GO: CLASSICAL: RATTLE IS BACK WITH A CHORAL GREAT.Byline: By Patsy Fuller BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall is kicking off its new season with the triumphant return of the city's musical hero, Sir Simon Rattle. He is bringing with him the mighty Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, making their first visit to Birmingham in 60 years. And they will be playing a mighty piece - Beethoven's Choral Symphony - with the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus The City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus (CBSC) is a chorus based in Birmingham, England. It is regarded as one of the finest symphony choruses in Europe. It was founded in 1974 as the CBSO Chorus, but was renamed the CBSC in the 1990s. , as well as the exciting Variations for Orchestra by Schoenberg. Rattle left Birmingham after 18 years with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. The orchestra was founded as the City of Birmingham Orchestra in 1920, with Edward Elgar conducting its first concert in September of that year. , building its national and international reputation. He has been musical director of the Berlin Philharmonic for two years. His return, on September 7, is a curtain-raiser for an impressive 2004/05 series of concerts by the CBSO CBSO City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and visiting orchestras and soloists. The CBSO is also starting its autumn season in style. Sakari Oramo conducts two concert performances of Puccini's Tosca with soprano Claire Rutter in the title role. The City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus will again be on the stage, along with the Youth Chorus. The concerts are on September 23 and 25. The season has particular treats for lovers of violin music, with four of the most popular concertos being performed. The CBSO will be playing the Beethoven concerto, with Sergei Khachatrian as soloist, on September 29. Also on the programme is Dvorak's Carnival Overture and his wonderful Seventh Symphony. You can hear Bruch's first violin concerto, with Lidia Baich and the Vienna Tonkunstler Symphony Orchestra, on October 6, along with Beethoven's Eroica Symphony. The CBSO are playing the Brahms violin concerto, with the delightful Janine Jansen returning as soloist, on October 16. Vaughan Williams's Fifth Symphony completes the programme. And the orchestra are also playing the Mendelssohn concerto, with violinist Christian Tetzlaff, on November 6, coupled with Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. We are a year late for the bicentenary bi·cen·ten·a·ry n. pl. bi·cen·ten·a·ries See bicentennial. bi  cen·ten of the birth of Berlioz, but
there is a rare performance of his huge Damnation of Faust, with the
Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Symphony Chorus The London Symphony Chorus (abbreviated to LSC) is one of the major concert choirs of the United Kingdom. The Chorus was formed in 1966 to complement the work of the London Symphony Orchestra, and consists of over 200 amateur singers from all walks of life and is self-managed by a , London Philharmonic
Choir and City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus The City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus (CBSYC) in Birmingham, England is a youth choir which performs alone, or in association with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). , on October 21. They
will all be conducted by the great Charles Dutoit, making his first
visit to Symphony Hall.
Sir Charles Mackerras will conduct the CBSO in Berlioz's best-known work, the Symphony Fantastique, on November 17, along with Ravel's Sheherazade (sung by Joan Rodgers) and La Valse. The concert will be repeated on November 20. The CBSO will be performing the other Sheherazade - the one by Rimsky- Korsakov - on October 20, in a concert which includes Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs sung by Victoria Nava. Some fine piano recitals are also in prospect. There's a return visit by Murray Perahia on November 4, and Andras Schiff is playing Beethoven Sonatas, including the Pathetique, on December 5. The Canadian pianist Lois Lortie is giving a recital of Schubert, Liszt and Ravel on October 10. Another big night is a visit by one of the top European conductors, Bernard Haitink, still going strong at 75, with the Dresden Staatskapelle on November 3. He will be conducting Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra and Schubert's Great C Major symphony. Carl Davis is always an entertaining visitor, so there could be delights in store on November 19 when Symphony Hall will become a gigantic cinema. Davis will be conducting the CBSO in a live soundtrack to two Charlie Chaplin silent classics - The Adventurer and City Lights. Howard Shelley is in for an exhausting three days at the end of October when he will be directing the Camerata Salzburg in a weekend of music by Mozart and Schubert. He will also be the soloist in six Mozart piano concertos The Mozart piano concertos are a set of 27 concertos for piano and orchestra written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart between 1767 and 1791. These works, many of which Mozart composed for himself to play in the Vienna concert series of 1784–86, held a special place for him; . And if that's not enough he'll spend the Saturday and Sunday afternoon playing accompanying lieder and playing chamber music. Details from www.symphonyhall.co.uk Box office 0121 780 3333. CAPTION(S): RETURNING HERO: Sir Simon Rattle brings the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to Birmingham to open the new season at Symphony Hall; STARS: Murray Perahia (above), Charles Dutoit (left) and Andras Schiff |
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