• 40 concerts will take place at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall between January and March 2021
• Five new Royal Liverpool Philharmonic On Demand concerts will be streamed for audiences to watch in the comfort and safety of their own home
• Performers include cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason who will play on Thursday 14 and Sunday 17 January
• One family concert to introduce children to music will take place on Saturday 6 March
• The series includes seven performances by Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company Ensembles

Audiences can safely enjoy live music at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in 2021 with 40 new concerts announced today. Five of these will be available for audiences to enjoy in the comfort of their own home through Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s On Demand offering.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will delight audiences with a broad mix of repertoire. This includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 (Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January), Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man (Thursday 21 and Saturday 23 January), Mendelssohn’s music from Midsummer Night’s Dream (Thursday 28 and Sunday 31 January), Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 (Thursday 11 and Friday 12 February), Vivaldi’s and Piazzolla’s Four Seasons (Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February) and Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 (Thursday 11 and Sunday 14 March).

Alongside much welcomed performances led by Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko and Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze, guest conductors include Andris Poga, Mihhail Gerts, Kevin John Edusei, Robert Ames, Clark Rundell, and conductor/violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider. Following the successful RLPO Brass concert in the autumn, brass star Steven Verhaert will be conducting their next concert in the Spring. Concerts with the youth company will be led by 2020 La Maestra competition winner, conductor Rebecca Tong, Simon Emery and Simon Cowen. Members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, under the direction of their choirmaster Ian Tracey, will be giving two a cappella concerts on Thursday 4 and Saturday 6 March.

A variety of performers will delight audiences at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Artists include cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. He famously played at the wedding of Meghan and Prince Harry and, was winner of the 2020 Young Artist of the Year at the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Awards and past Liverpool Philharmonic Young Artists in Residence. Sheku will perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto (14 and 17 January). RPS 2020 Instrumentalist Award, Lawrence Power will direct works by Berio, Woolrich, and Tippett (4 February) in which he will also feature a viola soloist. Soloist debuts coming up include pianists Joseph Moog and Martin James Bartlett, and cellist Anastasia Kobekina. One of Orchestra’s own musician’s Cormac Henry will be playing Nielsen’s Flute Concerto.   

Concerts in February will celebrate the centenary of Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla’s birth. The concerts ¡Viva Piazzolla! on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 February salute the king of ‘nuevo tango’ and feature a world premiere of the orchestration of Piazzolla’s Midsummer Night’s Dream by Hywel Davies. On Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 February, violinist Diana Tishchenko also makes her Liverpool debut directing the intertwined Four Seasons of Vivaldi and Piazzolla,

This Valentine’s Day, love is in the air at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. The concert Music for Valentine’s Day: From Broadway With Love (14 February) will sweep audiences off their feet with songs including Lucky Be A Lady, Don’t Rain on My Parade and Can You Feel the Love Tonight?  all sung by Liverpool-born West End sensation Jon Robyns, (Valjean Les Misérables, King George in Hamilton) and Alice Fearne, (Elphba Wicked) alongside the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ensemble 10/10 (Liverpool Philharmonic’s contemporary music group), perform a concert in partnership with University of Liverpool Open Circuit (5 March). The evening will showcase works by post-graduate composers Brittany Collie and Daniel Thorn, as well as two well-known American composers, Meredith Monk and Steve Reich.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Equilibrium (an all-female string quartet from Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) introduce works by hitherto neglected women composers of the past with exciting works by living females. The concert (Monday 8 March) will include the world premiere of 2018 Christopher Brooks Composition Prize winner Carmel Smickersgill’s Ornament for String Quartet and 2017 winner, Grace-Evangeline Mason’s Into the abyss I throw roses: string trio.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Pirate themed Family Concert (Saturday 6 March) is a chance for all ages to enjoy music inspired by seafaring adventures. The fun and interactive concert will include The Pirate March, Over the Waves and music from the Pirates of the Caribbean films

Internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble, VOCES8 make their first visit in the Liverpool Philharmonic Chamber Series to present a diverse programme of music ranging from Renaissance classics to jazz and pop standards (12 January). VOCES8 show the beauty of the voice with a programme that swings effortlessly between William Byrd’s Sing Joyfully and Irving Berlin’s Cheek to Cheek, and from Bach’s Bourée to Van Morrison’s Moondance.

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic On Demand

Five of the newly-announced concerts are available to purchase and watch online. All concerts will include live a pre and post-concert Zoom with author and broadcaster Stephen Johnson who leads the talk alongside artists and conductors. During these sessions audiences can ask questions and engage in a ‘post-match analysis’ style discussion about the performance.

Tickets cost £10 per stream or £45 for 5 when booked as a block. Further details available here: www.liverpoolphil.com/ondemand

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

We welcome back members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir to the Hall performing choral masterpieces with organ accompaniment on Thursday 4 and Saturday 6 March. These include Haydn’s Te Deum and Vivaldi’s Gloria, conducted choirmaster by Ian Tracey.

 

Adult learning and concerts

Liverpool Philharmonic is committed to providing opportunities for all ages to develop their knowledge and love of music. Beethoven’s Septet (Thursday 25 February) is the feature in this concert when the musicians introduce the work, explore how it was written and perform Beethoven’s Septet. Building on the Discover the Classic’s series, Discover: Beethoven String Quartets (Saturday 13 March) combines an informal and informed lecture on the composer with a performance of Beethoven’s String Quartet Op.18, No.1. The event is introduced by cellist Gethyn Jones and the Ensemble of St Luke’s, made up of members of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

 

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company

Liverpool Philharmonic continues to support up and coming talent, providing access for young people to perform on a world stage. Between January and March there are seven performances by ensembles from the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company: the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Brass, Wind and String Ensembles, the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Brass Band and the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choirs. The Youth Orchestra’s String Ensembles will perform pieces including Karl Jenkin’s Palladio (Saturday 30 January), and will also be conducted by Vasily Petrenko in concerts on Saturday 21 March. The youth company also feature in concerts on Sunday 24 January, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 March.

 

Safety measures

We’ve introduced additional measures at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall to ensure the safety of audiences.  These include socially-distanced seating, bookings limited to household or social bubbles only, one way systems, enhanced cleaning, all staff and audience members wearing masks (unless exempt) and regular fogging of the auditorium. Our surveys indicate that 98% of customers say they have felt completely or very safe when attending a concert at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

 

All concerts will be approximately one hour without an interval.

Tickets for performances at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall cost from £24 for Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra concerts and £15 for Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company Concerts. Purchase five or more concerts between 9 December and March to save 10% on the ticket price. Visit www.liverpoolphil.com or call the Box Office on 0151 709 3789 to book.

 

ENDS

Liverpool Philharmonic’s January to March 2021 concert programme is as follows:

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Saturday 9 January  7.30pm
Sunday 10 January  2.30pm

 

Dag Wirén Serenade for Strings
Nielsen Flute Concerto
Beethoven Symphony No.8

 

Andrew Manze conductor
Cormac Henry flute

 

Also available On Demand for 30 days from Tuesday 19 January

 

VOCES8
Tuesday 12 January 7.30pm

 

William Byrd Sing Joyfully                                                
Rachmaninov Bogoroditse Devo
Mendelssohn Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen über dir
Nat King Cole (arr. Jim Clements) Straighten Up and Fly Right
Irving Berlin (arr. Jim Clements) Cheek to Cheek
Stephen Paulus The Road Home
Jake Runestad Let My Love Be Heard
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Magnificat Primi Toni
JS Bach (arr. Ward Swingle) Bourée
Thomas Weelkes As Vesta Was from Lathmos Hill Descending
Orlando di Lassus Dessus le Marché d’Arras
Van. Morrison (arr. Alexander L’Estrange) Moondance
Luis Demetrio and Pablo Beltrán Ruiz (arr. Alexander L’Estrange) Sway
Duke Ellington (arr. Ben Parry) It Don’t Mean a Thing

 

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 14 January 7.30pm
Sunday 17 January 2.30pm

                                                         

Weber Symphony No.2 in C
Dvořák (arr. G Morton) Cello Concerto  

 

Andrew Manze conductor
Sheku Kanneh-Mason cello

 

Also available On Demand for 14 days from Tuesday 2 February

 

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Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 21 January  7.30pm
Saturday 23 January 7.30pm

 

Copland Fanfare for the Common Man
Tomasi Procession du Vendredi-Saint (Fanfares-Liturgiques no.4) for brass
Stravinsky Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments
Brahms Serenade No.2

 

Andris Poga conductor
Joseph Moog piano

 

 

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra: Wind and Brass

Sunday 24 January 2.30pm

 

Wind Ensemble
Thuille Movements from Sextet for Piano & Wind Quintet, Op.6

 

Brass Ensemble
Copland Fanfare for Common Man
Bach Contrapunctus I for Brass Quintet
Chris Hazell Three Brass Cats

 

Simon Emery conductor

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 28 January 7.30pm
Sunday 31 January 2.30pm

 

Mendelssohn Midsummer Night’s Dream: Overture, Nocturne and Scherzo

Tchaikovsky Suite No. 4 in G Mozartiana

 

Vasily Petrenko conductor

 

Also available On Demand for 30 days from Wednesday 24 February

 

 

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra: String Ensembles
Saturday 30 January 2.30pm

                             

Karl Jenkins Palladio
Elgar Serenade for Strings
Sibelius Andante Festivo
Mendelssohn String Symphony No. 7 in D minor

 

Rebecca Tong conductor

 

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 4 February  7.30pm

 

Berio Naturale for viola, tape and percussion
Woolrich Ulysses Awakes
Tippett Fantasia Concertante on a Theme of Corelli for strings

 

Lawrence Power director / viola

 

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
¡Viva Piazzolla!

 

Saturday 6 February 7.30pm                                                   
Sunday 7 February 2.30pm

 

Programme to include:
La Mufa : Tango 1995
Milonga del Angel
Milonga Festival
Midsummer Night’s Dream (arr. Hywel Davies - World Premiere)
Oblivion             
La Muerte del Angel
Todo Buenos Aires
Libertango

 

Clark Rundell conductor

 

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 11 February 7.30pm
Friday 12 February at 7.30pm   

                                            

Bruch Violin Concerto No.1 
Strauss Suite, Le Bourgeois gentilhomme    

                         

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider conductor/violin

 

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Music for Valentine’s Day: From Broadway With Love
Sunday 14 February  2.30pm and  7.30pm

 

Martin Yates conductor
Alice Fearn and Jon Robyns vocalists

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 18 February 7.30pm
Sunday 21 February 2.30pm

 

Mozart   Piano Concerto No. 24
Schubert Symphony No. 2  

 

Mihhail Gerts conductor
Martin James Bartlett piano

 

Also available On Demand for 30 days from Tuesday 9 March

 

Beethoven Septet

Thursday 25 February 7.30pm

 

Timothy Lines clarinet

Nina Ashton bassoon

Timothy Jackson horn

Thelma Handy violin

Alex Mitchell viola

Ian Bracken cello

Anthony Williams double bass

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Four Seasons:  Vivaldi and Piazzolla

Saturday 27 February 7.30pm
Sunday 28 February at 2.30pm

 

Vivaldi   Spring
Piazzolla Primavera Porteño (Spring in Buenos Aires)
Vivaldi   Summer
Piazzolla   Verano Porteño (Summer in Buenos Aires)
Vivaldi   Autumn 
Piazzolla Otoño Porteño (Autumn in Buenos Aires)
Vivaldi   Winter
Piazzolla Invierno Porteño (Winter in Buenos Aires)

 

Diana Tishchenko director/violin

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir
Thursday 4 March 7.30pm 
Saturday 6 March 7.30pm    

                                                           

Haydn Te Deum in C
Vivaldi Gloria

 

Ian Tracey conductor
Lee Ward organ

 

Ensemble 10/10
Friday 5 March  7.30pm

 

Brittany Collie Fallen for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (World premiere)
Daniel Thorne The Fall of the Leaf for cello & electronics (World premiere)
Meredith Monk Backlight   UK premiere for ensemble and electronics
Steve Reich Double Sextet

 

Robert Ames conductor
Hilary Browning cello

 

Concert in partnership with University of Liverpool Open Circuit

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra: Family Concert
Pirate Party!

Saturday 6 March 2.30pm                                         

 

Leroy Anderson The Pirate March
Mendelssohn Overture, The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave)
Rosas Over the Waves
Plus music from the Pirates of the Caribbean films and the famous The Sailor’s Hornpipe

 

Rebecca Tong conductor

Alasdair Malloy presenter

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Brass and Percussion
Sunday 7 March 2.30pm

 

Mussorgsky Night on Bare Mountain

Shostakovich Jazz Suite No. 2

Rimsky-Korsakov The Young Prince and the Princesses from Scheherazade

Shostakovich Suite from “The Gadfly”

 

Steven Verhaert conductor

 

Equilibrium 

Monday 8 March 7.30pm

 

Amy Beach Quartet in one movement, Op.89

Carmel Smickersgill Ornament for String Quartet (world premiere)

Elizabeth Maconchy Theme and Variations: duo for violin and cello

Grace-Evangeline Mason Into the abyss I throw roses: string trio

 

Imogen Holst Phantasy Quartet

Kate Richardson violin

Kate Marsden violin

Rachel Jones viola

Hilary Browning cello

 

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 11 March 7.30pm 
Sunday 14 March 2.30pm    

                  

Shostakovich Cello Concerto No.1
Beethoven Symphony No. 2

 

Vasily Petrenko conductor
Anastasia Kobekina cello

 

Also available On Demand for 30 days from Tuesday 23 March

 

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Discover:  Beethoven String Quartets

Saturday 13 March 11am

                                                                          

Beethoven String Quartet Op.59, No.1  

 

Gethyn Jones cellist

Ensemble of St.Luke’s

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Thursday 18 March 7.30pm

Saturday 20 March 2.30pm    

                                                

Stravinsky Suite No. 1 for Small Orchestra

Shostakovich Incidental Music to Hamlet (Concert Suite from the incidental music)

Schreker Birthday of the Infanta

 

Vasily Petrenko conductor

 

 

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra: String Ensemble
Sunday 21 March 1.00pm

 

Programme to include:

Telemann Viola Concerto
Bartók Roumanian Dances

 

Vasily Petrenko conductor
Simon Emery conductor
Gwendolyn Cawdron viola

 

 

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra: Wind and Brass
Sunday 21 March 6.00pm

Programme to include:
Dukas  Fanfare: La Peri

Vasily Petrenko conductor
Simon Emery conductor

 

 

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 25 March 7.30pm

Kurt Schwertsik Schrumpf-Symphonie op. 80
Schubert Symphony No.9 ‘The Great’        

              
Kevin John Edusei conductor

 

 

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choirs
Saturday 27 March 1.00pm and 6.00pm

 

Programme to be confirmed

 

Simon Emery conductor

 

 

 

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company Brass Band
Sunday 28 March 1.00pm 

 

Programme to be confirmed
 

Simon Cowen conductor

 

Notes to editors

• For press requests email Rachel Gaston, Head of Communications and External Affairs, rachel.gaston@liverpoolphil.com
• Download images here: https://we.tl/t-MKbTjjHaoK
• Ensemble 10/10’s concert on Friday 5 March is made possible through the University of Liverpool’s Higher Education partnership with Liverpool Philharmonic and Open Circuit who offer contemporary music events in Liverpool.
• Liverpool Philharmonic would like to thank all our corporate sponsors for standing with us during these challenging times including Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University, Hills Dickinson Lawyers, David M Robinson, Investec Wealth & Investment, the Rushworth Foundation, Maestro! Tour Management and the Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountants.
• Liverpool Philharmonic supports the City Region’s Help Campaign. The initiative aims to encourage people within the area to pull together to beat the impact of the pandemic, support local businesses and our community, whilst observing all government guidance regarding safety. Share on social using #LiverpoolIsOpen and #WithALittleHelpFromMyFriends
• We have been granted the use of Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre’s See It Safely Mark. The mark certifies we are complying with the latest Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, to ensure the safety of our staff and audiences. You can find our more here: www.liverpoolphil.com/plan-your-visit/frequently-asked-questions/coronavirus-covid-19-faqs/
• Picture of Sheku Kanneh-Mason by Lars Borges