Celebrating 21 years of bringing great music to Birmingham, the vibrant and exciting festival includes...
- Music, comedy, dance
- World premieres
- Innovative projects
- Film
screenings with live accompaniment
- Workshops
- Behind the scenes
access
- Family events
Some festival highlights...
Elvis Costello 15 May
Elvis Costello's latest tour sees fortune in charge of the programme
as the audience is invited to ‘spin the wheel’ to determine the next
song.
Photo Credit: Chad Batko
The Infernal Comedy staring John Malkovich 26 May
Acclaimed actor John Malkovich stars in The Infernal Comedy a stage
play for baroque orchestra, singers and actor based on the chilling,
true story of serial killer-turned-author, Jack Unterweger.
Photo credit: Olga Martschitsch
Dracula: The Music and Film 29 May
Original music by Philip Glass accompanies a screening of the 1931
film Dracula featuring Bela Lugosi in the title role. The score, for
keyboards and strings, will be played by Glass himself with the renowned
Kronos Quartet.
Symphony Hall's 21st Birthday Proms 8 June
In partnership with Classic FM
Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber joins the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for Elgar’s Cello Concerto, the centrepiece of an evening of popular classical music. Listeners to Classic FM can vote for the work they’d like to hear open the concert.
Photo credit: Simon Fowler
Symphony Hall’s 21st Anniversary Concerts 12 & 13 June
21 years to the day (12 June) since the official royal opening of Symphony Hall Birmingham by HM The Queen. The CBSO, conducted by Andris Nelsons and Simon Halsey, lead the celebrations with a centenary performance of Elgar’s The Music Makers (written for the final Birmingham Triennial Festival in 1912) and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe (performed at Symphony Hall’s opening concert on 15 April 1991). They are also joined by Bryn Terfel for a selection of folksongs, arias and choruses.
21st Anniversary Organ Concert 13 June
City Organist Thomas Trotter gives a concert on the Symphony Organ,
installed for the Hall’s 10th birthday in 2001 following a £1.5m
fundraising appeal.
Sir Simon Rattle and the Vienna Philharmonic 16 June
Twenty one years after conducting the opening concerts of Symphony
Hall, Sir Simon Rattle returns, this time with the Vienna Philharmonic.
Sing A Song For 21
17 June
In partnership with Ex Cathedra, Sing a Song for 21 will see 1000
children from 21 schools participate in a major
project designed to inspire and promote the joys of singing and create a
legacy of singing in schools. The project’s finale will fill Symphony Hall and the Mall of the International Convention
Centre (also celebrating its 21st anniversary) with music based on
playground singing games.
Tickets on sale soon
Wagnerfest 30 June
Four great Wagner operas with The Royal Opera, Mariinsky Orchestra & Chorus, CBSO and Opera North
Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, 20 July
Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra close the
Festival and celebrate the presence in Birmingham of the US Olympic
track and field team.
Tickets on sale soon
For more information about the festival visit the Town Hall Symphony Hall website here or follow them on twitter