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Birmingham's International Concert Season 2009/10: John Quinn checks out the highlights from visiting orchestras and artists as well as from CBSO (JQ) 


The organisers of Birmingham’s International Concert Season  - hereafter referred to as  ICS -  proudly advertise the forthcoming 2009/10 season as “the largest international classical music series in the UK, outside London.” Faced with their enticing line up of concerts I’m not going to argue with them. Following the reopening of the Birminghma Town Hall (hereafter “TH”) after its extensive refurbishment, a good number of the events will take place there though the main series venue will continue to be Symphony Hall (“SH”). All concerts start at 19.30, unless otherwise stated.

In October Birmingham will celebrate the 175^th anniversary of the Town Hall. A whole series of events is planned to mark the anniversary, though full details won’t be announced until June. However, the ICS makes a major contribution to the celebrations, beginning with a performance of Handel’s Messiah, to be given by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen (TH 3rd October). Another choral masterpiece follows a few weeks later when the excellent Birmingham-based choir Ex Cathedra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment join forces to perform Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius under the baton of Jeffrey Skidmore. I’m intrigued to hear what this wonderful score will sound like on period instruments and in the very hall where its première took place in 1900 (TH 28th November, 19.30 and 29th November, 16.00). Incidentally, these concerts are part of Ex Cathedra’s fortieth anniversary season, full details of which can be found on their website and they feature again in the Series when they give Bach’s St. John Passion on Good Friday 2010 (SH 2nd April, 14.00). The other Town Hall anniversary events in the ICS are an organ recital by Thomas Trotter (TH 5 October) and Sir Willard White’s tribute to Paul Robeson, ‘Robeson Re-explored’ (TH 9th December).

Moving on to the regular Concert Series, the Big Event – not least in terms of size – is a pair of concerts to be conducted by Valery Gergiev. He’s uniting the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with the orchestra and chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre to perform the Berlioz Grande messe des morts. For most people Berlioz’s great work, which takes some eighty minutes, would be quite sufficient, but the indefatigable Gergiev is planning to preface itwith Prokofiev’s Cantata for the Twentieth Anniversary of the October Revolution. According to the prospectus, this piece lasts for forty-seven minutes so the audience – and the performers – are in for a long evening. I’m an ardent admirer of the Berlioz Requiem but I must confess some doubts as to the wisdom of programming another work as well, especially since it’s hard to see an obvious link between the two pieces other than the vast forces that each requires. (SH, 14th and 15th October).

Gergiev will not be the only star conductor on parade in this series. Riccardo Muti brings the Philharmonia Orchestra to play Beethoven – the Violin Concerto, with Joshua Bell, and the ‘Eroica’ Symphony (SH, 23rd March 2010). There’s more Beethoven too from Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin. He’ll play and direct the ‘Emperor’ Piano Concerto, though I must say the programme seems a little short, since there’s only one other piece on offer, Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht. (SH, 30th January 2010).

Another great pianist will be directing from the keyboard when Murray Perahia and the Academy of St Martin in the Fields perform music by Mozart (Piano Concerto No 17 in G and Symphony No 38) as well as works by J S Bach and J C Bach (SH, 13th November.) The admirable Imogen Cooper can be heard in a Schubert recital, including the great B flat sonata, D960 (TH, 18th October) and Lang Lang, a virtuoso who seems to divide critical opinion, plays Beethoven, Albéniz and Prokofiev in his recital (SH 4th February 2010). The appearance of one other great pianist must also be mentioned. In June 2008 I was privileged to attend and review Alfred Brendel’s farewell Symphony Hall recital and I did not expect to have another opportunity to experience his unique artistry ‘live’. However, though he has retired from the concert platform, he will be returning to Birmingham to give an illustrated talk entitled ‘The Light and Shade of Interpretation’ (TH, 7th June 2010).

A few days before that event Sir James Galway gives a 70^th Birthday Recital. Can it be true? Is 'The Man With The Golden Flute' really about to celebrate such a milestone birthday? Apparently so. He’ll be joined by his flautist wife, Lady Jeanne Galway, and pianist Michael McHale in a varied programme (SH, 22nd May 2010).

Some distinguished singers will also be heading for Birmingham. Renée Fleming’s many admirers will be queuing to hear her sing arias by Tchaikovsky, Puccini and others with the Royal Philharmonic under Charles Dutoit (SH, 2nd November). Ian Bostridge and Antonio Pappano will perform Schwanengesang and other Schubert lieder (TH, 22nd January 2010).

One other vocal event demands a mention. The CBSO and Chorus are giving a concert performance of Wagner’s Lohengrin under Andris Nelsons (SH, 12th June 2010, 16.30). This performance heralds Nelsons’ Bayreuth debut in summer 2010. This is concert is outside the International Concert Series and different booking arrangements apply, of which more in a moment. However, the announcement of this performance is a timely reminder that in addition to these enticing ICS concerts, lucky West Midlands concertgoers can also look forward to the CBSO season.

Booking has already opened for the various concert packages offered by the ICS and general booking opens on 18 June. Bookings can be made online at www.thsh.co.uk or by telephone on 0121 780 3333. However, the Lohengrin performance is being promoted separately by the CBSO and though one can book seats in addition to an ICS package, general booking for this particular concert opens on 15 June. I would suggest a visit to the CBSO website.

There’s plenty to look forward to in Birmingham in the coming season.

John Quinn


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