and Elin Rees piano Works by Graham Ross and Alfred Desenclos. irresistible grooves, their live show charts their Leoš Janáček Violin Sonata Tickets £7 remarkable journey from ballet school basement Concessions available jam sessions and cowshed rehearsals, to Philip Brett violin remote lighthouses, to headline appearances Jeremy So piano at international festivals. 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room Free admission, no ticket required Diana Mathews viola Championed by BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, the Promoted by RNCM Friday 6 March septet’s provocative songs and cinematic sound Ariana Kashefi cello 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Leanne Cody piano has received plaudits throughout the country including Songlines Top Of The World 2010, and Works by Philip Grange, Adam Gorb, Thomas Tai Murray Violin Recital Monday 9 March The Scotsman’s Album of the Year. From jazz 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Adès, David Matthews and Mark-Anthony Silke Avenhaus piano festivals to European opera tours, film score Turnage. Felix Mendelssohn Violin Sonata in F major commissions to classical recitals, green festivals Ensemble DeNOTE Tickets £10 Robert Schumann Three Romances Op 94 to tattoo conventions, members of the band have Viennese Quartets Concessions available Felix Mendelssohn (arr F Hermann) Three performed with artists such as Martha Wainwright, Songs Without Words , Graham Coxon, Zoe Rahman, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Quartet in Saturday 7 March Robert Schumann Violin Sonata No 2 in Michael McGoldrick and Neil Yates. G minor K 478 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room D minor Op 121 Tickets £12 Johann Nepomuk Hummel Clarinet Quartet in Concessions available E flat major Helen Wilson flute Tickets £20 £15 £10 Concessions available www.theolddanceschool.com Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Clarinet Quartet in with Elinor Nicholson Promoted by Choices Available Ltd Promoted by RNCM B flat major after K 317d

and Chloe Roberts harp Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Quartet in

E flat major Op 16 Works by George Benjamin, Paul Patterson, Sunday 8 March Kenneth Hesketh and David Horne. Saturday 7 March 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall We’re delighted to welcome chamber ensemble Tickets £7 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall DeNOTE to the RNCM for an evening of Concessions available Sale Choral Society Viennese quartets. This ensemble’s musical St George’s Singers with The Lindow Singers approach returns to the roots of 18th century 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room with Northern Baroque Orchestra and Sale Sinfonia performance style, exploring the soundworld of period instruments, going beyond the notated Maxwell String Quartet J S Bach Magnificat in D major BWV 243 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Exsultate, Jubilate texts into the world of creative improvisation. with Elinor Nicholson harp Dietrich Buxtehude Membra Jesu Nostri K 165; Overture to The Marriage of Figaro; BuxWV 75 Piano Concerto No 17 in G major K 453; Tickets £17 £14 Works by Robert Saxton, David Horne, Philip Concessions available Requiem in D minor K 626 Grange, Paul Patterson and Adam Gorb. Conducted by Neil Taylor, the St George’s www.ensembledenote.wordpress.com Singers are joined by RNCM soloists in this Tickets £10 Roderick Barrand performs Mozart’s Piano Promoted by RNCM sacred programme. Concessions available Concerto No 17 in celebration of 30 years with Festival Ticket £25 Tickets £15 Sale Choral Society. Promoted by RNCM and Park Lane Group Concessions available Promoted by St George’s Singers Tickets £17 Concessions available Promoted by Sale Choral Society 26 27 Tuesday 10 March Friday 13 March Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 March Sunday 15 March 6pm Forman Lecture Theatre Doors 12pm RNCM Theatre Throughout the day RNCM Strings Festival Mind the Gap: Mozart’s Manchester Theatre Vienna: From Schubert to Double Bass Day Keyboard Music in Awards Schoenberg An intense day of activity for double bassists including workshops and performances with our One of the most eagerly-anticipated events This year’s celebration of all things strings Notation and Performance special guest artists. on Manchester’s arts calendar is the annual explores music from Vienna, in performances, Following last night’s Viennese Quartets Manchester Theatre Awards, when the nominees masterclasses and workshops for string players programme and looking ahead to the and music lovers alike. A weekend packed and a starry audience find out who has won 6.30pm RNCM Concert Hall weekend’s focus on Vienna, Mozart scholar the coveted trophies for the best performances full of musical activity, highlights include the John Irving presents this popular lecture with and productions of the year, as chosen by an complete Brahms string sonatas, chamber music examples demonstrated from the keyboard. Evening Concert expert panel. Friday 13 March is going to be by Strauss, Schubert and Brahms, Schoenberg’s featuring RNCM String Orchestra Tickets £5 lucky for some and you could rub shoulders or Verklärte Nacht for large string orchestra, Concessions available even glittery frocks with the stars of stage and specialist sessions for harps and guitars, Music to include: Free admission, for Ensemble DeNOTE ticket holders a cello-making marathon, a ‘Kreisler Hour’ Johannes Brahms String Sextet No 1 in Promoted by RNCM screen at this gala event, as a limited number of tickets have been reserved for the theatre-loving with coffee and sachertorte, and a line-up of B flat major Op 18 general public. world-class guest artists. Arnold Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht Op 4 Wednesday 11 March Tickets £15 For full details, visit Henk Guittart conductor 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall No concessions www.rncm.ac.uk/stringsfestival Tickets £12 Promoted by RNCM and Manchester Theatre Awards Featured Artists: Concessions available The Elizabeth Harwood Sophia Jaffé, Gina McCormack, Full Festival Ticket £50

Memorial Award for Singers Catherine Yates violin Saturday Day Ticket £33 Friday 13 March Sunday Day Ticket £24 Lise Berthaud, Henk Guittart, This special award was founded in memory of 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room Promoted by RNCM the much-loved Yorkshire soprano and provides Thomas Riebl viola support for an outstanding final year singer. Felix Niël Leonard Elschenbroich, Karine Georgian, Chris Hoyle cello Tonight’s adjudicating panel includes Russell RNCM International Artist Diploma Smythe and Lynne Dawson. Michinori Bunya, Ronan Dunne, Jiří Hudec, Flute Recital Nabil Shehata double bass Tickets £10 Concessions available Johann Joachim Quantz Sonata No 273 Eira Lynn Jones harp Promoted by RNCM in G major QV 1:109 Craig Ogden guitar Walter Gieseking Sonatine for flute and piano

Rudolf Escher Sonata for flute and piano Thursday 12 March HIGHLIGHTS Oliver Knussen Masks Op 3 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall Sergei Prokofiev Flute Sonata in D major Saturday 14 March RNCM Saxophone Op 94 6.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Felix Niël flute Evening Concert Orchestra Carla Fernàndez Boix piano directors Johannes Brahms Viola Sonata in F minor Rob Buckland, Andy Scott Our final IAD recital of the term features Dutch Op 120 No 1; Cello Sonata in E minor Op 38; The RNCM Saxophone Orchestra performs an flautist Felix Niël. As a soloist, Felix has won Violin Sonata in A major Op 100; Viola Sonata engaging programme displaying the incredible several awards, including the Dr William Dobie in E flat minor Op 120 No 2; Cello Sonata in F versatility of the saxophone family. Award, Pat Barney Award and the RNCM major Op 99; Violin Sonata in D minor Op 108 Free admission, no ticket required School of Wind, Brass and Percussion Solo Promoted by RNCM Competition prize. He has performed across Sophia Jaffé, Danbi Um violin Europe and Asia, both as a soloist and with Lise Berthaud, Kimi Makino viola orchestras including the Chamber Orchestra of Leonard Elschenbroich, Mikhail Nemtsov Thursday 12 March Europe, the Concertgebouw Orchestra Academy cello 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room and the Hallé Orchestra. Tickets £17 £14 Tickets £10 Concessions available Special Virtuosi Springtime Concessions available Music Promoted by RNCM Special Virtuosi musicians perform orchestral and solo pieces in this Spring term concert. Tickets £7 Concessions available Promoted by Special Virtuosi CIC 28 29 Monday 16 March Thursday 19 March, Saturday 21*, Monday 23, enter the wood – and gives each group its 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room Wednesday 25* and Friday 27 March own distinctive musical characteristics. So in a 7pm RNCM Theatre nutshell, the story remains the same – Oberon, the fairy king, and Tytania, his queen, are Monday Recital Series Sunday 29 March* locked in a conflict which spills over into the Francis Poulenc Improvisation No 15 3pm RNCM Theatre ‘Hommage à Édith Piaf‘; Mélancolie; human world… Trois Novelettes A Midsummer Night’s This opera is completely faithful to the Charles Vincent Barsaga piano Dream spirit of the original play and is one of the Benjamin Britten most successful operatic adaptations of a Andy Scott Eighteen Shakespeare play. It is possibly the most Andy Scott Deep Blue Rebecca Starling, Kieron-Connor Valentine* beguiling and enchanting of all Britten’s operas, Fritz Kreisler (arr Butt) Hungarian Rondo Oberon a work with a spell-binding atmosphere that Rosanna Harris, Joanna Norman* Tytania Toby Butt tuba inhabits a truly unique, dream-like world. Jonathan Stevens, Charlotte Christensen* Puck David Gibson piano Matthew Thistleton, Eugene Dillon-Hooper* This production will be sung in English. Free admission, no ticket required Theseus Tickets £34 £28 £21 (weekdays) Promoted by RNCM Chloe Latchmore, Charlotte Badham* £36 £30 £23 (weekends) Concessions available Hippolyta Promoted by RNCM Adam Temple-Smith, Alexander Banfield* Wednesday 18 March Lysander + 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room Aaron O’Hare, Thomas Cameron* Demetrius Friday 27 March Hollie-Anne Bangham, Jessica Eccleston* 6pm RNCM Studio Theatre Chopin Prize Hermia Spotlight: Khymerikal – Classical Chamber Music Alexandra Lowe, Anne-Marie Loveday* Inspired by Shakespeare RNCM pianists and students from Chetham’s Free admission, no ticket required School of Music compete for this prestigious Helena annual prize, adjudicated this year by Martin Aidan Edwards, James Fisher* Bottom Roscoe. Neil Balfour, Timothy Bagley* Quince Flute Tickets £7 Matthew Palfreyman, Jeffrey Taylor* Concessions available Daniel Hayes, Peter Edge* Snug Promoted by RNCM Brian McNamee, Alexander Grainger* Snout David Cane, Steven Griffin* Starveling Eleanor Sanderson-Nash, Alexandra Downie, Helen Lacey Cobweb Rhyanne Acott, Georgia Gardiner, Isla MacEwan Mustardseed Rachel Maby, Rosie Payne, Naomi Rogers Peaseblossom Cally Youdell, Ho Yan Chui, Leh Lin Thai Moth Andrew Greenwood conductor Harish Shankar assistant conductor Garth Bardsley director Michael Holt set and costume designer Bethan Rhys Wiliam choreographer Jason Taylor lighting designer RNCM Opera Orchestra In August 1959, Benjamin Britten decided to compose an opera to mark the re-opening of the refurbished Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh the following June. As this left no time for the libretto to be written anew, he chose to adapt with Peter Pears Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. While the libretto is a drastically reduced version of Shakespeare’s play, it retains the three distinct groups of characters – the fairies, the mechanicals and the Athenian lovers who

30 31 Thursday 19 March Join us for four fantastic days of live music in the multiple venues of the RNCM, as THEATRE STUDIO THEATRE – Sunday 22 March the building comes to life with sound Thursday 19 and Saturday 21 March 7pm A series of FREE rock, pop, jazz and world and visuals. This exciting event is a music events. Our Black Box will become our celebration of the many genres of music RNCM Opera nightclub for the weekend, with high tables and that we programme and teach - from Benjamin Britten A Midsummer Night’s Dream a bar, while on the Sunday, the spotlight shines on a new instrument - the Magnetic Resonator jazz to opera, big band to classical, See p30/31 for details contemporary to pop. Many events are Piano - and the Studio becomes home to an Tickets £34 £28 £21 (weekdays) installation as well as host to some cutting-edge FREE so why not explore our building, £36 £30 £23 (weekends) contemporary music throughout the day. check out our re-vamped Concert Hall, and try something new this Spring? Friday 20 March 7.30pm RNCM Big Band with CAROLE NASH CONCERT HALL Tina May and Nikki Iles RECITAL ROOM Ladies in Mercedes Thursday 19 March 1.15pm A rolling programme of FREE performances by Pianist Nikki Iles and vocalist Tina May have been RNCM alumni and current students. RNCM Harp Ensemble working together as a duo for over 20 years. This

concert features Nikki’s own big band pieces, plus special guests featuring Tina in numbers she has commissioned, A 13 piece harp ensemble of RNCM students plus Steve Swallow’s Ladies in Mercedes, which FORMAN LECTURE and alumni performs Bill Connor’s Songs of inspired the title of tonight’s show. Love and Remembering. Tickets £18 £15 THEATRE FREE admission, no ticket required A rolling programme of artistic films. Sunday 22 March 8pm

Friday 20 March 11am Courtney Pine presents Masterclass with Sarah Song (The Ballad Book) CONCOURSES Connolly and Julius Drake with Zoe Rahman More FREE contemporary live music, including Sarah Connolly and Julius Drake work with a response to Brian Eno’s Music for Airports, a For his latest project, Courtney Pine plans to RNCM students in this public masterclass for fanfare for 20 euphoniums, an art exhibition, DJ strip everything right back for the most intimate singers and pianists. sets and lots of other creative activity across our shows of his long and celebrated career as concourse spaces, plus an imposing late-night FREE admission, by ticket only he takes to the stage playing bass clarinet sonic sculpture transforming the space as we accompanied only by fellow Mercury nominee know it from 8pm onwards every night. Sunday 22 March 5pm and MOBO Award-winning pianist, Zoe Rahman. RNCM Symphony Tickets £20 For more information, please visit www.rncm.ac.uk/bigweekender Orchestra and Chorus Gustav Mahler Symphony No 2 ‘Resurrection’ VARIOUS VENUES Jac van Steen conductor Saturday 21 March from 10am Jane Irwin soprano Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano RNCM Family Day Trumpet signals, pealing bells, violent bursts, with Junior RNCM and lyricism and ethereal floating lines mark the official opening of our Concert Hall in one of BBC Ten Pieces the most powerful symphonic statements of the A special day of music for all the family to mark 20th century. the BBC Ten Pieces initiative. Join musicians from Special Event Price £10 the RNCM and Junior RNCM as they bring the building to life in a blaze of sound. Tickets £5 adults. Admission for children is FREE, by ticket only, accompanied by an adult. THE RNCM BIG WEEKENDER

32 33 Monday 23 March Thursday 26 March Sunday 29 March 1.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall

Monday Recital Series RNCM First Year String and Oldham Choral Society

E J Moeran Selected Songs Rogé Pascal Wind Orchestras Behold The Sea! Richard Moore baritone Igor Stravinsky Circus Polka Henry Wood Fantasia on British Sea Songs Simon Passmore piano Paul Hindemith Symphony in B flat major Edward Elgar Sea Pictures Op 37 Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphony No 1 Leo Brouwer El Decameron Negro Dag Wirèn Serenade for Strings Op 11 ‘A Sea Symphony’ Richard Haslam guitar Mark Heron, Catherine Yates, Matt Weites conductors Conducted by Nigel Wilkinson, Oldham Choral Free admission, no ticket required Society are joined by RNCM alumni soloists Promoted by RNCM Free admission, no ticket required Promoted by RNCM Linda Richardson, Kathleen Wilkinson and Dean Robinson in this feast of British music.

Tickets £14 Monday 23 March Concessions available 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Friday 27 March Promoted by Oldham Choral Society 8pm RNCM Concert Hall

Endellion Quartet Manchester Chamber Concerts Radio 2 Young Brass Award Society – The Final Franz Schubert String Quartet in C minor Featuring The Grimethorpe Colliery Band and D 703 ‘Quartettsatz’ presented by Ken Bruce and Listen to the Band’s Anton Webern Six Bagatelles Op 9 Frank Renton, the exciting nationwide search for Wright Laura Béla Bartók String Quartet No 2 Op 17 the next brass star ends tonight live on Radio 2 Franz Schubert String Quartet in D Minor Wednesday 25 March as the finalists play for the title. The Award has D 810 ‘Death and the Maiden’ 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall a great track record at spotting talent. Previous Tickets £25 £12.50 winners include Ben Thompson, Principal Tuba Concessions available Pascal Rogé of The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; www.chamberconcerts.org RNCM Piano Recital Series Lewis Musson, Solo Euphonium at the Central Promoted by MCCS Band of the Royal Air Force; Katrina Marzella, Claude Debussy Suite bergamasque L 75 now Solo Baritone with Black Dyke Band; Maurice Ravel Sonatine M 40 and Matthew White, Solo Euphonium with the Francis Poulenc Les soirées de Nazelles FP 84 Tredegar Town Band. Tuesday 24 March Claude Debussy Preludes Book 1 L 117 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room Free admission, by ticket only (maximum 4 tickets per For the first concert in our RNCM Piano Recital person) RNCM Composers Concert Series celebrating the masters of French Promoted by Radio 2 in association with RNCM repertoire, we welcome Pascal Rogé back to the

Adam Gorb, RNCM Head of Composition, RNCM. This pianist’s particular strengths lie in

introduces this concert of new and recently his sensitive and personal interpretations of 20th Saturday 28 March premièred works, written by RNCM composers century French composers. Tonight’s programme 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall and performed by their fellow students. includes Ravel’s seminal masterpiece for Tickets £7 piano and Debussy’s Preludes Book 1, which Monday 30 March Concessions available Salford Choral Society beautifully captures the composer’s love for tonal 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Promoted by RNCM colouring. with Manchester Camerata

Buy tickets for all four events in the Piano Recital Luigi Gatti Requiem in C major (UK première) Laura Wright

Series and save 15%. Joseph Haydn Te Deum for the Empress Marie Tuesday 24 March Live in Concert Visit www.rncm.ac.uk/pianoseries for details. Therese 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Joseph Haydn Symphony No 48 in C major Soprano Laura Wright performs works including Tickets £17 £14 Hob I:48 ‘Maria Theresia’ Jerusalem, World In Union, Nessun Dorma, as Concessions available Cheadle Hulme School well as Invincible, from the Opening Ceremony Promoted by RNCM RNCM soloists join Salford Choral Society of the Invictus Games. Spring Concert in this première performance of Luigi Gatti’s Tickets £20 (£59 VIP tickets also available) Tickets £7 recently re-discovered Requiem, conducted by No concessions Concessions available Matthew Hamilton. Promoted by Senbla Ltd Promoted by Cheadle Hulme School Tickets £19 Concessions available Promoted by Salford Choral Society 34 35 Wednesday 1 April Saturday 11 April Bear Polar Sunday 19 April 7pm RNCM Concert Hall 7pm RNCM Concert Hall From 9am Various venues Piccadilly Symphony National Concert Band National Youth Brass Band Orchestra Festival Championships of Great Mark-Anthony Turnage Texan Tenebrae RAF Gala Concert Featuring the Britain Alberto Ginastera Harp Concerto Op 25 Central Band of the Royal Air Force Over 40 leading youth brass bands compete for Gustav Mahler Symphony No 9 Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs conductor one of the four national titles. We are delighted to welcome the Piccadilly Simone Rebello percussion Tickets £10 from www.brassbandsengland.co.uk Symphony Orchestra to the RNCM: an Tickets £6 Concessions available organisation set up to give aspiring professional Concessions available Promoted by Brass Bands England musicians the opportunity to perform, bridging Sponsored by Yamaha UK and Royal Air Force Friday 17 April the gap between a player’s studies and Promoted by NCBF 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall professional orchestras. Tuesday 21 April Tickets £12 Polar Bear 11.30am RNCM Concert Hall Concessions available Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April Polar Bear have once again marked themselves Promoted by Piccadilly Symphony Orchestra From 9am RNCM Theatre and RNCM Concert as one of the most exciting and progressive A Concert to Celebrate the Hall bands of their generation with a recent second Opening of the Ida Carroll NCBF National Festival nomination for a Mercury Music Prize. The band, led by three times Mercury nominee Walkway The National Concert Band Festival celebrates (Paul McCartney, Brian Eno, Formal Opening by Sir Harrison its 30th year with Wind Bands and Big Bands Beck, Yoko Ono) on drums, has continued to Birtwistle performing every 30 minutes throughout the innovate and transcend genres, connecting with Gretchen Peters Gretchen festival. jazz, rock, hip-hop, electronic and mainstream The newly-named Ida Carroll Walkway Tickets £7 per day audiences alike. Saxophonists Pete Wareham recognises the Ida Carroll Trust’s generous Concessions available (Acoustic Ladyland) and Mark Lockheart donation to the Concert Hall Campaign and Family Ticket £15 (Django Bates) together possess a broad its longstanding support of the RNCM. In this Sponsored by R Smith & Co, Yamaha UK and Royal Air emotional vocabulary, yet here they appear celebratory concert, artists including Anthony Force Promoted by NCBF translucent, elusive. Bassist Tom Herbert is Halstead (horn), Thomas Verity (clarinet), irresistible when he plays inside the groove, but John Wilson and Peter Lawson (piano duo),

does so only occasionally, giving these moments John Turner (recorder), Solem Quartet and the

rare power. All this is combined and melted Manchester Chamber Ensemble perform works Tuesday 14 April together with the magic touch of electronic by Grieg and Schubert, and new works by a 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall wizard Leafcutter John. This Manchester show host of eminent British composers. anticipates the release of their sixth album in Free admission, by ticket only Christian Blackshaw April 2015. Promoted by Ida Carroll Trust and RNCM Piano Recital Tickets £15 For Music in Hospitals and Concessions available www.polarbearmusic.com East Cheshire Hospice Promoted by RNCM Tuesday 21 April 7.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room The British pianist performs works by Mozart, Schubert, Liszt and Chopin. Saturday 18 April Masterclass Tickets £18 Thursday 2 April 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall with Noriko Ogawa 8pm RNCM Concert Hall No concessions Promoted by Music in Hospitals Continuing our focus on French piano music, Taiko Meantime Gretchen Peters Noriko Ogawa works with RNCM pianists on with special guest Chieko Kojima French repertoire ahead of the next recital in the Recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters In a unique collaboration with the world famous series with Stephen Hough on 30 April. Hall of Fame, this singer-songwriter has risen Chieko Kojima of Kodo, Taiko drumming returns to the top of her craft, writing and recording Tickets £8 in a show that tells the dramatic Japanese Concessions available songs that explore the deep corners of life with legend of ‘Dojoji’ through drums, flute and Promoted by RNCM empathy and integrity. dance. Tickets £22 Concessions available Tickets £15 Promoted by Edge Street Live Concessions available Promoted by Rhythmworks Ltd

36 37 Thursday 23, Friday 24 and Saturday 25 April Sunday 26 April 6.30pm RNCM Concert Hall 7.30pm RNCM Theatre RNCM Day of Song Life is a Cabaret! On the Town Sadovska Mariana Cabaret! with the RNCM Cabaret Band RNCM Youth Perform Join us for a day of cabaret-inspired song, In cabaret-inspired music of more recent times, Music by Leonard Bernstein ranging from the revolutionary beginnings of this exciting finale to our Day of Song features Book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Le Chat Noir and Kabarett, to Broadway and a selection of witty Cabaret Songs by William Adolph Green beyond. This year’s performances will showcase Bolcom in music for the stage. Highlights include Based on a concept by Jerome Robbins final year undergraduate singers and culminate selections from The Threepenny Opera and the Friday 24 April in a theatrical extravaganza featuring the hit musical Cabaret! Caroline Clegg director 7.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre RNCM Cabaret Band. Stuart Overington musical director Tickets £10 Concessions available Stewart Bartles lighting designer Mariana Sadovska For full details, visit New York, New York, it’s a helluva town! So Making Tracks www.rncm.ac.uk/dayofsong 8pm RNCM Café says the most famous song from this award- In her home country she is known as the winning musical about the adventures of three ‘Ukrainian Björk’: in her furious performances HIGHLIGHTS sailors in the city that never sleeps. With 24 Post-concert Event – the singer, actress and composer Mariana hours of shore leave they’re eager to experience 1.15pm RNCM Concert Hall Sadovska crosses all borders: Archaic Cabaret Recreated all the city has to offer…and hopefully find the midsummer night invocations, wedding songs Join us at the end of the day for a thrilling real-life girl of their dreams. Full of sharp dialogue, Hommage to Le Chat Noir and migrant chants from remote villages of rural cabaret experience in the RNCM Café and bar! electrifying dance and lush music, this A tribute to Paris’ first modern cabaret club, Ukraine get a singular turn and transmute into Free admission, no ticket required Broadway hit, set against the background of the featuring music by Satie, cabaret-inspired songs contemporary sound that spans from folk to war, now drops anchor in Manchester with the by Francis Poulenc, and a tribute to a heroine of avant-garde. Creating innovative compositions RNCM’s talented Youth Perform. French Cabaret, Édith Piaf. Day Ticket £25 and arrangements in dialogue with ancient Promoted by RNCM This amateur production is presented by traditions, Sadovska approaches each piece Tickets £6 arrangement with Boosey and Hawkes Music with a fresh and uniquely personal vision. With Concessions available Publishers Limited. a voice of impressive power and range her Tickets £12 stage presence is a tour de force that oscillates 2.15pm Carole Nash Recital Room Concessions available between fragility and defiance. For this tour she Promoted by RNCM has teamed up with German percussionist and The Truth About Love electronica specialist Christian Thomé, creating Themes of infatuation and love’s frustrations an ever-changing collage of ancient Ukrainian abound in Britten’s Cabaret Songs, cabaret- folk songs and contemporary electro-acoustic inspired songs by William Walton and new sounds. cabaret songs commissioned from RNCM Thursday 23 April Tickets £14 composers. 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Concessions available Tickets £6 www.makingtrackslive.org Concessions available RNCM Percussion Ensemble Promoted by RNCM Music to include: 3.30pm Carole Nash Recital Room Edgard Varèse Ionisation Saturday 25 April John Cage Third Construction 7.30pm RNCM Studio Theatre Berlin, Brecht and Beyond Kenneth Hesketh Polygon Windows A programme of Brecht-inspired German (after Aphex Twin) Kabarett, with music by Kurt Weill, Hanns Eisler Scored for 13 percussionists, Ionisation was the Musician and singer-songwriter Andy Irvine and Arnold Schoenberg. very first work to be composed for a stand alone has been a world music pioneer and icon for Tickets £6 percussion ensemble. Don’t miss the opportunity traditional folk music and musicians for over 40 Concessions available to hear this key work, plus a selection of works years. He is the founding member of bands such that followed it, performed by the RNCM’s as Sweeney’s Men, Planxty, Patrick Street and virtuoso players. Mozaik and he has been hailed as ‘a tradition Tickets £7 in himself’ and ‘Woody Guthrie’s representative Concessions available Promoted by RNCM on earth’ by the magazine Hot Press. Tickets £15 Concessions available www.andyirvine.com Promoted by RNCM

38 39 Thursday 12 March COMING SOON RNCM on the Road 7.30pm Live at LICA, Lancaster University RNCM ensembles and soloists perform regularly Thursday 30 April Saturday 30 May at prestigious venues and festivals throughout RNCM String Orchestra 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall 7.30pm RNCM Theatre the UK. Over recent years, our musicians have Henk Guittart conducts the RNCM String performed at The Bridgewater Hall, Wigmore Orchestra in a programme of sumptuous Stephen Hough Tango Siempre Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, St Martin-in-the- Viennese repertoire featuring Schoenberg’s The Cheshire-born pianist brings a programme Tangomotion Fields, Royal Albert Hall, and at major festivals Verklärte Nacht. of Debussy and Chopin to his alma mater, in the including Huddersfield, Deal, Buxton, Chester, A sensual evening of passion and energy, second recital of our focus on French repertoire. Lichfield, and Salisbury, as well as providing featuring world-class dancers and musicians musicians for ongoing series at Buxton Opera from the hit show Midnight Tango. Virtuoso House and Nottingham Theatre Royal. The RNCM also provides musicians for regular Friday 1 May dance and the luscious sounds of the Tango concert series at Emmanuel Church in Didsbury 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall Siempre quartet transport you to the steamy and St Ann’s Church in Manchester City Centre. salons of Buenos Aires. Here are the highlights of our travels this Spring: RNCM Symphony Orchestra Sunday 8 February Didsbury Coffee Concerts In this exciting programme, the award-winning Saturday 13 June 1.10pm The Bridgewater Hall Emmanuel Church, Didsbury percussionist Le Yu performs a new arrangement From 10am RNCM Concert Hall Concerts take place on Saturday mornings at 11am RNCM Chamber Choir of Keiko Abe’s Concerto for Marimba, The 17, 24 January, 7, 21 February Wave, conducted by the renowned German RNCM Gold Medal with The Sixteen 7, 21, 28 March conductor, Roland Böer. Competition RNCM singers perform alongside members of The Sixteen in a programme featuring Britten’s Ten of the RNCM’s star performers compete for St Ann’s Piano Recital Series Thursday 7 May Hymn to St Cecilia and new works by RNCM the College’s most coveted accolade, in front of St Ann’s Church, Manchester Doors 7pm RNCM Theatre composers. Concerts take place on Saturday afternoons at 3pm a distinguished panel from across the industry.

24 January, 28 February, 21 March Magma Thursday 26 February

Parisian progressive rock band, Magma, are Tuesday 23 – Friday 26 June 2.30pm Ambleside Parish Church one of the most musically adventurous and St Ann’s Chamber Music Series St Ann’s Church, Manchester imaginative groups of the genre and have Seven Gates: The Music A4 Brass Quartet Concerts take place on Wednesday lunchtimes at 1pm garnered a number of high-profile fans. Their of Poland Explored A4 Brass, recent winners of the RNCM Chamber extensive use of a choral format, combined with Ensemble of the Year, perform for the Lake 4, 25 February, 11 March The RNCM is honoured to welcome the Polish influences from John Coltrane help to create District Summer Music Festival’s Patrons concert. composer and conductor Krzysztof Penderecki their unique and innovative sound. to Manchester in a festival of music from his Tuesday 3 March homeland, culminating in the UK première of his 1.05pm Lincoln Drill Hall Saturday 16 May Seventh Symphony, Seven Gates of Jerusalem, Looking for Doors 7pm RNCM Theatre at The Bridgewater Hall performed by the Meridiem Duo RNCM Symphony Orchestra and conducted by musicians? Eddi Reader the composer. Sarah Miller (flute) and Elinor Nicholson The RNCM’s Professional Engagements team (harp) give this recital as part of the Lincoln In a career spanning over 30 years, the eclectic Supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute co-ordinates a large number of engagements on International Chamber Music Festival, featuring singer-songwriter Eddi Reader went from behalf of music societies, clubs, companies and works by John Rutter, Bernard Andrés and performing at the local folk clubs in her native individuals throughout the year. Performances Thursday 2 July Adrian Shaposhnikov. Glasgow to harmonising with Annie Lennox and range from formal recitals, soloists for choral 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall touring with the Eurythmics, after her time with societies and for concertos, through to Monday 9 March successful punk outfit Gang of Four. background music for weddings and events, and RNCM Chamber Orchestra 7.30pm Wigmore Hall incorporate a wide range of styles from classical The final Chamber Orchestra programme of the to jazz. Contact the Professional Engagements Saturday 23 May year features two of the great orchestral song RNCM Gold Medal Winners Team on 0161 907 5358 or [email protected] for 7.30pm RNCM Concert Hall cycles – Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été and Vaughan Pianist Leanne Cody, soprano Lauren Fielder, further details. Jean-Efflam Bavouzet Williams’ Songs of Travel performed to a percussionist Delia Stevens and pianist backdrop of newly created visuals. Alexander Panfilov perform repertoire from their One of the finest French pianists of our time Gold Medal-winning programmes in this very and regular soloist with the BBC Philharmonic special performance at London’s Wigmore Hall. performs a recital programme featuring works Keep in touch with updates on by Debussy, Boulez, Ravel and Ohana. www.rncm.ac.uk/whatson Tickets on sale from 1 December at www.wigmore-hall.org.uk

40 41 Support the RNCM RNCM Friends Events Research Forums Thursday 8 January 10.45am RNCM Studio 7 at the RNCM Come along for some refreshing mental stimulation, Ma Vlast: RNCM Engage is the Royal Northern College of hopefully in an area of musical activity that you Behind the Scenes with Petr Prause, Music’s learning and participation programme, may not be that familiar with yet. Research Forums and the training ground for its students, in creative are FREE and open to the public; RNCM staff and Artistic Director of the RNCM and professional practice. It provides opportunities Chamber Music Studio guest speakers give presentations on an aspect of for engagement with music, for people of all ages their work - whether it’s musicological, creative, Ahead of this year’s Chamber Music Festival, and with tastes for all types of music, and supports educational, music-psychological or other kinds of As our Concert Hall underwent its magnificent watch Petr Prause coach one of our leading RNCM the development of the next generation of dynamic research. The talks last about 45 minutes and then transformation, naming a seat proved to be chamber ensembles, hear him speak about the music educators. RNCM Engage brings together the floor is open for questions and discussion. an extremely popular way for people to show music of his homeland, and engage directly with students, professional artists, and community and their support for the College and commemorate business leaders to exchange and develop ideas, This Spring, we’ll be exploring: his ideas behind this year’s Festival programming. something personal in their lives. and to reach out to new and increasingly diverse Friends are invited to meet for tea/coffee on the Wednesday 25 February Carole Nash Mezzanine from 10.45am, and join audiences. With 160 seats named to-date, these lasting 5.15pm Forman Lecture Theatre dedications have been made to honour musicians, the musicians from 11.15am. The event will finish in memories of loved ones, staff, students, family and time for the lunchtime chamber music performance Professor Rebecca Herrisone friends. Now that the hall is open and we look in our newly refurbished Concert Hall. Learning and (University of Manchester) forward to filling it with music for many years to Tickets £4 available from the RNCM Box Office A Complete and Correct Score: Music Printing and come, there is still time for you to name a seat of Admission to lunchtime concert free Participation Creativity in Late Seventeenth-Century England your own. The Learning and Participation team engages with Email [email protected] or telephone Wednesday 4 March Thursday 5 March the RNCM’s wider community through a year- 0161 907 5394 for more information round programme of events including an annual 5.15pm Forman Lecture Theatre 2pm RNCM Studio Theatre Children’s Opera Project, Family Days which are Dr Karen Jensen held termly, and RNCM Youth Perform, a musical (University of Manchester) Meet Chart-topping theatre group which runs on Wednesday evenings

Breakthroughs in Singing Guitarist Craig Ogden and is a low-cost, non-audition group for young people aged 13-21. In addition the Learning and An exciting and versatile artist, Craig Ogden is one Participation team designs bespoke projects for a Wednesday 11 March of the world’s finest classical guitarists. Originally range of community groups and is always happy to 5.15pm Forman Lecture Theatre from Australia, he has performed concertos with all discuss new ideas. The refurbished refurbished The of the major British orchestras, and recent albums Dr Roddy Hawkins To find out more about any of our projects contact

RNCM Concert Hall RNCM Concert The Guitarist, Summertime and Summer Guitar (University of Manitoba) Jennie McCusker and Fiona Stuart on 0161 907 all shot straight to number one in the UK classical Questions of Method: The New Music chart. Friends are invited to meet and talk to Craig 5281 or [email protected] or visit www.rncm.ac.uk/communityoutreach. The RNCM Ensemble as Research Object about his current projects, ask questions, and hear him play. This event follows the lunchtime guitar Learning and Participation team is grateful for the Wednesday 25 March concert in the RNCM Concert Hall. support of the Eric and Margaret Kinder Charitable Trust. 5.15pm Forman Lecture Theatre Free admission, by ticket only Admission to lunchtime concert free Dr Emily Howard (RNCM) and Dr Matthew Sergeant (RNCM) M62: From Liverpool to Leeds via Paris Tuesday 17 March 7pm (Red cast)

Wednesday 18 March 7pm (Blue cast) Wednesday 22 April Opera Previews 5.15pm Forman Lecture Theatre Dr Michelle Castelletti (RNCM) Join RNCM staff, students, and fellow RNCM Friends to be one of the first to see our Spring Re-discovered = Re-constructed = Re-born: production of Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Mahler’s Tenth Symphony Night’s Dream. Tickets: £12.50, free to Silver Members and above Wednesday 29 April (restrictions apply) 5.15pm Forman Lecture Theatre Membership to the RNCM Friends starts at just Dr David Vickers (RNCM) £2.50 a month. Visit www.rncm.ac.uk/friends or Handel’s Last Prima Donna: Rediscovering and contact the Development team on 0161 907 5394 Exploring the Repertoire of Giulia Frasi or email [email protected] to find out more. Open to all, free admission, no ticket required. You can read more about these sessions at www.rncm.ac.uk/researchforums 42 43 Group Discounts Access RNCM Theatre plan Booking Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more All public spaces and facilities (with the for all events promoted by the RNCM. For more exception of the balconies within the STAGE Information information contact the Box Office or visit Concert Hall) are accessible to wheelchair PIT SEATS www.rncm.ac.uk/groups users (via lifts). A5

B5 A 11 A29 Flexible Series Large print and audio C4 B 11 B29 Booking online D4 C 11 C29 www.rncm.ac.uk/whats-on Save 15% or more on your tickets by creating versions of this brochure E4 D 11 D29 F3 your own flexible series. Simply choose at least 3 are available from E 11 E29 concerts you’d like to attend (marked with logo) G3 F 11 F29 Booking by phone H2 0161 907 5555 or G 11 G29 J2 H 11 H29 0161 907 5555 K1 Sonic Manchester [email protected] J 11 J29 L1 Sonic Manchester is a free scheme for students K 11 K29 Guide dogs are welcome, please inform the M1 Booking in person or by post L 11 L29 run by the RNCM, The Bridgewater Hall, BBC N1 Box Office when booking your ticket. The M 11 M29 Box Office, RNCM, 124 Oxford Road, Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata. It gives P1 RNCM Concert Hall and RNCM Theatre N 11 N29 Manchester M13 9RD students the opportunity to buy tickets to a diverse Q are fitted with hearing assistance systems P 11 P29 range of concerts from as little as £3. (NB Tickets R1 and receivers (available from the Front of Q 11 Q29 S2 Booking Fees are subject to availability and prices may vary House team on request). Receivers can be R 11 R29 depending on the event.) For more information T3 S 11 S29 A booking fee of £1 per ticket applies to most used in conjunction with a standard hearing U2 and to sign up for the latest offers, please visit T29 transactions. No booking fee applies to tickets aid in the ‘T’ position or an earpiece www.facebook.com/sonicmanchester. U29 bought in person at the Box Office. provided. The RNCM Studio Theatre, Lower Hall Carole Nash Recital Room and Forman Upper Hall

Payment Email & Mailing List Lecture Theatre are fitted with induction Balcony loops (hearing aids should be switched to Payment can be made by cash, Mastercard, Visa Keep in touch with events at the RNCM by joining Oglesby Balcony our free mailing list for regular updates. Sign up the ‘T’ position). Free parking is available or Maestro. New RNCM Concert Hall planPlatform Seats at www.rncm.ac.uk/mailinglist or contact the Box for disabled patrons, reserve your space Stage Seats Enquiries by email Office for details. with reception on 0161 907 5300. Please contact the Box Office or visit [email protected] RNCM Historic Instrument www.rncm.ac.uk/access for detailed access information. N1 M1 Box Office Opening Hours Collection STAGE How to find us September – June The RNCM Historic Instrument Collection is C1 B1 The RNCM is located on the corner of D1 11am - 6pm Monday to Saturday located in the basement of the Library part of the Additional stage seats (later on performance nights) College building (to the left of the main entrance Oxford Road and Booth Street West. E1

on Booth Street West). It can be accessed using Oxford Road connects the RNCM by bus F1 Sunday 1 hour before performances to the City Centre, Piccadilly and Victoria the staircase behind the Box Office or by the lift G1 (closed on non-performance Sundays) A 18 train stations. Oxford Road station is a 15 A 11 U1 situated opposite the RNCM Library. Spring 2015 B 21 B 13 T1 For full terms and conditions visit opening hours can be found at minute walk away. Go to www.tfgm.com C24 C 15 D28 www.rncm.ac.uk/whats-on/terms www.rncm.ac.uk/instrumentcollection for details of public transport in the Greater GG1 D 17 E28 or contact the Box Office. Manchester area. E 16 Artists and programmes are correct at the time of F28 F 15 G29 going to press and we reserve the right to change G 14 Concessions artists and/or programmes without notice if Parking Concessions are available for events where the necessary. (1) The RNCM car park is located next H1 H 17 I1 I 17 RNCM is the promoter. For all other events please to the College in the basement of the Sir We aim to deliver a quality events programme J1 J 17 L27 contact the Box Office for precise details of with efficient and courteous service. If you have Charles Groves Hall of Residence, off K1 K 17 P1 L1 concessions as they vary according to the event any comments please contact Head of Marketing Rosamund Street West. Open from 5pm Q1 promoter. All concessions are subject to availability & Communications, RNCM, 124 Oxford Road, weekday evenings and anytime over and it is advisable to book well in advance to Manchester M13 9RD. weekends and bank holidays, costing R1 £3.50 (payable on entry). Closes at S1 ensure the seats you require are available. Please P 11 P23 note that proof of concession will be required. For 11.30pm. Q10 Q23 Lower Hall further details please check with the Box Office or Artistic Proposals R9 R23 (2) The University of Manchester Booth S23 We are always interested to hear your suggestions Upper Hall visit www.rncm.ac.uk/discounts Street car park is situated off Booth Street for future programming. If you have an artistic Balcony West. Open 6am - midnight. Ticket Exchange & Refunds proposal you would like us to consider, please Lower Hall Oglesby Balcony email Richard Collins, Programming Manager, at (3) The Aquatics Centre car park is situated Upper Hall Platform Seats Exchanges may only be made under current [email protected] off Booth Street East. Open 6am - 11pm. Balcony Stage Seats guidelines. Contact the Box Office or visit www. rncm.ac.uk/exchanges for full details. Refunds are Oglesby Balcony only made in the case of a cancelled performance. www.rncm.ac.uk/seatingplansPlatform Seats M1 N1 Stage Seats STAGE 44 45 C1 B1

M1 D1 N1 Additional stage seats E1 STAGE

F1 C1 B1 G1 D1 A 18 Additional stage seats A 11 U1 B 21 E1 B 13 T1 C24 C 15 F1 D28 GG1 D 17 E28 G1 A 18E 16 A 11 F28 U1 FB 15 21 T1 B 13 G29 G 14 C24 C 15 D28 GG1 D 17 E28 E 16 H1 H 17 F28 F 15 I1 I 17 J1 G29 J 17 G 14 L27 K1 K 17 P1 L1 H1 H 17 I1 Q1 I 17 J1 J 17 R1 L27 K1 K 17 S1 P1 L1 P 11 P23 Q10 Q23 Q1 R9 R23 R1 S23

S1 P 11 P23 Q10 Q23

R9 R23 S23 The CAROLE NASH RECITAL ROOM is a stunning Brodsky Looking for a shoebox venue which has up to 110 seats in Eating and a Theatre Style configuration. The room has In conjunction with the opening of the refurbished a wonderful acoustic making it a great venue Concert Hall, Brodsky is delighted to be launching venue? for small-scale performances as well as being Drinking at the a new menu with vibrant new dishes sitting The RNCM has a wide selection of excellent a beautiful room for conferences and catering alongside firm favourites. To reserve your table in purpose-built spaces to hire for every type of receptions. It is equipped with one private dressing RNCM Brodsky please call 0161 907 5353 or 5252. event, performance or conference. Following a room, projector, screen and a small lighting rig. £7.1 million refurbishment project completed in There are refreshment facilities available at the November 2014, our largest spaces have now The FORMAN LECTURE THEATRE has a 150 RNCM with the Café, Brodsky Restaurant and Bar Afternoon Tea been revitalised with excellent back of house capacity and has been completely updated and the Concert Bar offering a range of fresh, facilities and the latest technical set−up including a following the refurbishment project. It comes home cooked and locally sourced food from just a Having enjoyed a lunchtime concert, why not new lighting rig and sound equipment. equipped with projector, screen and is ideal for coffee and a pastry to a three course meal. treat yourself to afternoon tea in Brodsky? Priced pre-concert talks, discussions and presentations. at £9.95 per person, afternoon tea is available During term time, Monday to Friday, the Café is Monday – Friday and must be pre-booked. Please open from 8am until the interval on performance The RNCM also has a wide range of smaller call 0161 907 5353 or 5252. Our venues: nights; Brodsky is open from 11am with last food spaces suitable for social functions, events, dinners, orders at 7pm and the Concert Bar is open from The RNCM CONCERT HALL has been completely rehearsals or conferences. refurbished with additional seating capacity, 5pm until 11pm. air conditioning, new interior and an updated Hospitality at the RNCM For dates and rates regarding performances, On Junior School days during term time the Café is technical fit out. The new space has a variety of The RNCM can also provide catering for social workshops and public events, please contact open from 8am until 3.30pm or until the interval of flexible options for your event with layouts including functions, events, dinners, training events, meetings Andy Macauley on 0161 907 5289 or the evening performance. At other times the Café 445 capacity seating on Level One, 610 capacity and conferences in our venues. Please contact [email protected] is open one hour prior to the performance time seating with our new Balcony and Oglesby our Conference and Catering Team on until the interval for events in the Concert Hall or Balcony open, or even up to 730 capacity seating For conference and catering enquiries, please 0161 907 5353 or [email protected] Theatre. with a reduced stage size for amplified bands and contact our Conference and Catering Team on for further details. small ensembles (NB – please speak to our Events 0161 907 5353 or [email protected] During vacations the Concert Bar opens one hour Manager for further details about the 730 layout). prior to the performance time. This unique octagonal performance space also Outside term time and at weekends opening hours contains a Hradetsky Four Manual Concert Organ, are dependent upon the performance programme. a variety of dressing room spaces suitable for very Please call 0161 907 5353 or 5252 for full details large ensembles and a private soloists’ room, a of menus and opening hours. separate lighting box area, new discrete multicore runs and fly motors for ease of rigging equipment, Brodsky and the Concert Bar are Cask Marque accredited. all with easy access for a flat floor load−in and parking for buses and trucks. All food items and menus are subject to availability.

The RNCM THEATRE boasts one of the largest black box stages in Manchester with ample wing space, orchestra pit, lighting box area and space for a sound desk in addition to the seated capacity. Along with these features, it also benefits from the newly refurbished backstage area including access to all the new dressing room spaces, technical equipment and loading area. There are 607 seats in the Theatre with an option to place additional audience seating over the orchestra pit, taking the total maximum capacity to 657 seats.

The RNCM STUDIO THEATRE is a flexible black box space which has an audience capacity of up to 140 seats. The space is equipped with projector, screen and a flexible lighting rig, suitable for a variety of events from theatre to talks to music performances. It has two private dressing rooms attached to the space and can be configured in a variety of set-ups from Theatre Style, Cabaret or even In The Round.

46 47 BOX OFFICE 0161 907 5555 WWW.RNCM.AC.UK /RNCMVOICE /RNCMLIVE Event Partners Sponsors andSupporters Kinder Charitable Trust Eric andMargaret TrustFrost Music Eugenie and Albert