PRESS RELEASE 12 May 2016 City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra announces its 2016-17 Birmingham concert Season Inaugural season with Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla as CBSO Music Director Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla conducts 6 programmes throughout the season Pianist Steven Osborne is CBSO’s Artist in Residence The Spirit of England series explores the many facets of English identity, with artists including Tasmin Little, Nicholas Collon and comedian Adil Ray The CBSO Chorus performs Mozart’s Idomeneo under Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla Guest artists include Alison Balsom, Nicola Benedetti, Benjamin Grosvenor, Roderick Williams, Sarah Connolly, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Barbara Hannigan and Stephen Hough Guest conductors include Andris Nelsons, Richard Egarr, Karina Canellakis, Edward Gardner, Alpesh Chauhan, Ben Gernon and John Wilson Friday Night Classics and Christmas concerts include programmes presented by Jessica Hynes, Mark Kermode, John Suchet, Adil Ray and Anne-Marie Minhall The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is delighted to announce its 2016-17 Birmingham Concert Season at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, the first with Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla as Music Director. The season includes an exploration of different perspectives of Englishness; British pianist Steven Osborne performs a number of concerts as Artist in Residence; and the Orchestra welcomes an array of top international artists in a season with something for everyone. Osborn Music Director Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla Following her phenomenally successful debut with the CBSO last season and subsequent appointment as Osborn Music Director, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla directs six programmes in her inaugural season. The CBSO is known for performing the widest range of orchestral and choral music, and Gražinytė-Tyla continues this tradition in her new role. Her artistic plans with the CBSO range widely from Mozart and Haydn to 20th century classics, works by living composers, music from eastern Europe and the Baltic states, alongside a commitment to education work and nurturing young talent. Gražinytė-Tyla’s opening concert launches the season on 26 August 2016 with Mozart’s The Magic Flute: Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and Hans Abrahamsen’s let me tell you with soprano Barbara Hannigan. The same programme is performed the following night, 27 August 2016, at the BBC Proms marking Gražinytė-Tyla’s London debut. On 16 Nov 2016, she conducts Mahler’s Symphony No.1, Haydn’s Symphony No.6, and the UK premiere of a piece from her native Lithuania; Fires by Raminta Šerkšnytė. Two matinée performances on 29 January and 2 February 2017 will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No.5, Haydn’s Symphony No.31 and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.27 with guest soloist Francesco Piemontesi. On 6 and 8 April 2017, Gražinytė-Tyla conducts Rachmaninov’s Symphony No.3 alongside Copland’s Clarinet Concerto with CBSO section leader clarinet Oliver Janes, and another UK premiere from eastern Europe; Weinberg’s The Golden Key: Suite No.4. On 14 June 2017 Gražinytė-Tyla conducts CBSO Artist in Residence Steven Osborne in Tippett’s Piano Concerto, a piece which was originally written for the CBSO. The programme is book-ended by Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No.3. Given her background in operatic music, Gražinytė- Tyla’s performance of Mozart’s Idomeneo with the CBSO Chorus and soloists on 24 June 2017 is also hotly anticipated. As part of her commitment to nurturing young talent and education work, Gražinytė-Tyla also conducts two concerts for local Key Stage 3 school children on 30 and 31 January 2017 at Symphony Hall. Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla comments on her first season as CBSO Osborn Music Director: ‘I couldn’t dream of a more perfect musical partner than the CBSO. I’ve already met and worked with the players: they’re inspired and inspiring, proud of their city and excellent musicians, and I’m really looking forward to sharing our first season with Birmingham audiences.’ PRESS RELEASE 12 May 2016 Artist in Residence Steven Osborne Steven Osborne is one of the most original and creative British pianists of recent decades, and this was recognised when he was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 2013. He begins his season as CBSO Artist in Residence on 22 September 2016 with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.1, conducted by Edward Gardner. Osborne performs Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2 on 15 and 16 February 2017 conducted by Alexander Vedernikov, and on 14 June 2017 he performs Tippett’s Piano Concerto under Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, a work the composer wrote specially for the CBSO in 1956. On 23 September 2016, Osborne and CBSO musicians present chamber music in the form of Messian’s Quartet for the End of Time, as part of CBSO’s popular Centre Stage lunchtime chamber music concert series at CBSO Centre. Osborne also performs Britten’s Piano Concerto with the acclaimed CBSO Youth Orchestra on 26 February 2017, conducted by Jamie Phillips. The Spirit of England Throughout the season, the CBSO and guest artists explore different forms of English identity and music which is reflective of the English psyche. Englishness has never just been about pomp and circumstance and the series features some of the best-loved English classics such as Elgar’s Enigma Variations alongside different perspectives, including an opera inspired by India (Holst’s Sāvitri) and a new commission from one of our most exciting young composers, Daniel Kidane. The series begins on 24 September 2016 with Notes from a Small Island, a concert exploring what it means to be English, presented by Catherine Arlidge and conducted by Michael Seal with music from Britten to Bollywood. This is an ideal introduction to classical music and tickets are just £12. On 22 October 2016 Nicholas Collon returns to conduct the CBSO, soprano Susan Gritton and the CBSO Chorus in The Spirit of England programme, with Elgar’s composition of the same name (premiered in Birmingham a century ago) as the centrepiece. Other concerts in the series include John Wilson conducting an evening of British Classics on 1 March 2017; film critic Mark Kermode presents an evening of British Blockbusters on 28 April 2017, celebrating the music that defines British cinema; and on 19 May 2017 Under the Sitars with Citizen Khan is presented by comedian Adil Ray, in the guise of Birmingham’s very own Mr Khan of the hit BBC sitcom Citizen Khan. Friday Night Classics The CBSO’s ever-popular ‘Friday Night Classics’ return on 28 October 2016 with the Classic FM Hall of Fame, presented by John Suchet. Other programmes in the series include Queen: A Rock and Symphonic Spectacular on 18 November 2016, and seasonal celebrations kick off with White Christmas on 9 December 2016, when the CBSO is joined by West End vocalists for a concert of classic Christmas songs conducted by Richard Balcombe. John Williams at the Oscars on 3 February 2017 celebrates some of the greatest film scores ever written, and the music of Cole Porter on 10 February 2017 will bring a night of twenties glamour to Symphony Hall. On 10 March 2017 Comedy Meets the Orchestra features acclaimed comedian conductor Rainer Hersch, and Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall presents Spring Classics on 31 March 2017. British Blockbusters, presented by Mark Kermode and Under the Sitars with Citizen Khan, presented by Adil Ray as Mr Khan, are also part of Friday Night Classics. CBSO Chorus The CBSO Chorus continues to present outstanding world-class choral work throughout the season under Director Simon Halsey CBE, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla and prominent guest conductors, beginning on 22 October 2016 with Elgar’s The Spirit of England conducted by Nicholas Collon. On 26 November 2016, Edward Gardner conducts the Chorus in John Adams’ Harmonium. All four CBSO Choruses come together for the annual singalong Festive Favourites on 16,18 and 19 December 2016 with special guest presenter W1A actress Jessica Hynes. On 25 January 2017, Richard Egarr conducts the Chorus in Handel’s Semele, and on 19 March 2017 Simon Halsey conducts Singalong with the CBSO, where the Symphony Hall audience have the opportunity to join the full CBSO Orchestra and Chorus for highlights of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. On 10 May 2017 the Chorus performs Vaughan Williams’ Five Tudor Portraits, conducted by John Wilson, and on 24 June 2017 it performs its season highlight; Mozart’s Idomeneo, conducted by Music Director Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla. PRESS RELEASE 12 May 2016 The younger ensembles in the CBSO’s family of choruses are also showcased on the Symphony Hall stage this season. The CBSO Youth Chorus accompany mezzo-soprano Sarah Connoly, tenor Robert Murray, baritone James Rutherford and the CBSO in Holst’s Sāvitri on 8 February 2017, conducted by Nicholas Collon, and the CBSO Children’s Chorus lend their voices to Spring Classics on 31 March 2017, conducted by Julian Wilkins and presented by Classic FM’s Anne-Marie Minhall. Guest Artists Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director and former CBSO Music Director Andris Nelsons makes a very welcome return on 12 January 2017. Renowned Baroque conductor and harpsichordist Richard Egarr makes his CBSO debut on 25 January 2017, and on 17 May 2017 Karina Canellakis, recipient of the 2016 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, also makes her CBSO debut. Other guest artists this season include violinists Nicola Benedetti, James Ehnes, Vilde Frang, Jack Liebeck and Tamsin Little; pianists Piotr Anderszewski, Stephen Hough, Céderic Tiberghien and Simon Trpčeski; cellists Jean-Guihen Queyras and Daniel Müller-Schott; trumpeter Alison Balsom; Flamenco guitar legend Cañizares; sopranos Susan Gritton and Barbara Hannigan; mezzo soprano Sarah Connolly; tenor Toby Spence; and baritone Roderick Williams. Guest conductors include Nicholas Collon, Edward Gardner, Cristian Măcelaru, Vassily Sinaiksy, John Wilson and Nikolaj Znaider.