Film Matilda The Musical

Sunday 5 February 2.30pm

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Director Matthew Warchus Starring Alisha Weir, Lashana Lynch, Andrea Riseborough, Stephen Graham, Emma Thompson

An adaptation of the Tony and Olivier awardwinning musical, Matilda The Musical tells the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand to change her story with miraculous results.

Featuring organ prelude from resident organist Dave Nicholas.

Transatlantic Sessions

Friday 10 February 7.30pm

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

One of Celtic Connections’ most enduring and beloved institutions, Transatlantic Sessions celebrates its 20th edition, drawing on the traditions of Scotland, Ireland and the US, while continuing to break new ground.

First-time guest singers line up alongside returning favourites; centuries-old songs and tunes interweave with original material, and the time-honoured session-style format consistently delivers fresh collaborative magic.

As ever, the show’s house band are joined by joint masters of ceremonies Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas. Artists include Phil Cunningham, John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh, Daniel Kimbro. and Martha Wainwright.

First Ever UK Show

Ahmed Fakroun

Sunday 12 February 8pm

Music Room

Libyan pioneer Ahmed Fakroun, a purveyor of Arab melodies and western electronic music, has taken the long route to recognition. In the 1980s, a promising career looked set to begin with the release of his acclaimed album Mots D’Amour, but international sanctions displaced many Libyans and curtailed his superstardom in the Arab world. Fakroun disappeared altogether in the 90s.

Now, almost forty years on, he is beloved for his unique blend of new-wave, synthpop, and disco infused with the folk sounds and melodies of his homeland. Fakroun has become a rediscovered star in the western world thanks to renewed attention from the electronic community and appreciation from musical adventurers like David Byrne and Bat For Lashes. The Master of the Maghreb brings his glittering Saharan sheen to Liverpool Philharmonic for his first ever UK show.

This is a standing event.

The George Harrison Story

Something About George

Saturday 25 February 7.30pm

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Something About George – The George Harrison Story is a musical biopic tribute to the so-called ‘quiet’ Beatle, and the 2023 tour celebrates what would have been George’s 80th birthday.

Starring West End actor and musician Daniel Taylor, Something About George – The George Harrison Story tells the truly remarkable tale of one of music’s most understated icons. Featuring a five-piece band performing beautiful songs such as ‘My Sweet Lord’, ‘Something’, ‘Got My Mind Set On You’ and ‘Handle With Care’, the show includes incredible solo material and music from rock n’ roll’s greatest supergroup, The Travelling Wilburys – not forgetting more than a few Beatles’ classics along the way.

From heartbreak to hedonism and song writing to instant success, Something About George will show you a life that was anything but quiet.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi

Sunday 12 March 2.30pm

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Puccini La Tregenda (Le Villi, Act II)

Puccini Intermezzo (Manon Lescaut, Act III)

Mascagni Intermezzo sinfonico (L’amico Fritz)

Mascagni Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana)

Ponchielli Dance of the Hours (La Gioconda)

Puccini Gianni Schicchi

Domingo Hindoyan conductor

Sir Bryn Terfel Gianni Schicchi

Singers from European Opera Centre

“O mio babbino caro...” No-one wrote a love song quite like Puccini, but in the farcical world of

Gianni Schicchi, nothing is quite as it seems. A sparking, screwball tale of scheming, bickering relatives, a lawyer and of young love, it’s a comedy with a huge heart. We’ve got a huge star to prove it, too: the one and only Sir Bryn Terfel, supported by some of the very best young singers in Europe today from the European Opera Centre for this dramatised performance. To set the scene, Domingo and the Orchestra provide some of opera’s most glorious orchestral intermezzos.

Gianni Schicchi will be performed in Italian with English surtitles.

Soumik Datta

Wednesday 22 March 8pm Music Room

Daudi Matsiko

Wednesday 29 March 8pm Music Room

Tom McGuire & The Brassholes

Saturday 15 April 8pm Music Room

Soumik Datta is a composer, producer, bandleader and TV presenter – his work embraces traditional and contemporary art forms to address the urgent issues of our times. Soumik is best known for his creative collaborations with the likes of Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Bill Bailey, Nitin Sawhney and Anoushka Shankar, to name a few.

Soumik’s latest production Hope Notes weaves the stories of refugees through a soundtrack of sarod, strings and voices. In 2021, Soumik wrote, directed and scored Songs of the Earth, an award-winning animation about a young climate refugee which premiered at the UN Climate Conference. Soumik’s previous highlights include performing at BBC Proms, Glastonbury Festival and presenting the three-part primetime, documentary series Rhythms of India on BBC 4.

Soumik’s art is about our world, making us hear it, see it, feel it anew.

Supported by

Born and raised in the UK, Ugandan singersongwriter and guitarist Daudi Matsiko carefully crafts modern albeit reverent folk. Deft, melancholic picking reminiscent of Nick Drake is tempered by contemporary percussion and instrumentation, and Matsiko’s vocals derive their strength from their seeming fragility, a warble in notes that may or may not be intentional. With every song, his confessional lyrics cut to the marrow.

After releasing two independent EPs, A Brief Introduction to Failure and The Lingering Effects of Disconnection, he signed to Naim Records and has toured with GoGo Penguin, Keaton Henson and Portico Quartet, whilst also being a successful graduate of the Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal.

Tom McGuire & the Brassholes is a funk-soul powerhouse from Glasgow - combining rich arrangements with meticulous songcraft, and untouchable live performance.

The band’s music is full of vitality – classic pop sensibility with high musicianship values and rich production. At the root is soulful song, telling stories and sharing experiences of joy, turmoil, loss, celebration, sadness and happiness.

Following the success of their 2019 debut album, they have supported Craig Charles and George Clinton, have become a firm favourite on the festival circuit and have toured extensively in the U.K and Europe.

Life is confusing and hard, but music is fun and great, so let’s talk about it whilst getting down!

This is a standing event.

Family Concert

Intergalactic Adventure: Relaxed Family Concert

Sunday 16 April 3.30pm

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Ellie Slorach conductor

Alasdair Malloy presenter

Kate Labno BSL presenter

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Prepare to countdown and blast off with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, as we leave the Earth behind and pilot a spaceship through the Solar System to visit some of our nearest space-dwelling neighbours. We’ll encounter some friendly, and some not-so-friendly, extraterrestrials and get caught up in some Star Wars before boldly going where no concert has ever gone before – to a party in The Planets! This concert is truly out of this world and features music from Holst’s The Planets, Star Wars, Star Trek, Super Mario Galaxy and of course, E.T.

This relaxed concert is fun and accessible for the whole family, combining brilliant music and a safe and enjoyable environment. We offer support for audiences with a range of additional needs, including physical and learning disabilities. We’ll have resources to help you prepare for the event, including music playlists and a virtual venue tour. We’ll also have easy-read materials and quiet spaces on the day.

The concert will last approximately one hour. Family concerts are most suitable for children aged 4-10 years.

This concert will be signed by a BSL interpreter

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

The Great American Songbook

Saturday 22 April 7.30pm

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Anthony Weeden conductor

Gary Williams vocalist

Featuring sensational songs with swing, including:

Luck Be A Lady

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

Mack the Knife

The Way You Look Tonight

I’ve Got You Under My Skin

Night and Day

Singin’ In the Rain

You’re All The World to Me

Ain’t That A Kick in the Head

My Kinda Town

New York, New York

My Way

Star of the West End’s Rat Pack, Gary Williams returns to Liverpool to join the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and celebrate music with all the glamour and glitz of the Las Vegas Strip. This evening, join us for a night with swagger, featuring the hits of Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Nat ‘King’ Cole and many more.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra