We are Chamber Music We are Opera and Song We are Popular Music Our Chamber Music Festival goes to the city Again in Manchester Cathedral, we will be Following its success at the Royal Albert Hall and Welcome centre (10-12 Jan) using Manchester Cathedral taking the magic and mystery of Orpheus with here at the RNCM last term, the RNCM Session as our hub, and featuring the Academy of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice (28 Mar), which Orchestra returns with an exciting eclectic Ancient Music, the Talich Quartet and The will also be performed alongside his witty programme (25 Apr). Staff-led Vulgar Display Band of Instruments together with our staff The Drunkard Cured (L’ivrogne corrigé) in our give us their take on extreme metal (12 Feb). to the and students, to explore ‘The Art of Bach’. exclusive double-bill in the intimacy of our Our faithful lunchtime concert followers need not worry about the temporary closure of our Studio Theatre (18, 20, 22 and 27 Mar). Opera We are Folk and World Spring Concert Hall. These concerts will be as frequent, Scenes are back (21, 24, 28 and 31 Jan), as Fusing Latin American and traditional Celtic diverse and delightful as ever, in fantastic venues entertaining as ever. Yet another exciting venture folk, Salsa Celtica appear on the RNCM stage such as the Holden Art Gallery, St Ann’s is the one with the Royal Exchange Theatre for (7 Mar), followed by loud, proud acoustic season at Church and the Martin Harris Centre, featuring an extra-indulgent Day of Song (27 Apr) where Bellowhead–founding members, Spiers & the RNCM Chamber Ensemble with Stravinsky’s we will be taking you with us through the lush Boden on their last tour as a duo (20 Mar), The Soldier’s Tale, as well as a feast of other atmosphere of the Secession and travelling from while the award-winning folk band Melrose ensembles: Harp, Saxophone, Percussion and country to country by song throughout the day. Quartet perform in the Carole Nash Recital the RNCM Guitar, and our String and Wind Orchestras. We are also thrilled to welcome YCAT again for Room (28 Mar). Exquisite Manchester Chamber Concerts Society an evening of Lieder (10 Mar). programming runs across the Spring (27 Jan, Junior RNCM takes pride of place in an Open 24 Feb, 31 Mar) and Spotlights spice up our An exciting outward-facing Day (8 Feb) as well as in its eagerly awaited programme, giving everyone a glimpse into what We are Jazz and Big Band term where RNCM Live our students are up to, this year, for the first time, Our ever-growing partnership with Serious Formal Concert (1 Mar). We reach out to more experimenting with triple-bill shows (17 Jan). shows exciting collaborations coming up young people with our Youth Perform project, takes to the road far more with the fabulous Penguin Cafe (21 Feb) and this time with the biggest musical hit in Berlin of than ever before, and We are Brass the astonishing Naturally 7 (28 Feb) just the 1920s with the Brecht/Weill collaboration, Our ever popular Festival of Brass (26 Jan) coming out of their tour with Michael Bublé. The Threepenny Opera (23–26 Apr). where partnerships and kicks off at The Bridgewater Hall, celebrating Tord Gustavsen Ensemble return (15 Mar) the golden age for brass band music featuring showcasing their new ECM release Extended I must thank my Performance and Programming collaborations foster, our own RNCM students (both Senior as well as Circle. Our very own Big Band takes to the team, all the Heads of Schools and Course grow and thrive. Junior) and our guest bands: Fairey, Brighouse stage, this time featuring Tim Garland and the Leaders and Directors as well as our partners and Rastrick, Black Dyke and Foden’s. music of Chick Corea (22 Mar). and funders for their invaluable input and support to create this colourful programme, We are Classical Music We are Contemporary always ensuring the student experience is at the Back at The Bridgewater Hall (26 Mar), we We are thrilled to be collaborating with heart of everything we do. perform two monumental works: Messiaen’s Icebreaker again, this year featuring the blistering Et Exspecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum spectacle that is Kraftwerk (6 Feb). For the first We are RNCM. We are MUSIC. and Tippett’s masterpiece in its brand new time ever, FutureEverything and RNCM team up edition: A Child of Our Time. Manchester to create the most exciting sonic art festival to Cathedral’s beautiful setting hosts our delicate date to come to the RNCM, with live installations, yet exuberant concert given by the RNCM mirrors, structures, choral performances, lasers, Chamber Orchestra (30 Jan). A rich array optics, animation, screens, illusions and anything of recitals by our RNCM International Artist that would trigger anyone’s imagination (29 Diploma students across the coming months Mar–1 Apr). Our student composers and includes the Zelkova Quartet (14 Jan), pianist conductors are, as ever, crucial to our remit, Yasmin Rowe (24 Jan), bassoonist Alejandra with Brand New Orchestra (23 Jan) and our Rojas (31 Jan), cellist Mikhail Nemtsov (7 Feb) Composers Concert at the end of term (27 Mar). and flautistHelen Wilson (14 Feb). The Holy We also welcome Manchester Camerata for a Name Church will also be home to two of Composers Project (21 Jan). A highlight of the our performances this year, including a superb Spring programme is the John McCabe festival Dr Michelle Castelletti – Artistic Director programme with our Chamber Choir (26 Feb). (15 and 16 Feb), featuring his entire oeuvres No RNCM Live programme is complete for piano, alongside a significant overview of without our extraordinary Masterclass series: his chamber music, culminating in the special John Harle (28 Jan), Frans Helmerson (7 Feb) Sunday evening concert with the Kreutzer and Olaf Bär (11 Feb). Quartet, Aaron Shorr and Linda Merrick. 2 3 FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS We are transforming RNCM on THURSDAY LUNCHTIME CONCERTS 23 January RNCM Guitars the road… The Holden Gallery, Manchester School of Art your Concert Hall 6 February RNCM Chamber Ensemble As the redevelopment of the RNCM Concert The Holden Gallery, Manchester School of Art Hall begins we will lose the use of the space The RNCM Concert Hall is being transformed There are many ways that you can support the until October 2014. So, we’ve been exploring 13 February RNCM Chamber Ensemble into a bigger, better and more comfortable campaign and we really need your help. Manchester to locate interesting alternative The Holden Gallery, Manchester School of Art venue, providing Manchester with an exciting • Name a seat in the Concert Hall for yourself venues for some of our programmed events. We 27 February RNCM Harp Ensemble new space for performers and audiences alike. or a music loving friend are committed to providing our students with The Holden Gallery, Manchester School of Art ‘Your RNCM’ is all about preserving your much- playing opportunities and aim to provide the • Sponsor a bar, or two, of music from the 13 March RNCM Percussion Ensemble loved Concert Hall and bringing it into the 21st same level and diversity of performances for Opening Gala in the new Concert Hall The Holden Gallery, Manchester School of Art century, to ensure that we can continue to bring our audiences. Events that are happening away fantastic concerts to the City and provide an • Become a Friend or Benefactor of the RNCM from the RNCM are listed below and there’s a 20 March RNCM String & Wind Orchestras exceptional performance space for our students. and get closer to the work of the College in map on the inside back cover to indicate the The Holden Gallery, Manchester School of Art the process (see page 34) locations. Join our ‘Your RNCM’ Campaign Champions 27 March RNCM Saxophone Ensemble – who include Professor Brian Cox, Lang Lang, • Donate in person, online at 10-12 January The Holden Gallery, Manchester School of Art Alison Balsom and Sarah Connolly – to help rncm.ac.uk/yourrncm, or by texting Manchester Cathedral, St Ann’s Church, MONDAY RECITAL SERIES us raise the £2 million needed to complete the 'RNCM01 £5' to 70070 Chetham’s School of Music (details p6) Concert Hall transformation. 27 January Monday Recital Series To find out about the latest campaign news and RNCM Chamber Music Festival Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Martin Harris Centre events, and more about how you can help, visit 26 January rncm.ac.uk/yourrncm or call 0161 907 5338. 3 February Monday Recital Series The Bridgewater Hall (details p9) Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Martin Harris Centre RNCM Festival of Brass 10 February Monday Recital Series 30 January Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Martin Harris Centre Manchester Cathedral (details p10) 24 February Monday Recital Series RNCM Chamber Orchestra Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Martin Harris Centre 26 February 3 March Monday Recital Series Holy Name Church, Oxford Road (details p17) Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Martin Harris Centre RNCM Chamber Choir 10 March Monday Recital Series Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Martin Harris Centre 21 March Holy Name Church, Oxford Road (details p25) 17 March Monday Recital Series RNCM Organ Recital Prize Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Martin Harris Centre 24 March Monday Recital Series 26 March Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall, Martin Harris Centre The Bridgewater Hall (details p26) RNCM Symphony Orchestra, Chorus FRIDAY CHAMBER SERIES & Chamber Choir 7 March Friday Chamber Series St Ann’s Church, St Ann’s Street 28 March 14 March Friday Chamber Series Manchester Cathedral (details p23) St Ann’s Church, St Ann’s Street Orfeo ed Euridice (concert 21 March Friday Chamber Series performance) St Ann’s Church, St Ann’s Street 27 April Royal Exchange Theatre (details p32) Full details can be found in this brochure and at RNCM Day of Song www.rncm.ac.uk.