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All you want for Christmas… Whether it’s sparkling seasonal songs, festive family fun or the most magical of movies on your wish list this Christmas, it’s all here waiting for you at Liverpool Philharmonic. So gather up your loved ones and join us as we welcome the most wonderful time of the year.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Cinderella and Swan Lake
Thursday 7 December 7.30pm
See page 45 for more details
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Spirit of Christmas
Saturday 16 December 7.30pm
Tuesday 19 December 7.30pm
Thursday 21 December 7.30pm
Friday 22 December 7.30pm
See page 45 for more details
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Nutcracker: Reimagined
Saturday 23 December 11.30am & 2.30pm
See page 46 for more details
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
New Year’s Eve: Shaken, Not Stirred
Sunday 31 December 7.30pm
See page 33 for more details
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Session Orchestra
Tuesday 2 December 2023 7.30pm
The Tung Auditorium
See page 28 for more details
Close Up Concert
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Brass Band
Tuesday 5 December 7.30pm Music Room
See page 29 for more details
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Family Concert
Santa and The Snowman
Saturday 16 December 11.30am & 2.30pm
Sunday 17 December 11.30am & 2.30pm
See page 53 for more details
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Messiah
Saturday 6 January 7pm
See page 46 for more details
Baked A La Ska
Wednesday 20 December 8pm
Music Room
See page 33 for more details
It’s a Wonderful Life (cert U)
Saturday 23 December 8pm
Sunday 24 December 3pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
See page 63 for more details
The Muppet Christmas Carol (cert U)
Sunday 24 December 11am
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
See page 63 for more details
New Year’s Day Proms
Monday 1 January 2.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
See page 49 for more details
Christmas Kitchen Disco Tour
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Saturday 2 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
See page 28 for more details
Astles Christmas Show
Thursday 7 December 8.30pm
Music Room
See page 30 for more details
The Albion Christmas Show
Friday 8 December 8pm
Music Room
See page 30 for more details
Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden’s Wassail
Saturday 9 December 3pm & 8pm
Music Room
See page 30 for more details
Candlelit Carols
Monday 18 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
See page 49 for more details
Phil Shotton and The Christmas Big Band
Monday 18 December 8pm
Music Room
See page 32 for more details
Saturday 2 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£34, £29.50, £23.50
Thursday 7 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£60, £53.50, £47.50, £42.50, £35
Simply Dylan delivers the songs of Bob Dylan with no attempt to imitate the prodigious songwriter, but instead brings Dylan’s lyrics and clever storytelling to life with a joyous and exuberant sound. No ordinary interpretation, this is a remarkable and exceptional project which promises to delight Dylan fans young and old and to ignite a new wave of passion for one of the world’s musical legends.
Dexys return to Liverpool bringing you their new record in full alongside a selection of classic hits. Fuelled by positivity and a fresh perspective, the group’s new album, The Feminine Divine, combines music hall-esque swagger and a saucy, synth-heavy cabaret sound that’s completely new for the band. With over a billion worldwide streams, three top ten albums in the UK, two number one singles, a Brit Award and a multi-platinum selling album, Too-Rye-Ay (as Dexys Midnight Runners), Dexys are as vital and exciting today as ever.
Friday 8 September 8pm
Music Room
£16, £13
Naima Bock (ex-Goat Girl), Sam Fryer (Gently Tender/ex-Palma Violets) and Sam Grassie (Avocet) met through the Broadside Hacks Folk Collective, originally based in South London’s Skehans Pub. The three realised that their shared love of transatlantic tunes and songs called for another musical venture and after various misadventures in the Welsh countryside, they arrived at Green Man Festival and performed their debut show. With zero spoons, three guitars, cittern and fiddle, their music will transport you to simpler sunnier days.
HSP presents
Martin McAloon
Saturday 9 September 8pm
Music Room
£25.50, £22.50
Martin McAloon will be performing a large selection of hit songs from Prefab Sprout’s extensive archive, celebrating over 40 years of his brother Paddy McAloon’s writing. This will be a rare opportunity to hear these incredible songs performed in their natural state.
Time To Say Goodbye: Farewell Tour
Alexander O’Neal
Sunday 10 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£41, £35
After nearly five decades in the business, legendary singer Alexander O’Neal heads out on his Time to Say Goodbye: Farewell World Tour. Prepare for a wonderful journey through Alex’s incredible career with neverbefore-seen-photos, testimonies and tributes, all set to the tune of some of his most beloved songs including ‘Criticize’, ‘Fake’ and ‘If You Were Here Tonight’. Accompanied by his exemplary live band, there won’t be a dry eye in the house as audiences celebrate the legacy of Alexander O’Neal.
Tuesday 12 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£95, £90, £65, £45, £35
Wednesday 13 September 8pm
Music Room
£16, £13
From The Bonzos To Rawlinson End Vivian Stanshall at 80
Friday 15 September 8pm
Music Room
£20, £16
Saturday 16 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£39, £33, £28
In a remarkable career that spans more than two decades, London-born multi-platinum singer-songwriter Seal has become renowned for his one-ofa-kind soaring, husky baritone voice and classic songwriting. His smooth vocal delivery on hits like ‘Crazy’ and ‘Kiss from a Rose’ quickly cemented his status as a formidable singer. Over the years he’s extended his influence with a wide catalogue of original music and soulful covers, earning him multiple Grammy awards and selling more than 30 million albums worldwide.
Cerys Hafana is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. She explores the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and is also interested in found sounds, archival materials and electronic processing. Edyf, her second album, was selected as one of The Guardian’s Top Ten folk albums of 2022. In January 2023, Cerys was also featured on Cerys Matthews’ BBC 6 Music ‘Highlights of 2022’ New Year show
In 2023, the late, great Vivian Stanshall would have been 80 years old. To celebrate, Michael Livesley and musical director Andy Frizell shall once more assemble friends and vagabonds to bash the tables and raise the roof in celebration of a great man’s work. Featuring special guest appearances by Viv’s fellow Bonzo Dog Rodney ‘Rhino’ Slater and hosted by Vivian’s son Rupert Stanshall, join us on a musical journey from the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band to Rawlinson End – and witness the world premiere of Viv’s lost ‘great work’!
Nathan Carter has established himself as one of the most popular and best all-round entertainers in Ireland. With tracks such as ‘Wagon Wheel’ and the self-penned ‘The Morning After’ and an incredible six number one albums under his belt – his latest album The Morning After went straight to the top of the Irish Album Charts – he has helped to revive Ireland’s live music scene.
Saturday 16 September 8pm Music Room
£15, £12
With support from Sara Wolff
Saturday 16 September 7.30pm
M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool
£120, £100.25, £65.75, £47.70, £33.58
To book tickets, visit the M&S Bank Arena website: www.mandsbankarena.com/ whats-on/echo-the-bunnymen
Friday 22 September 7.30pm
Saturday 23 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£49, £43, £39
Nunnery Norheim are an acclaimed alternative folk duo from Liverpool and Norway. Their debut album, Company of Ghosts, was one of BBC Radio 2’s top 10 folk albums of the year and launched a creative collaboration that is ever surprising and innovative. Following Norwegian and UK tours of their play with songs Narvik (Best New Play, UK Theatre Awards 2017), they return with I Saw the City –an aching and soaring album, conjuring love for the city and dreams of escape.
Legendary
an impressive backcatalogue of hits, including ‘How Long’, ‘Tempted’ and ‘The Living Years’. Known to many as ‘The Man with the Golden Voice’, Paul’s uniquely soulful tone has earned him millions of fans around the world. A key figure in British pop history and an all-rounded musical talent, a Paul Carrack show is truly something very special.
Friday 22 September 8pm
Music Room
£18, £15
Saturday 23 September 8pm
Music Room
£22.50, £19.50
Prepare for an evening of mesmerising music from South America. World-renowned troubadour Martin Alvarado immerses you in the passion of Argentinian music and poetry. Performing alongside the talented Gerardo Villar & Los Aguirre guitar quartet, he’ll share the authentic sound of old Buenos Aires, with added 21st century flair. Chilean all-female group Bandita La Inquieta bring you original music and traditional songs from the rich Chilean and Latin American music repertoire, evoking the popular celebrations, street music and carnivals of South America.
Sunday 24 September 1pm Liverpool Philharmonic Hall FREE
After massive YouTube success, and selling out concert halls across the globe, Italian guitar phenomenon Luca Stricagnoli will be here to grace the stage as part of his extensive 2023 UK and Ireland Tour.
Liverpool Philharmonic throws open its doors for a day filled with music, where everyone’s welcome to drop in and enjoy a series of musical ‘taster sessions’. Never been to the Hall before? Well, this is the perfect opportunity to discover everything we’ve got on offer…
The full Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra – together with Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan – will take to the stage for three mini-concerts. You’ll hear works ranging from Bizet’s Carmen to John Williams’ epic Harry Potter film score, and a presenter will guide you through it all, discovering the music with Domingo.
Over in the Music Room, there’ll be takeovers from our friends including Africa Oyé, LUMA, Liverpool Acoustic and Milap, bringing you the very best music from near and far.
Grab a drink from the bar and soak up the atmosphere of our beautiful Art Deco venue. As you explore the Hall, you’ll hear Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company showcase the phenomenal talent of the next generation of local musicians.
Tuesday 26 September 8pm
Music Room
£17, £14
Saturday 30 September 7pm
Music Room
£15
This is a standing event.
The artists of MDM Recordings present an incredible country/folk music showcase in Apologetically Canadian. Taking to the stage will be record-breaking and charttopping independent artist Tyler Joe Miller, singer-songwriter and Juno and CCMA Award nominee Don Amero, iHeart Radio’s ‘Future Star’ duo Five Roses and the multi award-winning Jess Moskaluke, the first Canadian female artist to go platinum in Canada since Shania Twain. Get ready for an incredible evening, starring the very best country musicians Canada has to offer.
Sunday 1 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£42.50, £36.50
BlackFest is returning to the Music Room for another instalment of their iconic ‘Riddims Night’, this time celebrating 50 years of hip hop. Join us for an evening of music and dance as we platform four of Liverpool’s hottest music artists. Come see exciting new acts including a hip hop cypher and a legendary Bboy battle between MD Creatives’ Miguel Doforo and AfroDance Academy. Dress to impress with our 80s hip-hop-themed dress code!
Join The Manfreds as they celebrate a remarkable 60 years in the business. Paul Jones and Mike D’Abo tour together for the last time alongside Rob Townsend, Marcus Cliffe and Simon Currie, performing music that still retains a timeless quality today. A massive part of the British Invasion, the band defined a decade with their hits including ‘Pretty Flamingo’, ‘5-4-3-2-1’, ‘The One In The Middle’, ‘Come Tomorrow’, ‘Sha La La’ and ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’, one of the most popular songs of the 60s.
Sunday 1 October 8pm
Music Room
£28, £25
Alfie Boe
Monday 2 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£175 (Meet & Greet VIP), £110 (VIP), £71, £65, £50, £35
Kristin Hersh’s prolific career has seen her heralded the queen of the alternative release. This will be an evening in the intimate surroundings of the Music Room with a master guitarist and songwriter. Expect an authentic performance featuring songs from her 30-year, 20-plus-album playbook including Throwing Muses and 50FootWave cuts, as well as her unique solo work. Hersh’s latest album, Clear Pond, comes out October 2023.
Alfie Boe has conquered the world’s most prestigious opera stages, entertained fans all around the globe, and is always striving to bring great music to different audiences. Since 2002, Alfie has led casts on Broadway and the West End, won a Tony Award, become a multi-million selling recording artist, and released four top ten solo albums and three number one albums alongside Michael Ball. He frequently appears on hit television series and recently debuted his first headline performance show in Las Vegas.
Tuesday 3 October 8pm
Music Room
£18, £15
Taking you back in time, The Easy Rollers are a roaring seven-piece jazz outfit performing hits from the Jazz Age and the Swing Era. In a cabaret-style performance, songs will be strung together by theatrical, factual and musical segues, creating an authentic speakeasy experience and the opportunity to discover the culture and history of the era. Expect to hear songs by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Boswell Sisters, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Gene Austin, Margaret Young, Helen Morgan, Paul Whiteman, Fats Waller and more.
Wednesday 4 October 8pm
Music Room
£20, £17
Leveret is a collaboration between three of England’s finest folk musicians – Andy Cutting (button accordion), Sam Sweeney (fiddle) and Rob Harbron (concertina). Firmly rooted in the English tradition but sounding fresh and new, Leveret’s music is not arranged in the conventional sense and the trio rely on mutual trust to create new settings of their repertoire in the moment, with no two performances alike. Their playing is relaxed, drawing audiences in and inviting them to share in music making that is truly spontaneous and yet deeply timeless.
Friday 6 October 8pm
Music Room
£19, £16
Saturday 7 October 8pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£50, £38.50, £28.50
Dubbed the ‘UK’s queen of jazz-fusion’, critically acclaimed vocalist, spoken word artist and songwriter Emily Saunders takes any stage by storm. Emily balances adventurous musicianship of the highest order with a catchy pop sensibility. A supremely talented songwriter, many of Emily’s songs reflect on society, the fragility of people and the strength of connectivity, and her heady mix of Latin-infused hip-swaying grooves, with driving basslines and infectious melodies, pronounce Saunders as “one for the jazz dance clubs”.
Following the release of his twelfth solo album, Lloyd Cole heads out on tour. His new record, On Pain, features tracks co-written by Commotions founding members Blair Cowan and Neil Clark. As well as performing the tracks on the album, Blair and Neil will also appear alongside Lloyd on stage.
Saturday 7 October 8pm
Music Room
£13, £10
Sunday 8 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£36, £30, £26
Harry Tonks has certainly found his sound, having released a handful of singles throughout this year produced by the acclaimed Bill Ryder-Jones (The Coral). With influences ranging from Nick Drake to Jeff Buckley, Harry fills intimate settings with a full band, performing well-crafted songs about personal struggle. Harry’s work has received multiple BBC radio plays and he’ll be performing those tracks with a full band tonight, along with some new material too.
Sunday 8 October 8pm Music Room
£18, £15
With support from St. Catherine’s Child
Seen by over a million people and now in its eighteenth year, get ready for a fabulous Motown party. Performing classics from The Temptations, Supremes, Four Tops, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Martha Reeves, Smokey Robinson and more, join us as we celebrate the sound of a generation.
From her years in alt-folk band
The Everybodyfields, to her critically acclaimed solo career and her latest collaboration, Hush Kids, Jill Andrews has delivered irresistibly melodic, genre-bending music for nearly two decades. Anchored by frank songwriting but continuously evolving, Andrews’ tape deck currently hosts a range of influences. The result is bold, infectious, introspective music that has served as the backdrop to some of America’s most beloved television series including Grey’s Anatomy, This Is Us, Nashville, and Wynnona Earp, to which she composed the theme.
Monday 9 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£44, £38
Last Few Tickets
Tuesday 10 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£44.50, £38.50, £34.50
Plus special guests The Christians
Sixties Gold is back with an explosive line-up featuring Herman’s Hermits, Marmalade, PJ Proby, Steve Ellis (Love Affair), Spencer James (The Searchers), Dave Berry, The Fourmost and Gerry’s Pacemakers. Hear all your favourite 60s hits including ‘Silhouettes’, ‘Lovin’ Things’, ‘Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da’, ‘Somewhere’, ‘Maria’, ‘Needles and Pins’, ‘Sweets For My Sweet’, ‘The Crying Game’, ‘Little Things’, ‘Hello Little Girl’, ‘I’m In Love’, ‘Ferry Cross The Mersey’, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and many more performed by your favourite 60s stars.
Wednesday 11 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£48.50, £42.50, £38.50
Level 42 is a band with nothing to prove, but all the desire to continue their run at the top. Frontman and bassist Mark King is a musician who has truly created a sound and style all of his own, and founder member Mike Lindup continues to provide the soundscape and vocals that are unmistakably Level 42. To date, the band and Mark have released 14 studio albums, seven live albums, an EP, six compilation albums, 18 top 40 singles, and sold in excess of 30 million albums worldwide.
Few bands have as great a live reputation as The Waterboys. From their mid-1980s ‘big music’ period through the influential mix of Celtic, gospel and country on their classic Fisherman’s Blues tours, to the hundreds of brilliant shows accompanying the last decade’s run of supremely in-form albums, The Waterboys have consistently blended tightness, inspiration and improvisation to reach heights of performance few other acts can.
Hamilton Loomis
Wednesday 11 October 8pm
Music Room
£18, £15
Born and raised in Texas, Loomis is the son of musician parents who listened to blues, rock and soul. Music ran in his veins and, with instruments available around the house, he picked up drums, piano, guitar and harmonica, honing his multi-instrumental talent in addition to performing regularly in his family’s doo-wop group. A protégé of Bo Diddley, Loomis shines on stage, proving his music is best experienced in person, where one can see and hear its intended splendour.
Thursday 12 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£53.50, £47.50, £37.50, £32.50
Performing continuously since their formation in 1962, The Hollies have been entertaining audiences with timeless hits such as ‘Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)’, ‘The Air That I Breathe’, ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’, and ‘Bus Stop’. One of the key bands of the 1960s British Invasion, The Hollies’ music has transcended generations and their live performances continue to captivate fans worldwide. Original band members Bobby Elliott and Tony Hicks are now joined by singer Peter Howarth, bass player Ray Stiles, keyboardist Ian Parker, and Steve Lauri on rhythm guitar.
Friday 13 October 8pm Music Room
£16, £13
With special guest
Dariush Kanani
For those who followed the 1960s folk revival, John Renbourn’s music needs little introduction. From blues and jazz through to folk and original compositions, he left behind recordings which demonstrated his extraordinary talent as a guitar player and his great musical depth. Now, hear some of John’s compositions performed by one of the UK’s finest guitarists who regularly shared the stage with him. At home playing a range of styles, Clive Carroll transfixes audiences whether they are guitar enthusiasts or not.
Saturday 14 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£60, £53, £44, £40, £37, £24
This performance will be signed by BSL interpreter Paul Whittaker OBE – see page 65 for booking details.
Alice
Members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir
Paul Whittaker OBE BSL Interpreter
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Big, brash and fabulously larger than life, the music of Queen fuses glam rock, soul and huge lashings of grand opera. A supercharged Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Choir and star vocalists unleash Queen’s greatest hits – ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, ‘A Kind of Magic’, ‘We Are The Champions’, ‘Radio Ga Ga’, ‘Killer Queen’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and more – like you’ve never heard them before. Will we rock you? You’d better believe it.
Sunday 15 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£30, £25
Sunday 15 October 8pm
Music Room
£25, £22
Monday 16 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£34.50, £28.50
Like the earth, Illapu lives, bears fruit, transforms itself and beats underneath the roots of its own history. Today, after harvesting a career of over 50 years, it continues to be one of the most important contemporary Latin American folk bands with Andean roots. Having released 24 albums, all of them with great impact, Illapu continues to journey through Chile and the world, taking their traditional rhythms and magic sounds, alongside their committed voice, to every place they visit.
Presenting Coming Home, her first new material in nearly six years, the revered folk artist Cara Dillon effortlessly blurs the lines between spoken word and song to stunning effect. Skilfully weaving songs from her catalogue throughout the set, join Cara and her band as she shares a truly unique collection of poems, accompanied by original music by Sam Lakeman.
Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp are bursting out of the kitchen and going on tour with Toyah’s full ‘Posh Pop’ band. Prepare for an evening of Sunday Lunch reminiscing and rock classics – familiar from their hit YouTube series – with Robert on guitar. With the legendary artistic twists that both Robert and Toyah are renowned for, they’ll perform their own hits plus many classics, including ‘My Generation’, ‘Heroes’, ‘Teenage Kicks’, ‘Rebel Yell’, ‘Smoke On The Water’ and more.
Tuesday 17 October 8pm Music Room
£19, £16
Gabrielle
Friday 20 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£125 (Ultimate VIP), £59.50 (VIP), £45.50, £39.50, £28.50
Award-winning trio, The Trials of Cato, pay clear homage to the folk tradition, twisting old bones into something modern with stomping tunes and captivating stories. Formed in Beirut, the band returned to the UK in 2016 and set to performing tirelessly up and down the country, leading to BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe hailing them as “one of the real discoveries on the folk circuit in recent times”. Their debut album, Hide and Hair, won Best Album at the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Friday 20 October 8pm Music Room
£20, £17
Gabrielle celebrates the 30th anniversary of her era-defining single ‘Dreams’ and performs highlights from her catalogue of hits, including ‘Rise’, ‘Out Of Reach’ and ‘Sunshine’. Gabrielle made an immediate impact when ‘Dreams’ spent three weeks at #1 in the summer of 1993, and her second #1 single, ‘Rise’, followed in 2000. In total, six of her albums have reached the Top 10, including 2018’s Under My Skin.
Acoustic blues pioneer
Keith has established himself as one of the most exciting country blues performers of our time. Catfish’s innovative style of foot-stomping, deep delta blues and American roots music has spellbound audiences the world over. Catfish has won multiple Blues Blast Music Awards and has been considered for fourteen Grammy Award nominations. A 2008 inductee into the IA Blues Hall of Fame, he has performed thousands of gigs and appeared with legends including John Lee Hooker and Ray Charles.
Saturday 21 October 7.30pm
Friday 10 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£90, £55, £47.50, £37.50, £25
Sunday 22 October 8pm
Music Room
£18, £15
Tuesday 24 October 8pm
Music Room
£22, £19
Holly Johnson celebrates 40 years since his band Frankie Goes to Hollywood ripped through the 80s music scene with their 1983 debut single ‘Relax’. Selling over two million copies in the UK alone, ‘Relax’ became one of the ten biggest selling singles ever, and helped cement the band’s place in history. Solo success for Holly followed with the release of Blast. This special performance will feature Frankie hits including ‘Relax’, ‘Two Tribes’ and ‘The Power of Love’, and tracks from Holly’s solo career.
Folk artists Will Pound and Jenn Butterworth present an evening packed with unique improvisations. In their live shows they play a game of ‘musical cat and mouse’; responding to each other, weaving virtuosic performances that are unique and in-the-moment as only two musicians highly accomplished in their craft can produce. Their debut album, Volume 1, was recorded live, over two days in Glasgow, and released earlier this year.
Three pioneers of the traditional music world come together to share their Celtic, Nordic and Appalachian cultures. Aly Bain, Scotland’s supreme traditional style fiddler; Swedish multi-instrumentalist Ale Möller; and American old-time fiddler, singer, guitarist and banjo player Bruce Molsky unite to form a dynamic diversity which spans the North Atlantic fiddle traditions of America, Shetland, Scotland and Scandinavia.
Wednesday 25 October 8pm
Music Room
£16, £13
Sunday 29 October 8pm
Music Room
£24, £20
Gasper Nali is a roots one-manband from the shores of Lake Malawi. He plays a one-string home-made 3-metre long Babatoni bass guitar with a stick and an empty beer bottle, and together with a cow skin kick drum and catchy melodies, he creates the most amazing and danceable original Afro Beats possible. Gasper’s unique style of Kwela music has received an extraordinary amount of attention and now he’s back on tour to re-conquer the world.
Scouse singer-songwriter Robert Vincent goes on tour ahead of the release of his fourth studio album, Barriers. Since his 2013 debut, Liverpool lad Robert has been one of the most popular new voices in Americana, country and folk. Since catching the attention of Bob Harris, Robert has received a plethora of awards and endorsements, including the Americana Music Association UK’s ‘Album Of The Year’ and ‘Artist Of The Year’ award for 2021.
For £45 a year (or just £40 by direct debit), you can become one of a limited number of members who receive priority notification and booking to gigs at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
Priority Premium
Why not join or upgrade now to Liverpool Philharmonic’s Priority Premium membership?
Including all the benefits of Priority Booking membership, our premium scheme includes additional rewards, such as discounts on selected shows, and an invitation to an exclusive reception each year with artists and musicians.
Sign up now for as little as £10 a month.
liverpoolphil.com/priority
If you’re looking for an extra special gift for a music lover, or a lasting dedication for a loved one, make your mark on Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and dedicate a seat.
Our brass plaques can be engraved with the name or phrase of your choice, and attached to your chosen seat in our Art-Deco auditorium.
Plus receive all the benefits of either a Priority Premium membership or a Silver membership.
Dedicate a seat for £200 per year, or £17 per month.
To learn more, please call the Fundraising Team on 0151 210 2921, email fundraising@liverpoolphil.com or visit liverpoolphil.com/seat
The exciting celebration of Indian music, dance and culture – returns this Autumn, taking place across the entire Liverpool City Region. Here at Liverpool Philharmonic, we’re proud to be hosting three events, helping to bring the best of Indian arts to an even wider audience.
Wednesday 1 November 7pm
Music Room
£15, £12, £8 (concessions)
Troilee & Moisilee and Kousic Sen in Concert
Thursday 2 November 7pm
Music Room
£15, £12, £8 (concessions)
Wednesday 8 November 7pm
Music Room
£15, £12, £8 (concessions)
Enjoy a classic staple of Indian music, the sitar and tabla, with a mesmerizing performance by Shakir Khan and Shahbaz Hussain. Shakir Khan is a prodigiously talented musician and one of the foremost sitar players in India today, and joining him will be the UK’s very own tabla maestro, Shahbaz Hussain. Together on stage, the intricate interplay of the sitar and tabla will create a truly magical and unforgettable experience.
Prepare to experience an enchanting world of music with the Sarod Sisters, Dr Troilee Dutta and Moisilee Dutta. These rising stars are all set to make their UK debut and enthral audiences with their exceptional artistry on the sarod. Accompanied by world-renowned tabla maestro Kousic Sen, these three virtuosos take you on a spellbinding journey through the rich and vibrant world of Indian classical music.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening of Bollywood classics, Indian ragas, ghazals and contemporary music. Swati Natekar is an illustrious and highly-accomplished singer and composer, and tonight she presents a brand-new concept - ‘Raag-Rang’ - Shades of Ragas. Accompanied on stage by a collective of the UK’s most talented musicians, she’ll perform Bollywood classics and popular ghazals alongside the classical raga equivalent, giving audiences unique and inspiring insight into how popular songs are developed from classical roots.
Thursday 2 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£115, £53.50, £47.50, £32.50, £25
Saturday 4 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£38, £32, £27, £25
One of the UK’s most consistent artists for almost three decades, Beverley Knight, the Queen of British Soul, has put together a tour that not only celebrates her incredible career over the years, but also marks her milestone 50th birthday. Back together with her live band, expect a fun-filled night packed with classic hits, fan favourites and brand-new songs.
China Crisis return to Liverpool, treating audiences to two classic albums performed live, in full. For the first time ever in front of a live audience, the band will perform their classic albums What Price Paradise and Diary of a Hollow Horse, as well as a selection of beloved tracks. Performed by an exceptionally assembled group of top-flight musicians, the evening will also include specially crafted visuals and all the stories behind the making of both albums.
Tuesday 7 November 8pm
Music Room
£17.50
This is a standing event.
Thursday 9 November 8pm
Music Room
£15, £12
HSP presents
Friday 10 November 8pm Music Room
£17.50, £14.50
Rose City Band’s country psychedelic rock evokes the wideopen spaces of the American west and the free spirits who call it home. The project of acclaimed guitarist and vocalist Ripley Johnson, Rose City Band has extended beyond the studio and lives in tandem as a live ensemble featuring some of the finest players in contemporary rock: pedal steel guitarist Barry Walker, keyboardist Paul Hasenberg, bassist Dewey Mahood (aka Plankton Wat) and drummer Dustin Dybvig.
When renowned singer-songwriter and modern-day feel-good comic Anthony John Clarke met virtuoso musician Dave Pegg, it was clear that a very special partnership was about to flourish. Anthony John Clarke has for years been an established act on the UK folk scene, whereas Dave Pegg has gained a legendary reputation playing with Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull and the Ian Campbell Folk Group to name but a few. Expect a very special shedload of mirth, music and mischief.
A one-man impressionist, painting majestic soundscapes, Strawberry Guy blends cathartic lyrics with lush homespun arrangements to conjure relatable emotive worlds. Tiptoe between the toadstools of Liverpool’s city parks, and amongst the foliage you might find him contemplating his next chord-progression. Composing hi-fi symphonies from within his humble abode, the Welsh-born songwriter conjures a timeless vista of ethereal balladry looking towards 19th Century musical maestros and works of art – bringing new meaning to the term ‘Modern Classic’.
Hollywood’s Greatest Hits
Sunday 12 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£66, £56, £51, £46, £32
Sunday 12 November 8pm
Music Room
£19, £16
Tuesday 14 November 8pm
Music Room
£21, £18
With special guest soloists Kim Criswell and Jamie Parker, this fabulous new show features hit songs ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, ‘Over the Rainbow’, ‘S’Wonderful’, ‘High Society’, ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’, ‘That’s Entertainment’ and many more, performed by an all-star 70 piece orchestra of world-class musicians. This amazing show will bring the lush musical splendour of the silver screen to life!
Stretching the boundaries of expectation as they move between cellos, classical and steel string guitars, viola, piano, violin, harp, percussion and harmony vocals, be prepared to question all you think you know about the traditional chamber ensemble. This is eclectic music for indie, experimental, folk and classical lovers alike – a delicious interplay of dramatic orchestration, big riffs, string baths and kaleidoscopic lushness.
Guy Davis is a Grammy nominee, musician, actor, author, songwriter, a troubadour of the folk tradition, and a master of his craft. Blending roots, blues, folk, rock, rap, spoken word and world music, he addresses social injustice, history and common life struggles. Equally at ease with a six or twelve-string guitar, banjo and harmonica, Guy has performed alongside Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen and Dr John, opened for Chuck Berry, Joan Armatrading and BB King, and performed all over the globe.
Wednesday 15 November 8pm
Music Room
£15
This is a standing event.
Over the last 10 years, Keston Cobblers Club have been steadily building a name for themselves. Since releasing their debut album in 2012, they have won huge praise from BBC legends such as Edith Bowman and Bob Harris, as well as major publications. Their live shows are displays of genuine warmth and dazzling musicianship, honed over years of headline tours, playing some of the UK’s biggest festivals and opening for folk royalty Bellowhead, and pop legends Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot.
Friday 17 November 8pm
Music Room
£22, £18
Guitarist and composer Juan Martín plays within the forms of the great tradition of flamenco. His exquisite style is enhanced through minimal amplification to capture his pure flamenco sound. Having recorded 20 albums and been voted into the top three flamenco guitarists in the world, Juan Martín has toured the globe. Critics have compared his compositional talent to that of Albéniz, Turina and Tárrega and his teaching books are referred to as ‘The Bible’ of flamenco guitar.
Saturday 18 November 8pm
Music Room
£18
This is a standing event.
Mad Dog Mcrea blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music. From self-penned songs of adventure, drinking, love and life, to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, legless pirates and black flies, Mad Dog never fail to capture their audience with their infectious songs. The famous purple happy bus is fired up and ready for action, and there’s room for you – jump aboard!
Sunday 19 November 8pm
Music Room
£18
This is a standing event.
Monday 20 November 8pm
Music Room
£24, £20
Tuesday 21 November 8pm
Music Room
£18, £15
Wednesday 22 November 8pm
Music Room
£24, £20
With support from Rachael Jean Harris
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s seminal album Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the Belgrave House Band will perform their own interpretation. Featuring ‘Joshua Zero’ as lead singer, they’ll be backed by a selection of exuberant and dynamic musicians from bands such as Têtes de Pois, Mamilah and Skwid Ink who make up Leeds’ burgeoning jazz/soul scene, and a live string section will help bring Ziggy’s orchestral flavours to life.
An extra-special chance to hear master craftsman and one of folk music’s greatest innovators Martin Carthy perform and reminisce on his illustrious career in folk song to date, with musical interludes and conversation with his talented friend, musician and acclaimed journalist, Jon Wilks. Martin has an insatiable musical curiosity, as well as a lifetime of wonderful stories and songs to share. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers from within the folk scene and beyond.
Award-winning indie-folk singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Josienne Clarke draws on traditional British folk inspirations, but is a thoroughly modern, multifaceted artist who follows her own compass. Blessed with a voice of crystalline beauty, her myriad of talents translate effortlessly to the live space in performances that are all her own.
Musician and broadcaster Tom Robinson presents an evening of songs and stories spanning five decades of adventures in the music industry. Tom’s musical journey began when Ray Davies discovered his first band. He went on to face a BBC ban for being ‘Glad To be Gay’, rock against racism alongside The Clash, headline Glastonbury with Peter Gabriel and write lyrics for Elton John. Tonight, expect classics such as ‘War Baby’ and ‘2-4-6-8 Motorway’, fan favourites and many behind-the-scenes stories.
Friday 24 November 8pm
Saturday 25 November 8pm
Music Room
£20
This is a standing event.
In 1983, Genesis released their 12th studio album, Genesis. Ever since, it’s been referred to as either the ‘Mama’ album or the ‘Shapes’ album because of its iconic artwork and now, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Genesis Visible Touch are touring, performing material from the album alongside hits and old classics. Expect ‘Mama’ and ‘Home By The Sea’ with hits like ‘Turn It On Again’ and some old favourites for good measure.
Tuesday 28 November 8pm
Music Room
£13, £10
Katie Nicholas is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Liverpool. In 2023 she steps into a new musical era with her latest EP Feather, showcasing her as a distinctive folk artist, skilful guitarist and fearless in bending any genre to suit her message. With poetic lyricism and carefully crafted arrangements, her sound is reminiscent of timeless artists including Norah Jones and Joni Mitchell. Already established on the UK Americana circuit, Katie has recorded in Nashville and London, and is a regular voice on regional radio.
Last Few Tickets
Friday 1 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£41, £35
With their charisma, style and harmony, The Stylistics – Airrion Love and Herb Murrell (from the original line up) with Barrington ‘Bo’ Henderson and Jason Sharp – have evolved into one of the bestselling Philadelphia groups ever. They’ll be sharing magic moments, bringing you classics such as ‘Let’s Put It All Together’, ‘You Are Everything’, ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’ and their UK No.1 single ‘I Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)’.
Friday 1 December 8pm Music Room
£17, £14
Ex-Easter Island Head are a musical collective composing and performing music for electric guitar, percussion and other instruments. Primarily performing as a quartet, the group incorporates multiple electric guitars augmented through mechanical preparations and extended techniques to create works that explore group interplay, repetition and melodic invention. Their records have been released to significant critical acclaim, the group have received airplay on the BBC and ABC, and their music has been used on television and radio productions internationally.
Liverpool
Philharmonic Youth Session Orchestra: Big Band Holiday
Saturday 2 December 7.30pm The Tung Auditorium
£18, £9
10% discount for groups of 6+
Christmas Kitchen Disco Tour
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Saturday 2 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55.50, £40.50, £37.50, £30
Following on from the huge success of her Kitchen Disco Tour in which she brought her lockdown online sensation from her kitchen to sold-out stages across the country, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has announced a very special Christmas Kitchen Disco tour. The show will feature hits from throughout Sophie’s career, as well as some very festive classics, all in Sophie’s own seasonal disco style.
Saturday 2 December 8pm
Sunday 3 December 8pm
Music Room
£32, £28
Last Few Tickets
Sunday 3 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£75 (VIP), £42.50, £39.50, £34.50, £31.50
Legendary 70s Tyneside folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne present a classic five-piece line-up of long-time members fronted by founder-member Rod Clements on vocals, mandolin, fiddle and slide guitar. With a reputation for live performance second to none, they’ll perform tracks from their 1977 live LP Magic in The Air and dip into their repertoire of unforgettable songs like ‘Meet Me On The Corner’, ‘Fog On The Tyne’, ‘Lady Eleanor’ and ‘Run For Home’, getting the crowd on their feet and singing along.
Regarded the world over as the gold standard of tribute, The Bootleg Beatles return this Christmas for another nostalgic trip through the sixties. With fastidious attention to detail, the band manage to spectacularly recreate the sound and look of the ‘Fab Four’ through each iconic phase of their illustrious career with uncanny authenticity. With a little help from their ever-popular orchestral ensemble, this magical multi-media show is an absolute must-see for Beatle fanatics of all ages.
Tuesday 5 December 7.30pm
Music Room
£10
Under 25s can get £5 tickets 10% discount for groups of 6+
Step into the holiday season and let Liverpool Philharmonic’s Youth Brass Band get you in the festive spirit. Conducted by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Simon Cowen, the band will perform beloved festive favourites and contemporary Christmas hits.
Wednesday 6 December 8pm Music Room
£18, £15
Thursday 7 December 8.30pm
Music Room
£15, £12
Friday 8 December 8pm Music Room
£25, £22
Saturday 9 December 3pm & 8pm Music Room
£25, £20
The Furrow Collective is an English/Scottish band consisting of four talented and individually prominent performers: Lucy Farrell (viola, voice, saw), Rachel Newton (harp, fiddle, voice), Emily Portman (banjo, concertina, voice) and Alasdair Roberts (guitars, voice). Evoking the uncanny atmosphere of a moonlit midwinter’s night, The Furrow Collective will present eerie story-songs and seasonal carols with their signature spine-tingling harmonies and masterful storytelling. This promises to be an unmissable winter’s evening to remember.
Liverpool-based singersongwriters Astles and Abby Meysenburg host the fourth edition of their annual Christmas show in the Music Room. Joined by an array of friends, musicians and creatives, Astles will also reassemble the full Balloon Moon Orchestra – including a string quartet and harp – for this special evening of ‘gorgeous, uplifting indie’ (NME). Continuing to establish themselves as leading voices in the city’s music scene, they will play new and old tunes, with special guests to be announced.
Performing to sell-out audiences for over 20 years, The Albion Christmas Show marks the start of Christmas for many people. Featuring a seasonal mixture of carols, spoken word, humorous readings and dance, and the combined talents of Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention), Kellie While (Albion Band), Simon Care (Edward II) and the Guvnor himself, Ashley Hutchings, get ready for a guided tour through Britain’s Christmas customs.
Two artists of stellar reputation built over twenty-year careers, Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden combine their considerable talents for a nationwide wassail. Presenting seasonal, traditional material on a stage decorated for the occasion, they will take audiences back to some of the oldest songs in the English canon, telling Christmas tales, spreading good cheer and lighting up the darkest days of the year, ahead of Christmas Day itself.
Saturday 9 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Programme includes:
Toto ‘Africa’
The Human League ‘Don’t You Want Me’
A-ha ‘Take on Me’
Ultravox ‘Vienna’
Bonnie Tyler ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’
Dexy’s Midnight Runners ‘Come on Eileen’
Elton John ‘I’m Still Standing’ plus music from Madonna, Blondie, and David Bowie.
Emma Kershaw, Katie Birtill, Oliver Tompsett and Patrick Smyth vocalists
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
A team of show-stopping vocalists and the full Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will transport you back in time with a programme packed with 80s-tastic smash hits. Dig out those deelyboppers, pull on your dancing shellsuit and moonwalk back to the decade that taste forgot with songs by George Michael, David Bowie, Blondie, Elton John, Ultravox, Madonna, The Human League and maybe even a couple of seasonal surprises!
Sunday 10 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£20, £16, £12 (adult)
£10, £8, £6 (child/U25s)
Take a break from the glorious chaos of Christmas preparations to enjoy an evening of Christmas songs, festive classics, carols and seasonal melodies from across the ages. Performed by students from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), this annual, feelgood, family concert features the LIPA Big Band, strings, choirs, vocalists, and dancers in a wonderful evening of yule-tide light entertainment.
Sunday 10 December 8pm
Music Room
£15, £12
Sunday 17 December 4pm & 8pm
The Tung Auditorium
£27.50
Monday 18 December 8pm
Music Room
£18, £15
Released in 1971, Carole King’s Tapestry quickly became one of the biggest-selling albums of all time. Tonight, Visions of Albion – a Liverpool-based duo consisting of Samantha Shields (vocals) and Daniel Ryan (guitar) – will perform Tapestry in its entirety alongside a collective of musicians. Bringing to life the album’s heartfelt melodies with arrangements that capture the warmth of King’s original recordings, get ready for a celebration of one of the greatest works of popular music, featuring some of Liverpool’s finest musicians.
The Unthanks premiere their dream-like winter fantasia. Echoes of winter tunes known throughout the western world mix with the traditional and newly written, all passed with great care through The Unthanks filter. Using the traditional music of North East England as a starting point, The Unthanks draw together the worlds of folk, jazz, orchestral, electronic and rock music – a blend that has earned them airplay across BBC Radios 2, 3, 4 and 6Music, a Mercury Music Prize nomination and international acclaim.
Phil Shotton and the Christmas Big Band – made up of some of the finest northwest jazz musicians – celebrate the season with a programme of Yuletide swinging big band music from some of the greatest composers and arrangers of the genre. What a treat it’ll be –there’s hard swinging jazz, soft ballads and exciting Latin rhythms all sprinkled with more than a little Christmas magic!
Wednesday 20 December 8pm
Music Room
£15
This is a standing event.
Start your Christmas celebrations with Baked A La Ska performing their fun-loving seasonal album, Ska of Wonder. Enjoy Christmas classics that have been sprinkled with ska dust – ‘Walking In The Air’, ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’, ‘Winter Wonderland’ and many more! Baked A La Ska have been serving up good party vibes, vintage ska sounds and an eccentric platter of covers since 2008. A band of assembled oddballs and pranksters, Baked A La Ska feature one of the tightest rhythm sections in Manchester.
Sunday 31 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£70, £62, £57, £55, £47, £35
Programme to include music from:
GoldenEye
Diamonds Are Forever From Russia with Love
Live and Let Die
Spectre
Goldfinger
Skyfall
The Spy Who Loved Me
David Arnold conductor
Jacinta Whyte vocalist
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The name’s Bond – James Bond. When it comes to the high life, nobody does it better. So on this special night, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra puts on its tux, pours itself a Martini and toasts the New Year with some of the sassiest signature tunes in cinematic history. They say diamonds are forever, and as the Orchestra celebrates seven decades of gadgets and supervillains, we see that Bond tunes are every bit as enduring and brilliant. And what’s more, to start the night in style, all tickets include a glass of fizz delivered to your seat – well after all… you only live twice!
Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 21 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£60, £53, £44, £40, £37, £24
Sponsored by Post-concert Question Timestarts in the Music Room 15 minutes after the concert ends, with Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan.
Bernstein Symphonic Dances, West Side Story
Copland Piano Concerto
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances
Domingo Hindoyan conductor
Paul Lewis CBE piano
In 1950s Manhattan, electrifying dance rhythms punch and kick across the hot city streets. A world away, a composer in exile creates a masterpiece that’s part-symphony, part-ballet, and all Rachmaninov. And in between, Liverpool’s own piano superstar Paul Lewis salutes jazz-age America in Copland’s Piano Concerto and George Gershwin’s inimitable, irresistible Rhapsody in Blue.
© John Millar Chief Conductor Domingo HindoyanMonday 25 September 8pm
Music Room
£20, £17
Dobrinka Tabakova The Smile of the Flamboyant Wings
Elizabeth Maconchy String Quartet No.1
Grace Evangeline Mason Midnight Spires
Eleanor Alberga Remember
Florence Price String Quartet in A minor
Kate Richardson violin
Kate Marsden violin
Rachel Jones viola
Hilary Browning cello
Four players and five remarkable composers, as the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Equilibrium Quartet champions neglected gems and newly-minted classics by Grace-Evangeline Mason, Elizabeth Maconchy, Florence Price and more.
Equilibrium would like to thank the Women’s Organisation for supporting this concert.
Thursday 28 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Smetana Overture, The Bartered Bride
Dvořák Cello Concerto
Brahms Symphony No.4
Domingo Hindoyan conductor
Pablo Ferrández cello
The bridge is love… Far from his homeland, Dvořák heard of the death of his childhood sweetheart and poured his heart and soul into a Cello Concerto that burns with sorrow, tenderness and beauty. The fabulous Pablo Ferrández joins forces with Domingo Hindoyan in a concert that begins under the summer skies of Smetana’s joyous Czech comedy and ends in heroic style with the mighty final symphony by Dvořák’s greatest musical friend – Johannes Brahms.
Lunchtime Concert
Monday 2 October 1pm
Music Room
£12, £8
Sponsored by
Programme to include:
Khachaturian Sabre Dance
Prokofiev Sonata for Solo Violin
Thelma Handy violin/director
Members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra violin section
One violin sounds brilliant: now imagine a whole stage full of them. Orchestra Leader Thelma Handy is first among equals today as the Orchestra’s violins go solo together in a concert of showstoppers, favourites and a few surprises.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 5 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks
Haydn Symphony No.94, ‘Surprise’ Beethoven Mass in C
Matthew Halls conductor
Jennifer France soprano
Claire Barnett-Jones mezzo-soprano
Oliver Johnston tenor
Dominic Sedgwick baritone
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir
When Ludwig van Beethoven spoke to God it was personal – and his magnificent Mass in C is one of those masterpieces that speaks to listeners of all faiths and none. The dazzling Jennifer France heads a team of star soloists as conductor Matthew Halls and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir prepare to storm heaven itself. First, though, Handel lights up the sky – and Haydn delivers one of the alltime great musical jokes. The punchline? It’s a surprise…
Chamber Music
Ensemble 10:10
Wednesday 11 October 7.30pm
The Tung Auditorium
£20
Rushworth Composition Prize commission supported by
Victoria BorisovaOllas Creation of the Hymn (UK premiere)
Valentin Silvestrov
Hymn 2001
Anna Clyne Fractured Time
Christopher Cook In Their Wake – Rushworth Composition Prize Winner (World premiere)
Nicholas Maw Shahnama
Gabriella Teychenné conductor
Gabriella Teychenné’s music-making has been described as ‘radically passionate’ and the programme she presents for her debut will show that to the full. The string pieces by Russian émigrée Victoria Borisova-Ollas and Ukrainian Valentin Silvestrov are emotionally charged, whilst Nicholas Maw conjures up vivid pictures inspired by illustrations of the famous 11th century Persian epic story, Shahnama. Finally, we hear a world premiere from the 2022 Rushworth Composition prize-winner, Christopher Cook.
Thursday 19 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19 Post-concert
Recommended by
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
Shostakovich Symphony No.11, ‘The Year 1905’
Vasily Petrenko conductor Christian Li violin
Russia, 1905: crowds fill the streets, and a great nation teeters on the brink of revolution. Shostakovich’s massive Eleventh Symphony is one of those pieces that you simply have to hear live – and with the Orchestra’s incredible set of full-size church bells, it’ll sound even larger than life. Vasily Petrenko conducts it for the first time in Liverpool: a powerful contrast to the romance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, played by rising star Christian Li.
Monday 23 October 8pm
Music Room
£20, £17
Anna Bon Flute Sonata in F, Op.1 No.2
Valerie Coleman Danza de la Mariposa
Lili Boulanger Two Pieces for Flute and Piano
Shulamit Ran Birds of Paradise
Kaija Saariaho NoaNoa
Yuko Uébayashi Sonata for Flute and Piano
Helen Wilson flute
Benjamin Powell piano
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra flautist Helen Wilson shares music she loves: magical miniatures spanning three continents and four centuries, travelling from 18th century Italy to modern-day Japan.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday 26 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Recommended by
Mozart Clarinet Concerto
Mahler Symphony No.5
Domingo Hindoyan conductor
Julian Bliss clarinet
When two geniuses marry the results are never ordinary, and Gustav Mahler poured all his love for his brilliant young wife Alma into the slow movement of his Fifth Symphony. But that’s not even half the story and tonight Domingo Hindoyan retells a musical drama of love, life and epic struggle. Mozart knew a thing or two about love as well, and returning to Liverpool tonight is clarinettist Julian Bliss who knows how to find all the poetry of Mozart’s dazzling Clarinet Concerto.
Close Up Concert
Julian Bliss, clarinet
Friday 27 October 8pm
Music Room
£20, £17
Poulenc Sonata
Debussy Premiere Rapsodie
Schumann Stille Tränen
Brahms Sonata No.1 in F minor
Julian Bliss clarinet
James Baillieu piano
Saturday 28 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Brahms Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny)
Brahms Nänie
Mahler Symphony No.5
Domingo Hindoyan conductor
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir
A lone trumpet sounds in the darkness and Mahler’s Fifth Symphony begins its struggle from tragedy to triumph by way of midnight storms, heroic horn-calls, and the most tender love-letter ever written without words – the rapturous Adagietto. “The symphony should be like the world” said Mahler and Domingo Hindoyan begins with another composer who saw life from every side, as he conducts the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra in the stirring, deeply-felt choral music of Johannes Brahms.
Lunchtime Concert
Monday 30 October 1pm Music Room
£12, £8
Sponsored by
TOURING
Psycho: Film with Live Orchestra (cert 15)
Schubert Auf dem Strom
Britten Canticle I: My beloved is mine
Schubert Allegretto in C minor
Britten Canticle III: Still Falls the Rain
Henry Strutt tenor
Stephen Nicholls horn
Ian Buckle piano
The haunting tone of the horn; the beauty of the human voice –they’re both instruments as old as time, and when they come together the result is pure poetry. Tenor Henry Strutt, horn player Stephen Nicholls and pianist Ian Buckle play music by Britten and Schubert.
Tuesday 31 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
See page 62 for more details
Wednesday 1 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£40, £34, £29
‘Everyone knows how to listen to music, just like we know how to drink water,’ says the Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, ‘you just listen’. He makes it sound so simple – just like his breathtakingly poetic, internationally award-winning performances. Tonight he tackles one of the mightiest of all keyboard works – Bach’s Goldberg Variations, a fantastic, endlessly imaginative chain of musical puzzles from the profoundest depths of the human soul. One of the most compelling of living pianists encounters music’s most beautiful mind.
Friday 3 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£53, £44, £40, £37, £24
Lyatoshynsky Grazhyna, Symphonic Picture
Bruch Violin Concerto No.1
Richard Strauss Don Juan
Liszt Mazeppa
Volodymyr Sirenko conductor
Aleksey Semenenko violin
The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (NSOU) is one of the most distinguished orchestras in Europe and has achieved world-wide recognition through its many international appearances. Conducted by Volodymyr Sirenko, the NSOU present a beautifully poignant programme, performing Bruch’s poetic Violin Concerto No.1 alongside Ukrainian violinist Aleksey Semenenko, the exuberant Don Juan by Richard Strauss, Liszt’s Mazeppa – a work inspired by a Ukrainian folk hero – and Grazhyna Symphonic Picture by ‘the father of Ukrainian contemporary music’, Boris Lyatoshynsky.
Chamber Music
Ensemble 10:10
Saturday 4 November 7.30pm
The Tung Auditorium
£20
Tansy Davies Inside Out 2
Ligeti Melodien
Michael Betteridge New work – Royal Philharmonic Society Commission (world premiere)
Takemitsu Tree Line
Birtwistle Secret Theatre
Geoffrey Paterson conductor
In a concert filled with thrillingly contrasting landscapes, Geoffrey Paterson makes his eagerly awaited return to Ensemble 10:10 bringing three classic pieces from three giants of the recent past – Takemitsu, Birtwistle and Ligeti (whose 100th anniversary we celebrate this year). Tansy Davies and a new work from Royal Philharmonic Society prizewinner Michael Betteridge bring us up to the minute.
Saturday 11 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Experience our vibrant neighbourhood first-hand and discover all that Liverpool has to offer, from music and culture to the best in local restaurants and nightlife A relaxing enclave in the very heart of the RopeWalks district, The Resident Liverpool is your perfect base in the city, moments away from the Royal Albert Dock, museum district and the city centre Every room features it's very own mini-kitchen, Nespresso machine, pocket sprung mattresses and a range of luxurious home comforts for you to enjoy!
Bizet Carmen (Suite)
Fauré Pavane
Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Fauré Requiem
Ben Glassberg conductor
Jacques Imbrailo baritone
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir
Gabriel Fauré was a quiet man and there’s no fury in his Requiem, just some of the most haunting choral music ever written. It’s a beautiful showcase for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, but French music isn’t just about poetry and pastel colours – and with the passion of Bizet’s Carmen, and the sheer magic of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, conductor Ben Glassberg opens the concert in a burst of joie de vivre
Monday 13 November 8pm
Music Room
£20, £17
Rameau Pièces de Clavecin
Dubois Terzettino
Takemitsu And then I knew ’twas wind
Bax Elegiac Trio
André Jolivet ‘Petite Suite’ for flute, viola and harp
Cormac Henry flute
Catherine Marwood viola
Elizabeth McNulty harp
When you combine a flute and a harp with the velvety sound of a viola, the results are pure enchantment. Three Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra players perform mini-masterpieces by Rameau, Takemitsu and Bax.
Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra
Beethoven’s Symphony No.7
Thursday 16 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Pre-concert Talk
- starts in the Music Room at 6.15pm, with Norman Lebrecht discussing Beethoven.
Rossini Overture, The Italian Girl in Algiers
Walton Cello Concerto
Beethoven Symphony No.7
Andrew Manze conductor
Nicolas Altstaedt cello
Beethoven once said that he wanted to make all humanity drunk with his music and when you hear his Seventh Symphony, you might feel he’s done exactly that. It’s a thrilling showcase for the Orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze, but first he takes an Italian holiday with Rossini and joins cellist Nicolas Altstaedt in Walton’s sun-kissed Cello Concerto. Walton wrote it on a Mediterranean island, and you can tell.
Royal Liverpool
Philharmonic Orchestra
Grieg’s Peer Gynt
Sunday 19 November 2.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Rossini Overture, The Italian Girl in Algiers
Vaughan Williams Dark
Pastoral for cello and orchestra
Grieg Peer Gynt Suite
Beethoven Symphony No.7
Andrew Manze conductor
Nicolas Altstaedt cello
It’s getting a bit grey and wintry on Merseyside, but this afternoon Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze whisks us off to sunnier climes. Grieg voyages from Norway to the African desert, Rossini gets piratical in the Mediterranean, and Beethoven kicks up his heels in a Viennese wine garden in his intoxicating, unstoppable Seventh Symphony.
Thursday 23 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Bizet Jeux d’enfants
Brahms Double Concerto
Debussy Ibéria
Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio espagnol
Domingo Hindoyan conductor
Simone Lamsma violin (Artist in Residence)
Victor Julien-Laferrière cello
Two’s company. Brahms felt nervous about writing a concerto for the cello alone, so he gave it a companion – the violin. The result is pure poetry: a Double Concerto like no other, glowing with autumn colours and played today by two performers with serious charisma, our Artist in Residence Simone Lamsma and cellist Victor Julien-Laferrière. It’s the big, tender heart of a concert with a Spanish flavour, as Domingo Hindoyan shares musical picture postcards from Debussy and Rimsky-Korsakov.
Liverpool Paddington Village
Philharmonic Youth Company
Sunday 26 November 2.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£18, £9
10% discount for groups of 6+
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Domingo Hindoyan* conductor
Robin Wallington conductor
Braimah Kanneh-Mason violin
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Academy Orchestra
Gethyn Jones conductor
Programme to include: Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Malcolm Arnold Little Suite No. 2
José Pablo Moncayo* Huapango
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company kick-start their 2023/24 season. Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Academy Orchestra takes to the stage for a showcase of young orchestral talent, conducted by Gethyn Jones, before the Youth Orchestra comes together with Domingo Hindoyan and soloist Braimah Kanneh-Mason for Mendelssohn’s iconic Violin Concerto.
Thursday 30 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Chausson Poème de l’amour et de la mer*
Wagner Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
Dvořák Symphony No.8
Domingo Hindoyan conductor
Sonya Yoncheva soprano*
“The roar of the waves drowns out my sighs / Who knows if this cruel sea will lead her to my heart again?” No one does romance quite like the French, and Chausson’s ‘Poem of love and the sea’ is strong stuff –an incredible musical journey for Domingo Hindoyan and superstar soprano Sonya Yoncheva. Add a dash of Wagner at his most sensuous, plus the sunshine and folksong of Dvořák’s happiest symphony, and things are about to get emotional.
Thursday 7 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£55, £50, £42, £36, £29, £19
Richard Strauss Till Eulenspiegel Prokofiev Suite from Cinderella Tchaikovsky Swan Lake (excerpts)
Karen Kamensek conductor
Once upon a time… The clock strikes midnight and a mysterious beauty leaves a glass slipper as she flees the ball. A swan princess conceals a tragic secret. And a wisecracking joker runs riot through medieval Germany. The inspirational Karen Kamensek makes her Liverpool debut with a concert full of stories – Prokofiev’s fairy tale ballet, Strauss’ riot of orchestral fun and above all, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, with melodies you love and a story as magical as the Christmas season itself.
Saturday 16 December 7.30pm
Tuesday 19 December 7.30pm
Thursday 21 December 7.30pm
Friday 22 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£60, £53, £44, £40, £37, £24
The performance on Thursday 21 December will be signed by BSL interpreters Kate Labno and Lorna Moran – see page 65 for booking details.
Sponsored by
Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason presenter
Kathryn Rudge mezzo-soprano
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir
Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir
Kate Labno and Lorna Moran BSL Interpreters
Host Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason returns to help us celebrate the most wonderful time of the year in our legendary Spirit of Christmas concerts. There’ll be classic carols, audience singalongs, seasonal readings, music from local star mezzo-soprano Kathryn Rudge – and even a few magical surprises. So come along and join Kadiatu, the Orchestra and our Choirs in Liverpool’s great musical festive tradition – it just wouldn’t be Christmas without it!
Saturday 23 December 11.30am & 2.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£30, £19, £16 (adult)
£19, £15, £11 (child)
The 2.30pm performance will be signed by BSL interpreter Kate Labno – see page 65 for booking details.
Alexandra Dariescu piano
Timothy Jackson conductor
Lucy Drever narrator
Jenna Lee choreographer
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble
Kate Labno BSL Interpreter
A Christmas party, an unexpected gift and a kingdom full of sweets… everyone knows the story of The Nutcracker. Pianist Alexandra Dariescu and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble each perform different parts of Tchaikovsky’s wonderful music. Joined by a narrator and two ballet dancers, they all come together to retell this seasonal classic like it’s never been told before. A musical treat for all ages.
Performances last approximately 1 hour.
Sunday 31 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
See page 33 for details
Saturday 6 January 7pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£60, £53, £44, £40, £37, £24
This performance will be signed by BSL interpreter Paul Whittaker OBE – see page 65 for booking details.
Handel Messiah
Bernard Labadie conductor
Soraya Mafi soprano
Hugh Cutting countertenor
Stuart Jackson tenor
Ashley Riches bass-baritone
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir
Paul Whittaker OBE BSL Interpreter
Hallelujah! When King George II first heard the most famous bit of Handel’s Messiah, he leapt to his feet in excitement. You don’t have to do that, but tunes like Ev’ry Valley, The Trumpet Shall Sound, and For Unto us a Child is Born are as much part of the season as mulled wine and mince pies. With baroque music expert Bernard Labadie making his Liverpool debut, and Lancastrian soprano
Soraya Mafi heading a stellar cast, you’ll experience all the freshness, inspiration and joy of a truly timeless classic.
Monday 4 December 8pm
Music Room
£20, £17
Puccini Crisantemi
Janáček String Quartet No.2, ‘Intimate Letters’
Finzi Romance Op.13
Borodin String Quartet No.2
Alexander Marks violin
Elizabeth Lamberton violin
Robert Shepley violin
Gethyn Jones cello
There might only be four players in the Ensemble of St Luke’s but when they play the impassioned, deeply personal string quartets of Janáček and Borodin, the emotions are off the scale. This is chamber music that never holds back.
Pizza, pasta, meatballs, salads and dishes to share. Modern British. 2 AA Rosettes. AA Notable Wine List.
£99
Chamber Music
Elias Quartet with Jonathan Bliss, piano
Sunday 10 December 2.30pm The Tung Auditorium
£29
Supported by the Rodewald Concert Society
Fanny Mendelssohn String Quartet in E-flat
Pēteris Vasks String Quartet No.3
Elgar Piano Quintet
The Royal Northern College of Music’s ensemble in residence, the Elias String Quartet, perform works by Fanny Mendelssohn and Pēteris Vasks, before uniting with acclaimed pianist Jonathan Biss to perform Elgar’s daring Piano Quintet. Vasks’ Quartet uses themes from a well-known Christmas carol and is strongly influenced by Latvian folksongs and dances. The Elgar Quintet, composed in the peaceful surroundings of a Sussex summer, was dedicated to the music critic of the Manchester Guardian. Fanny Mendelssohn’s Quartet is based on an unfinished piano sonata she wrote five years before. This extraordinary, rhapsodic work is her only mature string quartet, and one of the first surviving string quartets written by a woman.
Lunchtime Concert
Monday 18 December 1pm
Music Room
£12, £8
Sponsored by
TOURING
Haydn String Quartet Op.76, No.3, ‘Emperor’
Beethoven String Quartet
Op.18, No.1
Andrew Harvey violin
Lukas Hank violin
Ian Fair viola
Mark Lindley cello
Romeo and Juliet inspired Beethoven’s First String Quartet. Beethoven’s teacher Haydn, meanwhile, composed a national anthem for Austria – and then turned it into a quartet that breaks all the rules.
Monday 18 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£52.50, £44, £36, £26.50, £24, £19.50
Monday 1 January 2.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£50, £44, £36, £26.50, £24, £19.50
Mark Williams guest reader
Michael Bawtree conductor
Harriet Eyley soprano
Mozart Festival Orchestra
Join us for a sublime concert, staged in an evocative candle-lit style setting, and surround yourself with the magic of the festive season. Expect carols such as ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, ‘O come, all ye faithful’, ‘Once in Royal David’s City’, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ and a whole host of seasonal classics.
Programme to include:
Dvořák Slavonic Dance No.8
Bizet Flower Song
Verdi Brindisi from La Traviata
Strauss Radetzky March
Elgar Nimrod
Puccini Nessun Dorma
Hilary Davan Wetton conductor
Manchester Concert Orchestra
Welcome 2024 with a stirring celebration of uplifting music – raise your glasses as the Manchester Concert Orchestra perform a stellar selection of classics perfect for such a momentous occasion.
Friday 15 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£54.50, £47, £41.50, £31.50, £28, £21.50
Sunday 17 September 2pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£25, £20, £17.50, £15
This concert is in partnership with the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital Charity.
Experience epic and inspirational music from Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Game of Thrones and beyond, as the worlds of TV, film and fantasy are brought to life by a full symphony orchestra and stunning choir. Played by the Manchester Concert Orchestra and conducted by Toby Purser, you will also hear iconic musical excerpts from The Witcher, Dragonheart, The Chronicles of Narnia, How To Train Your Dragon, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars and Avatar
Maghull Wind Orchestra, conducted by Phil Shotton, presents an extravagant afternoon of music from the world of stage and screen, alongside the Trinity Catholic Academy Choir, St Andrews CofE School Choir, Maghull High School Choir, and singers from the local Maghull community. Featuring world premiere performances of arrangements written by the orchestra’s own Adam Dutch, Dave Matthews and Glenn Waite, this will be a concert of theatrical and cinematic delight that will have the whole family singing along!
Friday 29 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£37, £31, £25, £20, £15
With over 100 musicians on stage and the world-famous Royal Marines Corps of Drums, this concert will showcase the outstanding musicianship and versatility of the world’s finest military bands. Complete with special lighting effects, this spectacular concert provides audiences with an opportunity to enjoy the traditional Naval Sunset Finale which, once witnessed in the magnificent Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, will be remembered forever.
This is a fundraising concert for Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charities.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Family Concert
Sunday 22 October 2.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£23, £16, £14 (adult)
£15, £13, £9 (child)
Programme to include music from: Star Wars
Harry Potter
Encanto Frozen
Kaapo Ijas conductor
Alasdair Malloy percussion/presenter
Join the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and presenter Alasdair Malloy for this cinematic family concert featuring music from the best-loved family films of all time. From Star Wars to Harry Potter, Encanto to Frozen, we’ll be bringing Hollywood’s finest to Liverpool – so dress up as your favourite film character and get ready to sing along!
Tickets for children under 18 months are free. Family concerts are most suitable for children aged 4-10 years.
Under 5s Concert
Tuesday 31 October 1pm & 2.45pm
Music Room
£12.50
Claire Henry presenter/producer
Musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Help astronaut Claire Henry and musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to power the rocket and blast off into space! We’ve lined up a concert full of exciting space music and our audience will be very busy helping to make the launch a success. Fancy dress is always encouraged – come along in your starriest, space-themed, most out-of-this-world outfits!
Tuesday 7 November 7.45pm
Wednesday 8 November 7.45pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£125, £82.50, £50, £40, £30
Monday 13 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£50, £44, £40, £36, £32
Diversity, Britain’s most successful dance group, present their brand-new show, Supernova. Diversity took the nation by storm when they won the third series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009 and have since sold out multiple tours, with countless television and live performances. Ashley Banjo was recently awarded an MBE for his services to dance, while Jordan Banjo has also hosted a variety of TV programmes and presents a radio show. Diversity’s illustrious career shows how they continue to innovate, grow, and achieve.
Friday 24 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£31, £25
Strictly Come Dancing legend Anton Du Beke returns to the stage with his live band, a guest singer and his dancers. Anton will be performing some of his favourite songs and dances that have inspired his career. Expect behind-the-scenes stories from his time on Strictly that will have you laughing out loud in this fab-u-lous evening of song, dance and fun! He’ll be joined by special guest singer Lance Ellington, who frequently appears as one of Strictly’s main singers and has also worked with many of the world’s top recording artists, including Sting, Michael Jackson and Tina Turner.
Celebrating 40 years on the road, Dillie, Liza and Adèle, Britain’s sassiest musical cabaret trio, present their brand-new show. Fascinating Aïda have racked-up millions of followers, performed in the world’s most prestigious venues and been showered with plaudits and awards. Uniquely charming, with diamond-sharp satire, filthy, hilarious, belligerent, political, poignant and outrageous, this indomitable trio are still the mistresses of their craft. Marking this astonishing milestone, the show will feature much-loved favourites and some wickedly hilarious new songs.
Monday 4 December 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£58, £52, £45, £35, £25
Shake your tinsel and polish your baubles, this is the Christmas show everyone wants! Get ready for two of our favourite Strictly stars –complete with dancers, singers, lavish costumes and sets – to bring you all our favourite Christmas hits. Performing festive feasts from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Disney Christmas crackers and a whole assortment of pop festive classics, carols and crooners, let’s make a song and dance and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Family Concert
Saturday 16 December
11.30am & 2.30pm
Sunday 17 December
11.30am & 2.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£30, £19, £16 (adult)
£19, £15, £11 (child)
The 2.30pm performance on Sunday 17 December will be signed by BSL interpreter Kate Labno – see page 65 for booking details.
Michael Seal conductor
Alasdair Malloy presenter
Liverpool Philharmonic Children’s Choirs
Kate Labno BSL Interpreter
We’re walking in the air… It isn’t Christmas until a little boy has built a new friend in a snowy garden, the Northern Lights are flickering in the sky, and The Snowman has whisked us off into the frosty night. If you didn’t think the classic film could get any more enchanting, you’re in for a wonderful surprise – this seasonal screening is accompanied live by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, who’ll also be sharing a stocking full of musical treats. Santa will be there to lead the sing-along too, so bring your loudest singing voices with you!
Tickets for children under 18 months are free. Family concerts are most suitable for children aged 4-10 years.
Snowman Enterprises Limited
Sunday 3 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£51, £45, £35, £30, £25
Ages 16+ only. 16 and 17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.
Friday 8 September 8pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall £36, £30, £25, £15
Swapping the studio for the stage, Loose Women Live brings you its iconic panel. Let loose with Kaye Adams, Nadia Sawalha, Denise Welch and Sunetra Sarker for an evening filled with laughter, hot topics, fun and surprises, as they share their stories and secrets live and in-person. Loose Women is ITV1’s longest-running panel show, featuring discussion around the day’s most topical issues and exclusive celebrity guest interviews.
Liverpool’s biggest comedy promoter Laughterhouse brings you an amazing night of entertainment, featuring five giants of comedy with three more to be announced.
Neil Fitzmaurice MC
Dylan Moran
Sarah Kendall
Jarred Christmas
Nabil Abdulrashid
Don’t miss what promises to be the comedy event of the autumn.
Wednesday 13 September 8pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£36, £30
Please note, this show may contain content unsuitable for under 16s.
Sunday 17 September 8pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£42, £36, £30
Following a sold-out date, Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally return with their hilarious, charttopping and award-winning podcast. My Therapist Ghosted Me came about when Joanne McNally’s therapist did exactly that: ghosted her. The podcast invites listeners into candid and hilarious conversations, as Vogue and Joanne explore their unique issues and encourage listeners to get in touch with their own personal experiences. Together, they provide 100% unqualified, unsubstantiated but honest advice on problems their therapists couldn’t handle.
Monday 25 September 8pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£43, £38, £31
Lucy Worsley is heading back out on the road to share stories from the fascinating life of the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. In these live illustrated talks, Lucy will present one of the most enigmatic figures of the twentieth century. Sharing her research based on the writer’s personal letters and papers, Lucy will uncover the real Agatha Christie – the story of a person who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.
Discover the story behind Adrian Edmondson’s journey to comedy in this riotous evening of storytelling to celebrate the release of his upcoming memoir, Berserker! Live on stage, Edmondson will take audiences from his days breaking the rules at his brutal boarding school to the comedy circuit of the eighties when he finally found his place in the world. Expect starstudded anecdotes and a healthy dose of nostalgia from Edmondson’s extraordinary, comedy-filled life.
Saturday 30 September 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£31, £25, £23, £20
With over one billion views online, Foil Arms and Hog are one of the internet’s most renowned comedy sketch groups, but it’s live performance where they thrive. Back in the UK following sell out performances from New York to Berlin and Vancouver to Helsinki, they present Hogwash – a fast-paced mix of sketches, improvisation, audience participation and talking suitcases.
Friday 6 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£48, £42, £37, £30, £25
What makes you, you? Is there a part of you that no-one understands? Have you found your tribe or are you a unique human being? In recent decades, a combination of individualism, the internet and culture war has, for many of us, brought feelings about identity to the fore. Grayson Perry, white, male, heterosexual, ablebodied, English, southerner, baby boomer and member of the establishment, considers identity in his new show that will make you laugh, shudder, and reassess who you are.
Monday 23 October 7pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£32.50, £26.50, £19.50
Steve Backshall’s Ocean is a love letter to the most exciting environment on our planet – and a great way to learn more about what we need to do to save our seas. Stunts, experiments, props, cutting edge science and big screen footage from his two decades in TV will all help Steve to bring the icons of the big blue to life. From great whites to great whales, seals to sardine shoals, orca to the oddities of the deep – this is a fantastic opportunity for fans of all ages to dive deep into the wonderful world beneath the waves!
Wednesday 25 October 8pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£38, £34, £28
Mark ‘Billy’ Billingham MBE QCB is as tough as they come. Chief Instructor on Channel 4’s SAS: Who Dares Wins, Paratrooper, decorated SAS leader, and a bodyguard to Hollywood superstars, Billy has seen extreme combat and gruelling missions aplenty. Spend an extraordinary evening with him, as he shares his incredible, inspirational story. Educating, entertaining, and enthralling in equal measure, this event will inspire those wishing to seek a challenge and conquer it –the SAS way.
Monday 6 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£51, £45, £38.50, £29.50
Celebrity chef James Martin is turning up the heat with a brand-new tour. His last tour saw mouth-watering dishes being rustled up, with audiences delighting at James’ ability to build the ‘biggest and best bacon and cheese butty’, huge Yorkshire puddings and even his own take on the retro Funny Feet ice-cream. The proud Yorkshire-born chef’s new tour will be even hotter with fun, laughter, food and some live music in this gastronomic experience.
Tuesday 21 November 8pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£34.50, £28.50
Simon is an author and TV presenter, and one of the world’s most adventurous travellers. His unique brand of documentary film-making combines travel and adventure with current affairs, history, wildlife, culture and conservation. On his new tour, Simon will offer stories, surprises, thrills, deeper thoughts and hearty laughs. He wants to nudge and encourage audiences to get out of their comfort zone, take a few gentle risks in life, and embrace the great outdoors and the wider world.
Wednesday 22 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£22, £16
Dan has spent the last two years changing the comedy industry from the inside out, paving new career paths for himself and many others, whilst being one half of the smash-hit podcast Have A Word Following on from the triple-extended 2022 tour Smasher, 2023 will see him hit the road again to show even more people what 18,000 monthly patreons, 55,000 YouTube subscribers and one million monthly viewers already know – that Dan Nightingale’s special.
Wednesday 6 December 8pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall £30, £20
Join award-winning comedian Sophie McCartney for more wickedly accurate insights into parenthood and adulting. Sophie thought by the time she became a ‘proper’ grown up (someone who likes olives) life would be figured out, but she was wrong. Tonight she’ll be asking why no one told her what to really expect after she was expecting, why you need a degree in collapsing travel cots, and does she have what it takes to stop her current cereal eaters from becoming future serial killers?
Friday 8 December 8pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall £36, £30, £25, £15
Liverpool’s biggest comedy promoter Laughterhouse brings you an amazing night of entertainment, featuring five top comedians with more to be announced.
Troy Hawke
Paul Sinha
Tom Stade
Justin Moorhouse
Rachel Fairburn
Don’t miss what promises to be the funniest event of the festive season!
Pre-order drinks in advance and have them waiting at your seat in the auditorium for your arrival.
Pre-order your interval drinks at the bar before the performance starts, and your drinks will be waiting for you at the collection point. For
The antidote to the multiplex, watching a film at Liverpool Philharmonic is a unique experience. Enjoy fantastic films on the world’s last remaining working Walturdaw cinema screen, with organ introduction from resident organist Dave Nicholas.
Saturday 29 July 3pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall £60.50, £49.50, £37.50, £25.50
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Encanto comes to life – experience the entire feature-length film with a full orchestra performing its award-winning score. Encanto tells the tale of the Madrigals, an extraordinary family living in a magical house in the mountains of Colombia. But when Mirabel, the only ordinary Madrigal, discovers the magic surrounding their home is in danger, she may be her family’s last hope. Encanto received the Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Producers Guild of America Award for Best Animated Feature.
Sunday 29 October 3pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£60.50, £45.50, £35.50, £25.50
The Academy Award-winning film Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse swings into Liverpool with a live orchestra, turntables and percussion playing music from the film’s score and soundtrack. Directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman and written by Phil Lord and Rothman, the movie follows Marvel Comics’ character and Brooklyn resident Miles Morales, who after gaining superpowers from a spider bite, finds himself responsible for saving the multiverse. The film’s hip-hop based score was composed by the acclaimed Daniel Pemberton, and is complemented by songs by Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj and more.
Monday 30 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Tickets will be available from 1 September 2023.
Director Kenneth Branagh
Starring Kelly Reilly, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Kenneth Branagh
A Haunting in Venice is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve and is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in selfimposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.
Contains strong violence
Tuesday 31 October 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£60, £53, £44, £40, £37, £24 (£18 for under-25s, limited availability)
Monday 27 November 7.30pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£72, £66, £50.50, £40.50
The sinister motel, that strange young man, the horror that lurks behind the shower curtain – the stabbing violins of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho are the soundtrack to all our nightmares. This Halloween, give yourself the fright of your life with this big-screen showing at the Hall, with Bernard Herrmann’s chilling music performed live by the strings of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. You know you love it, so by popular demand, here’s one more chance to check in to the Bates Motel – if you dare…
Christmas favourite Love Actually is brought to life with a full orchestra performing its soundtrack live to screen. Love Actually In Concert has become an annual festive tradition for many. Written and directed by Richard Curtis, Love Actually follows ten different, yet interweaving, stories of love around the festive period. Boasting an all-star cast, Love Actually features Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson, Martin Freeman and many more. A live orchestra will perform BAFTA-winning composer Craig Armstrong’s score, with the film being projected onto a huge screen.
Saturday 23 December 8pm
Sunday 24 December 3pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£17, £13, £10
Starring
Beset with problems, George Bailey – played by James Stewart – finds his previously happy life falling apart around him on Christmas Eve. His impish guardian angel shows him what his hometown would be like without him, and shocked by what he sees, George begs to return to the problems of the present. Beautifully crafted, its humour and gentleness imbued at times with an almost Dickensian darkness, the film is now a cult classic and one of the most enduring of all Christmas traditions.
Sunday 24 December 11am
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£15, £12, £9 (adult)
£13, £10, £7 (child)
Starring
The Muppets reimagine Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol by adding a hilarious and heartfelt touch of Muppet magic. Ebeneezer Scrooge is a wicked, cold-hearted moneylender, angered by the Christmas spirit of his colleague Bob Cratchit (played by Kermit the Frog) and those around him. However, the arrival of the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future teach him to embrace the warmth and good will that comes with Christmas time.
Saturday 30 December 2pm & 7pm
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
£60, £53, £44, £40, £37, £24 £18 (under 25s, limited availability)
Coming Autumn 2023
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Relive the film that started it all. Watch the wand choose the wizard, a troll run amok and magic mirrors in high-definition while the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performs John Williams’ iconic score. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event as Harry, Ron, Hermione and all your favourite characters return to the screen and enchant the world all over again.
Performances last 3 hours including one interval.
Widely hailed as the greatest concert movie ever made, director Jonathan Demme’s celebrated film Stop Making Sense captures Talking Heads live at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre in December 1983. The film’s legendary opening sees enigmatic front man David Byrne walk onto an empty stage and launch into a mesmerising, stripped-back rendition of ‘Psycho Killer’, and goes on to capture the infectious energy of a unique Talking Heads performance.
For the latest news on film screenings, sign up to our mailing list at liverpoolphil.com
Online: liverpoolphil.com
Telephone: 0151 709 3789
In Person: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BP
For opening times, visit liverpoolphil.com/get-tickets
For directions, public transport and parking details, as well as information on refreshments, access and FAQs, visit liverpoolphil.com/plan-your-visit
Booking Fees: Online & Phone: 9% per ticket administrative fee. A £2.50 postage fee will be applied on all orders if opting for postal delivery.
In person: No charge
We’re delighted to offer BSL interpretation on a selection of events. To book, please email Box Office at ticketing@liverpoolphil.com or call 0151 709 3789 for further details on how to book the most suitable seats.
£9 tickets
For most Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performances, under-25s, students and those in receipt of Universal Credit or Jobseekers’ Allowance can purchase tickets for just £9. £9 tickets can be purchased from Box Office in person or by phone on 0151 709 3789.
For more information and the latest updates on what to expect during your visit to Liverpool Philharmonic, please visit liverpoolphil.com/FAQs
