Symphony Hall 25th Anniversary Concert - 15th April

[trog]

"Symphony Hall’s Resident Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, will be joined by three artists who all celebrate their 25ths in 2016: conductor Jamie Phillips was born and raised in Birmingham and is well on his way to becoming a major international success; pianist Lukas Geniušas was one of the winners of the recent XV International Tchaikovsky Competition and makes his Birmingham debut; and the composer Ryan Latimer, a graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire who has already made his mark on the industry, has been commissioned to create a new work to mark the 25th Birthday.

At the centre is Stravinsky’s Firebird – the work that was performed at the hall’s official opening (then conducted by a bright young thing by the name of Simon Rattle). This colourful masterpiece, telling of the downfall of a powerful, ogre-like figure of evil, Kastchei the Deathless, through the intervention of a beautiful rare bird, is paired with the product of a 25-year-old Grieg: his much-loved Piano Concerto.

 

Bargain price too - £10! http://www.thsh.co.uk//event/the-next-25/

[meadowblythe]

I am a huge fan of Symphony Hall - and particularly the egalitarian design: the tickets of choice for the folks who work there are up at the back (the cheap ones!).  Acoustics are just superb.

 

Huge fan of Jamie Phillips too - he was/is conductor of the Halle Youth Orchestra.  My daughter would not have the musical aspirations she has today without his leadership.

 

The tickets are even more of a bargain than highlighted above - they are free for under 25s.  Can feel a family visit looming ..

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Wow, 25 years. It doesn't seem 5 mins since their 5th anniversary

 

I worked there from 1995 - 2001 & yes, I can confirm the acoustics in the Grand Tier are phenomenal (as long as you don't have vertigo)

[alison]

It's relatively easy to access from New Street station too, isn't it? All I need now is an afternoon concert so I can actually get home from there

[trog]

Maybe a 10 minute walk from New Street station - a walk up New Street, through Fletchers Walk maybe (the library is being demolished and I have no idea as to how you get through that, but I guess there are signs), into Centenary Square and it's at the far end.

[alison]

I'd forgotten about the old library - yes, it is a bit of a trek round the building site, but I suppose it's reasonably well marked.  I did have to ask for directions the other day, though ...