Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Review of the Year 2018-2019 by Liverpool Philharmonic

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Review of the Year 2018â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2019

Vasily Petrenko Chief Conductor

Foreword Liverpool Philharmonic is a busy organisation. Over 500 concerts and some 5,000 learning and participative sessions each year; three international Orchestra tours in 2018; £11.5 million turnover; over 450,000 customers; 250 staff from musicians to front of house staff pulling together to make it happen. Every day has another deadline, another show to put on – often several. That’s what drives us. But in that busy schedule it’s easy to lose sight of not only the breadth of what we do, but also why we do it. So it is useful to remind ourselves of our mission for Royal Liverpool Philharmonic:

We enhance and transform lives through music Seven words. Music, because that is what we do, what we make, it’s what we are passionate about. Enhance and transform because it’s about what we can achieve through our music – how it touches people, excites them, makes them think. How it can give purpose, an outlet to communicate and create, and yes, how it can genuinely change people’s lives for the better. And ‘we’, because it’s a collegiate effort of a whole group of talented people working together to common purpose – not only those of us in our organisation but also the countless people who help us to do so. And our vision for Liverpool Philharmonic is that we will be rooted in our community and an ambassador for the City of Liverpool. We will be a thriving, forward looking diverse music organisation, with musicians and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra at its heart, enhancing and transforming lives through a distinctive programme of excellence in performance and learning.

Patron Her Majesty the Queen President The Rt Hon the Earl of Derby DL Board of Directors

Professor Nigel Weatherill DL FREng Chairman Michael Eakin Chief Executive Vanessa Bakewell Angela Bellingham Mel Grodner Alexander Holladay Cellist, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Claire Jackson Susanna Jordan First Violins, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Baroness Estelle Morris of Yardley Rod Peacock Councillor Wendy Simon Cabinet Member for Culture & Tourism, Liverpool City Council Dr. Tony Harvey FRSA Company Secretary

On behalf of the Society, our thanks, to our funders Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council, our Principal Partners Investec Wealth and Investment and Liverpool Johns Moores University; our many other sponsors and partners, and supporting trusts and foundations. And, our thanks to the more than 1,300 people plus who so generously donate to us. That support is financially significant, but it is more than that – it also is an investment of trust and faith in us and we are very grateful for it. Thank you. At a time of so much division, uncertainty and concern – whether it be about Brexit, about our political and economic future, or indeed about the planet and the impact of climate change – our job becomes even more important than ever. Vasily Petrenko is always very clear about this – his view is that music is a fundamental force to bring people together, to provide light, and understanding, and pleasure; to give people a voice. Of course we can’t sort out Brexit, or the economy. But don’t let anyone say that what Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and our musicians, and the other cultural organisations and artists in this city do is irrelevant, or unimportant, or just ‘nice to have’. It is fundamental to the health and success of Liverpool, and of the UK. We take that role and responsibility very seriously and look forward to continuing to do it to the best of our ability in the coming year, with your support and encouragement.

Professor Nigel Weatherill DL FREng Chairman

Michael Eakin Chief Executive

Award-Winning

Entertainment Venue of the Year Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards In May, 2019 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and Music Room were awarded ‘Entertainment Venue of the Year’ at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards, celebrating the best of the City Region’s Visitor Economy.

Outstanding Classical Music Education Initiative – In Harmony Liverpool Music Teacher Awards for Excellence 2019 The Music Teacher Awards for Excellence was held on 6 March 2019 at a gala evening in the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane Hotel. The event, a highlight of the music education calendar, celebrates the outstanding work that has taken place in the sector across the past year. Liverpool Philharmonic’s In Harmony programme won the ‘Outstanding Classical Music Initiative’ award, adding another plaudit to the many that this internationally-renowned programme has garnered over the past decade.

Best Family Welcome Fantastic for Families Awards Liverpool Philharmonic won the ‘Best Family Welcome’ award in the Fantastic for Families awards ceremony held 11 February 2019. These awards celebrate the wealth of outstanding performances, events and activities for families taking place across the UK. This award covered all areas of our visitor experience including staff welcome, the venue’s facilities, and clear communication of relevant information, creating a smooth and positive experience for families.

Orchestra of the Year – Shortlisted Gramophone Awards 2019 The Orchestra was shortlisted for the Orchestra of the Year in the 2019 Gramophone Awards alongside orchestras from cities including Berlin, London, Paris, Rome, San Francisco and the winner, Hong Kong.

Concerts

Liverpool Philharmonic presents as diverse a programme as you will find presented by any organisation anywhere in the UK. In 2018/19 that programme included an orchestral series with a wide ranging repertoire including great familiar works and composers, from Brahms to Stravinsky and also infrequently performed works by Hindemith, Shchedrin, Vaughan Williams, Adams, Higdon, Weinberg, Boulanger, Tailleferrre, and Chaminade. Commissions of new works for Orchestra included repertoire by Gary Carpenter, Iain Bell, MarkAnthony Turnage, Claudia Montero, Dani Howard, Kenneth Hesketh and Victoria Borisova-Ollas. Cross genre programming included films with live music – On The Waterfront, Psycho - and projects with jazz pianist Julian Joseph and electronic pop band OMD. We have built upon that this year with “And In the End: A Celebration of 50 Years of Abbey Road and Let It Be”, which toured to cities throughout the UK and a sold-out Royal Albert Hall performance.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

We also hosted a very wide range of guest conductors and performers from around the world; including Liverpool debuts by great artists like Jiri Rosen, Dalia Stasevska and Sergey Krylov, and the return of good friends like Kirill Gerstein, Joshua Weilerstein and Alexandra Dariescu. And a fantastic programme of visiting artists from across musical genres – from Bryan Ferry to Joan Armatrading to new country star Kacey Musgraves, and many others. We were proud to host an amazing array of local, British and international folk, acoustic pop, jazz and roots artists. Collaborations with local festivals have included Dadafest, Arabic Arts Festival and Africa Oye. Chamber concerts at St George’s Hall Liverpool included performances by Jordi Savall, Stephen Hough, Mariam Batsashvili, Mahan Esfahani and Gesualdo Six. Our contemporary music ensemble, Ensemble 10:10, performed new repertoire including world premieres by Grace-Evangeline Mason and Gary Carpenter. Our intimate ‘Close-Up’ and Lunchtime performances by our musicians, and guest performers in the Music Room proved resoundingly popular.

Bootleg Beatles

And in the End

And in the End..., The Bootleg Beatles and RLPO, Royal Albert Hall: less like a tribute than a reincarnation “It helped that the musicianship was extraordinary. Beatles fans know all of these parts, every guitar line, drum roll and vocal harmony, but to witness them being perfectly replicated live offers visual cues that enhance and clarify the music. I felt a renewed appreciation for the interplay of Lennon and Harrison’s guitar parts and the melodic fluidity of McCartney’s bass. The involvement of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra was the coup de grâce. Led by conductor Richard Balcombe with arrangements by Ian Stephens, they did not replicate George Martin string parts (only a handful of Beatles originals had those) but enhanced and emphasised particular melodic and harmonic elements. The sheer weight and drama the 80-piece orchestra brought to Lennon’s rock epic I Want You (She’s So Heavy) was breath-taking. And in the end … the audience did the rest. The Royal Albert Hall is an amazing venue, for its sightlines and almost overwhelming sense of the audience’s physical presence. To look around, up past the balconies and into the Gods, as 5,000 happy people wave and sing is something to behold. Imagine the Beatles playing the last night of the Proms.” – The Times, 18 October, 2019

Clockwise from top: Dalia Stasevska, Sergey Krylov, Joan Armatrading, Kacey Musgraves, Jordi Savall, Gesualdo Six

Britten’s War Requiem: Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War One On 10 November, 2018, the day before Remembrance Sunday, which in that year commemorated the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, 300 musicians from the combined forces of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral, NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Knabenchor Hannover, and a team of world-class soloists came together in the aweinspiring space of Liverpool Cathedral to perform Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem. It was preceded the week before by a performance in Hannover Kuppersaal broadcast live on the Arte television channel. Britten intended War Requiem as a gesture of reconciliation and in that spirit it was Andrew Manze, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor, and Principal Conductor of NDR Radiophilharmonie who invited the orchestras and choristers of the two UNESCO Cities of Music to unite to mark this significant historical anniversary with Britten’s universal work. Liverpool Philharmonic also presented and participated in a number of other events commemorating the centenary including a commemoration of the war poets, with music by Ravel and his wartime contemporaries played by pianist Ian Buckle and poems read by Roger McGough, Sheku KannehMason performing Elgar’s Cello Concerto and the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company and young composers in performing as part of the Wilfred Owen Commemoration Festival in Birkenhead.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Andrew Manze, Liverpool Cathedral

Sirens The Association of British Orchestras Trust received a generous gift from Diana Ambache to run a new fund, Sirens, which aims to raise awareness and appreciation of the music written by historical women from around the world. Liverpool Philharmonic was one of the first recipients and presented a concert of music by Lili Boulanger, Germaine Tailleferre, Cecile Chaminade and others on 28 February and 1 March 2019, conducted by Jessica Cottis with Alexandra Dariescu, piano and Cormac Henry, flute. Liverpool Philharmonic’s Sirens project also included workshops and work with the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company, including a conducting workshop with Cottis and composition workshops with female composers. These two concerts were part of presenting a strong roster of female composers and conductors in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert season, including composers Claudia Montero, Nadia Boulanger, Germaine Tailleferre, Grace-Evangeline Mason, Jennifer Higdon and Sofia Gubaidulina and conductors - as well as Jessica Cottis - Anu Tali, Elim Chan, Nathalie Stutzmann and Holly Mathieson.

Alexandra Dariescu

Left to right: Birkenhead Park, The Nutcraker and I, Alisdair Malloy and Kate Labno at our first relaxed concert

Wirral Borough of Culture 2019

Family Concerts

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra performed on 7 September 2019 in Birkenhead Park as part of the Wirral Borough of Culture Celebrations.

Family concerts attracted over 15,000 people in this period. We introduced a new concert, “Nutcracker and I”, a groundbreaking 50-minute live performance for piano, ballerina and digital animation, featuring pianist Alexandra Dariescu. On stage, Dariescu was at the piano joined by a ballerina behind a see-through gauze screen, whilst exquisite, hand drawn digital animations were projected onto the gauze.

This evening featured popular classics, with mezzo-soprano and Wirral resident, Jennifer Johnston under the baton of conductor, Richard Balcombe.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Synth-pop icons Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark celebrated their 40th anniversary with a very special pair of concerts at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra on 6 and 7 October, 2018, attended by fans from around the world.

“The standard of performance was outstanding, the pianist was stunning and the animation mesmerising. My ten year old granddaughter said she was transfixed and has talked ever since about the dazzling speed of the pianist’ s hands. It was a unique experience thoroughly enjoyed by both of us, bridging the gap between generations.” – “Nutcracker and I” audience member

Relaxed and Dementia Concerts

“This band rejected every rock’n’roll cliché going and made the Philharmonic Hall seem like their spiritual home....When rock and pop bands do concerts with an orchestra it can often seem as if the classical players are there only to make simple songs sound sophisticated and the band look posh. Perhaps the clue to why this 40th anniversary concert by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) worked is in the name. Despite being a synth-pop act associated with the early 1980s new-romantic movement, they always had a semi-classical sense of grandeur.” – The Times, 8 October 2018

HHHH

Our first relaxed and dementia-friendly concerts took place in the 2018/19 season. The debut dementia-friendly concert on 17 November 2018, was created to be a safe and enjoyable experience for people living with dementia, their friends, family and carers. It took place in the Music Room with a performance by the Ensemble of St Luke’s. The performance spaces and bar area were tailored for the performance to address the needs of dementia-sufferers. Our first ‘relaxed’ concert took place on 26 May 2019, and featured the Orchestra in familiar favourites for families. This concert offered support for audiences with a range of needs, including communication difficulties, physical disabilities and learning disabilities. We provided resources to help prepare for the event, including music playlists, venue orientation sessions and video guides and easy-read programme materials, BSL interpretation and quiet spaces on the day. “It was absolutely magical” – Audience member

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Amongst the 400+ rock, pop, folk, comedy, films and variety events in this period, highlights included The Shires, John Grant, Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita and Tom Robinson.

“The Philharmonic Hall as a setting for the gig is an interesting choice. Its pared back Art Deco curves are at odds with the spiky electro-rock music and at first it feels like there should be more movement… but it soon shows itself to be a wonderful choice: the audience being seated means that, despite the vast space, the gig takes on a more intimate feel and the performance is personal.” – Bido Lito on John Grant, 4 February 2019

“A wonderful, spiritually uplifting evening. Captivating, mesmerising and powerful performance.” – Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita audience member review

“Fabulous entertainment. Great interaction with the audience. Would go back tomorrow if they came back.” – The Shires audience member

“Taking the stage at the Phil’s Music Room to huge cheers, Robinson is greeted like a hero. His debut album was a huge part of the soundtrack to people’s lives in ’78 and is still close to the hearts of those people, its songs and concerns a part of the fabric of their lives in those pivotal times.” – Getintothis on Tom Robinson

80th Birthday Celebrations On 19 June 2019, we celebrated the 80th birthday of Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with a screening of The Wizard of Oz, released in the same year that the hall was opened, 1939. Lots of Dorothys, Totos, and Tin Men joined in the party!

Partners

Liverpool Philharmonic programmes with partners across many diverse organisations each year. This year, we worked with Blackfest, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, Dadafest, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and Leeds Piano Competition, amongst others. On 12 July in the Music Room, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, in partnership with MARSM UK, presented a tribute concert for the much-loved Palestinian singer Rim Banna to celebrate resistance and victory through art. Blackfest, a grassroots Liverpool Black Arts Festival, providing a platform and showcasing an eclectic mix of work from Black creatives presented their Celebration Night on 2 October, with a line-up of community performances and entertainment, include the Wavertree Community Choir, Kaos, Ni, Viv and Mike Egbe. We continued our programme of films from Glyndebourne Festival Opera this year, with screenings of Saul, Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, with a long-interval and picnics in our Music Room, in the Glyndebourne tradition. Our partnership with Leeds Piano Competition began in September 2018, with a performance by the winner, Eric Lu at our opening concert on 20 September in a barn-storming performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and lunchtime recitals by the runners-up, Xinyuan Wang and Mario Häring.

Dada Fest performing in Music Room

Clockwise: Madame Butterfly, Saul, and Marriage of Figaro (Glyndebourne Films)

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, in partnership with MARSM UK, presented a tribute concert for Rim Banna

Our Musicians

Vasily Petrenko Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko celebrated 13 years with the orchestra in 2019. Over the 2018/19 season, highlights included Stravinsky’ Symphony in Three Movements, Elgar’s The Music Makers, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 1 with Boris Giltburg, Weinberg’s Cello Concerto with Jonathan Aasgaard, the complete cycle of Brahms Symphonies and A German Requiem, and Zemlinsky’s The Mermaid. Vasily made his Carnegie Hall debut in November, 2019 as a last-minute replacement for an ailing Mariss Jansons. “The emotional and musical impact of these concerts will resonate for some time to come with anyone who experienced them. It was a roller-coaster ride for all involved, and even more so for the members of the BRSO who captured each of the highs and lows of the two evenings in their playing. For Petrenko, it was a personal triumph.” – Seenandheard-international. He also received plaudits for his Firebird recording with the Orchestra. ‘The RLPO and Petrenko dazzle in The Firebird. Brilliance of detail and narrative drive have to be held in perfect balance. Petrenko and the RLPO, expert in both, achieve this here.’ The Guardian, December 2018 Recent additions in a distinguished discography with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra over this period included releases of works by Beethoven, Mussorgsky,Elgar, and Stravinsky.

Andrew Manze Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze was appointed Principal Guest Conductor in September 2018. He was instrumental in realising the ambition to perform Britten’s War Requiem in both Liverpool and Hannover, with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Knabenchor Hannover and Choristers of Liverpool Cathedral. The recordings he made with the Orchestra during this period included critically-acclaimed versions of several Vaughan Williams symphonies, completing a full cycle of all nine.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

“A vision of near perfection…” – The Artsdesk.com The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir were busy in this period, joining forces with the Orchestra for performances of Britten’s Spring Symphony, Elgar The Music Makers Duruflé’s Requiem, Bach’s Mass in B minor, Brahms’ Requiem, and Gary Carpenter’s Ghost Songs. Britten’s War Requiem on 10 November was a highlight. The Chamber Choir performed 7 and 9 January 2019 in the Music Room in a programme of Dowland, Tallis, Byrd, Purcell and others.

“It wasn’t really the orchestra’s night. Nor the soloists’. Nor, even, the conductor’s. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir totally stole the show, well surpassing the incredibly high standards which they already regularly attain and performing not as a large symphonic chorus but as a something akin to one of the highly specialist choirs with which this country is blessed.” 11 June 2019

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, part of the 300 musicams in the awe-inspiring space of Liverpool Cathedral performing Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem.

Artists in Residence

Sheku Kanneh-Mason Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason was our Young Artist in Residence in this period, performing with the Orchestra (Elgar’s Cello Concerto), and a sold-out recital in Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with his sister pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason. He also made a special appearance at the In Harmony 10th Birthday in March 2019, performing the Adagio from Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 and the world premiere of Stephen Deazley’s The Wonder Files, composed especially for the tenth birthday involving In Harmony children from Liverpool Philharmonic, Opera North and Sage Gateshead. Speaking from the stage, he said: “I’m really pleased to be here in Liverpool, playing music along these incredibly enthusiastic children and young people. Initiatives like In Harmony are really important in giving children the opportunity to play and enjoy music.”

Bachtrack “…for a very young man to tackle such a pie ce (Elgar’s Cello Concerto) one cannot fail to admire his confidence, his command of the stage, and his formidable virtuosity.”

Bachtrack “…a homecoming for mezzo Jennifer Johnson, now an international opera singer, but once upon a time she was a teenage member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir.”

Jennifer Johnston mezzo soprano Award-winning mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston featured as guest artist in the 2018 in the Spirit of Christmas concerts and returned in 2019 as an Artist in Residence, performing in recital (music from her CD release, A Love Letter to Liverpool) and with the Orchestra.

Mahan Esfahani harpsichord Renowned harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani performed with the Orchestra, Ensemble 10/10 and in recital during his Spring 2019 residency.

“Esfahani, born in Tehran, raised in the US,…has made it his mission to bring the harpsichord to life, not only as a baroque instrument but as part of today’s musical landscape. A natural performer (and a broadcaster too), he’s a boisterous advocate. His programmes typically unite old with new or recent. … The RLPO entered into the spirit, as did the young Estonian conductor Mihhail Gerts… He mastered this tricky concert with precision and flair.”

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Farewell

Pacho Flores For In Harmony’s 10th birthday celebrations we welcomed award-winning trumpeter Pacho Flores as In Harmony Artist in Residence. A product of Venezuela’s El Sistema the programme that inspired In Harmony – he appeared throughout the weekend with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and In Harmony musicians.

We said farewell to Stephen Mann, cellist, in January 2019. Stephen had been with the Orchestra for over 34 years. Through his performances with the Orchestra, and offstage including playing on numerous recordings, his contribution was hugely valuable. We wish him well in his retirement and thank him for everything he has contributed to our success.

Welcome Players who joined the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra this year included:

Rebecca Else First Violin

Wu Qian First Violin

Anderson and Roe piano duo This exciting duo brought energy and originality to their residency in Liverpool with performances including Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos, works by Piazzolla, Brahms and Bizet arranged for two pianos, and a cocktail-accompanied performance in the music room of works by Michael Jackson and Simon and Garfunkel amongst others.

Gary Carpenter Composer in Association With awards and critical acclaim spanning his extensive career, we were honoured to showcase new commissions and a world premiere, as well as special arrangements in collaboration with Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark as part of this relationship during this period. Works performed included Willie Stock, Ghost Songs, Concerto for Harpsichord and Da Capo.

Eva Thorarinsdottir Associate Leader, First Violin

Stephen Nicholls Associate Principal Horn

Anna Stuart cello

Musicians Performance and Wellbeing Programme Since 2015, with additional project support from Help Musicians UK and Jerwood Arts, Liverpool Philharmonic has been implementing a pioneering and holistic programme, ensuring players are supported to thrive and consistently fulfil their creative potential given the artistic, technical, physical and psychological demands of being a professional musician in a leading symphony orchestra. We have applied learning from sports science including providing physiotherapy, sports massage, injury prevention and rehabilitation programmes, training and development, specialist performing arts GP-led clinics, and performance psychology coaching. A PhD on Injury Prevention, run jointly with the Liverpool John Moores University Sports Science team is now in its second year. We also regularly host British Association for Performing Arts Medicine clinics at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall for any performing artist in the region to attend free of charge.

Tuba player, Robin Haggart has been with the orchestra for 25 years and has seen the high take up rate of people accessing the help available. ‘It’s about catching things early so they don’t develop,’ he says. ‘We know you get more aches and pains as you get older but now the younger players are learning how important it is to take care of yourself to try and prolong your working life.’ Oboist Ruth Davies agrees. ‘I’ve played in pain for years. You used to just take painkillers. And we had lots of players who would be off for long periods of time with injury.’ ‘Now instead, you see players backstage with an exercise band and booking in for a fifteen minute massage slot before they go on stage.’

Hilary Browning, cello

Top to bottom: Robin Haggart and Ruth Davies

Record Review

12 new recordings by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

The Orchestra is one of the country’s busiest recording ensembles. In the last couple of years we have released several Stravinsky and Elgar recordings, conducted by Vasily Petrenko, and a complete Vaughan Williams cycle conducted by Andrew Manze. We have also released concerto recordings with great artists and good friends of the organisation such as Nobuyuki Tsujii, Ning Fung, James Ehnes, and Boris Giltburg. As well as physical sales, our music is streamed around the world by sites like Spotify and Apple Music. On Spotify alone we are currently listened to by over 400,000 people every month. And as well as this we are investing in reaching local and global audiences through digital technology. We have presented several live relays, not only of our concerts but also of other events such as pre and post-concert talks and a Music Room interview with Vasily Petrenko. They have been seen literally across the world, and in some cases almost 100,000 times. We are broadcast regularly on Radio 3 and Classic FM. Our Hannover War Requiem concert last November was broadcast on free to view television across Europe by the Arte channel.

Wayne McGregor: Collaboration Variant V After Death …og Iengra Talbot: Chroma – Transit of Venus Laila (Amu): Hymn Of Adoration Vessel (Orchestral Version) Robert Ames conductor Mercury Classics

Stravinsky The Firebird Rimsky-Korsakov Le Coq d’or Vasily Petrenko conductor Onyx “The best moments in this Firebird aren’t the raucous ones. Petrenko homes in on the fine details, like a craftsman working with gold leaf and the finest of brushes… the Khorovod and Berceuse are incredibly beautiful, handled like porcelain, the conductor happy to linger over tender moments... From its opening pinpoint trumpet cock-crow, Petrenko’s Rimsky is just as exquisite…This is a most attractive release.” – Gramophone, January 2019

Vaughan Williams Symphonies No. 5 and 6 Andrew Manze conductor Onyx “The penultimate volume in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s superb Vaughan Williams series conducted by Andrew Manze (Onyx); an epic, stormy and beautifully nuanced account.” – The Guardian

Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis, Five Varients of ‘Dives and Lazarus’, Serenade to Music, Fantasia on Greensleeves, English Folk Song Suite James Ehnes violin String Quartet: Thelma Handy violin Kate Richardson violin Alex Mitchell viola Jonathan Aasgaard cello Andrew Manze conductor Onyx “Under Manze’s direction, even the hackneyed Lark Ascending, with James Ehnes as soloist, sounds fresh. Manze’s account of the English Folk Song Suite is immaculate; his interpretation of the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis surpasses almost any other, apart from Barbirolli’s celebrated 1963 recording.” The Telegraph, 26 October 2019 “The cycle just completed by Andrew Manze and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic on Onyx is in my view unsurpassed, and quite possibly unsurpassable…When I listen to Manze’s recordings, I feel that, were the composer to hear them, he would instinctively feel they say what he sought to say, but also say things he had barely realised he was articulating…No one who wishes to understand the greatness of Vaughan Williams should be without these recordings.” – The Telegraph, July 2019

Vaughan Williams Sinfonia Antartica (Symphony No.7) and Symphony No.9 in E-minor Andrew Manze conductor Timothy West narrator Onyx “Andrew Manze is nothing if not full of surprises and this latest and final instalment of his recorded Vaughan Williams cycle contains more than most... Admirers of the composer, a growing band I’m relieved to say, need to hear these performances. Like them or not, they have something different to say.” – Classical Source, June 2019

Kabalevsky Overture ‘Colas Breugnon’ Op.24 Khachaturian Excerpts from the ballet ‘Spartacus’ Shchedrin Concerto for Orchestra No.1 ‘Naughty Limericks’ Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel) Rachmaninov Zdes’ Khorosho op.21/7 (from 12 Romances) (orch. Timothy Jackson) Vasily Petrenko conductor Onyx

Keaton Henson Six Lethargies for String Orchestra

Clara Schumann Piano Concerto

Rodger & Hammerstein You’ll never walk alone

Thomas Gould Director/Violin

Holly Mathison conductor Isata Kanneh-Mason piano

Ian Tracey conductor Jennifer Johnston mezzo soprano

Decca

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir

Mercury Records “Recorded with the Liverpool Philharmonic, ‘Initium’ sprawls across ten minutes with the effortlessness of water on a marble floor.” – LoudandQuiet.com

Rubicon

N0 1 on the iTunes Classical Chart, October 2019

Dora Bright Piano Concerto and Variations for Piano and Orchestra Ruth Gipps Piano Concerto Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 Boris Giltburg piano Vasily Petrenko conductor Naxos “When the orchestra interrupts with the opening theme it’s as if Giltburg says “OK, if you want to play, how about some descending cascades of semiquavers; ha-ha, you can’t catch me and I’ll cock a snook at your theme by adding appoggiaturas.” He’s loving every minute of this, happy to be outlandish, a young man like Beethoven at the time, Beethoven at 25 and Giltburg at 35, relishing his ability. In the development he’s warmly ruminative and a sense of extended contemplation with Petrenko’s spare and delicate orchestral backing is apparent… While Petrenko supports with customary flair, it’s Giltburg’s playing that’s special.” – Musicweb International

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company

“There’s more to Liverpool’s musical identity than Lennon and McCartney. A few years ago the RLPO released a series of discs exploring Merseyside’s Edwardian musical heritage. Now, under the auspices of the RLPS, Jennifer Johnston has released a song recital inspired by her native city – drawing on songs with a broadly maritime theme by Charles Ives, John Ireland and others, as well as new arrangements of songs from the city’s folk and pop traditions. ..The musical content is as intriguing as it is enjoyable.” – Gramophone Magazine

Charles Peebles conductor Samantha Ward piano Murray McLachlan piano Somm “Samantha Ward is a most accomplished and responsive soloist and she receives excellent support from Charles Peebles and the RLPO… Murray McLachlan in alliance with the RLPO and Charles Peebles… seems to me to be successful in every way.… This is a valuable and rewarding disc. The standards of performance are very high throughout. … their complete neglect is unjustified and they are all well worth hearing.” – MusicWeb International

Music of Alexis Ffrench James Morgan conductor Sony Records (Released in March, 2020)

On Tour The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra has a unique ambassadorial role as the most mobile of the City’s cultural assets, showcasing Liverpool to new audiences, business and civic leaders as one of the UK’s most exciting cultural destinations. In addition to performing concerts at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the Orchestra and its ensembles also performed concerts in: • Hannover – Kuppelsaal • Gateshead – Sage Gateshead • Leeds – Town Hall • Manchester –Royal Northern College of Music • Bangor – Pontio • Nottingham – Royal Concert Hall • Harrogate – Royal Hall • Birkenhead – Birkenhead Park • Manchester – Bridgewater Hall • Birmingham – Symphony Hall • London – Royal Albert Hall • Basingstoke – Anvil

New Sounds Continuing the tradition that began early in its history, Liverpool Philharmonic has supported composers by commissioning new music and premiering new works. This period was no different. 11 October 2018

14 March 2019

Stephen Davismoon Beyond Twilight (World premiere) Grace-Evangeline Mason Upon Weightless Wings (World premiere)

Claudia Montero Vientos del Sur (Winds of the South): Concerto for Piano Accordion and Orchestra (World premiere – cocommissioned by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society and Munich Philharmonic with support from Paladin Projects Ltd)

3 November 2018 Adam Possener And there is nothing new beneath the sun (World premiere – commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society and Duet Foundation)

16 February 2019 Gary Carpenter Ghost Songs (co-commission with Royal Scottish National Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Orquesta Sinfónica de Euskadi)

“Claudia Montero, an Argentinian composer, was in the audience for the world premiere of her concerto for accordion, Vientos del Sur, given by the virtuoso Ksenija Sidorova. This work, a co-commission with the Munich Philharmonic complemented the Gottschalk well. With a similar harmonic language this piece was an enjoyable listen. The work is at the lighter end of the classical spectrum, with more than a few echoes of Piazzolla and his bandoneon concerto. Classically in three movements of quick—slow—quick, the first was played with rhythmic rigidity by the RLPO. The accordion plays throughout and balance between the orchestra and Sidorova was judiciously controlled by Petrenko. There was a commendable passage for string quartet and accordion which provided a moment intimacy. In a cadenza, which was highly expressive, Sidorova seemed completely lost in a pensive musical moment, the orchestra rendered more relaxed and seeming to take her lead.” – Bachtrack, March 2019

21 February 2019 Mark-Anthony Turnage Symphonic Movements (UK premiere / Liverpool Philharmonic commission with Oregon Symphony and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra)

7 March 2019 Gary Carpenter Mondrian, Concerto for Harpsichord (World premiere) This was performed by Ensemble 10/10 and harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani

Left to right: Vasily Petrenko with Grace-Evangeline Mason, and Mahan Esfahani with Gary Carpenter.

19 September 2019 Dani Howard Coalescence (Liverpool Philharmonic commission / World premiere)

6 November 2019 Carmel Smickersgill Charcoal (World premiere) “The honour of opening the season fell to the world premiere of Coalescence by Dani Howard, a work with Straussian overtones in its exploration of man versus nature. The new bells featured prominently as nature’s warnings to mankind and, amid the festive thrill of the music, stark brass interjections represented the arrogance of humans. It was a sparkling, pulsating season opener, and highly topical ahead of a weekend of climate change protests.” – Bachtrack, September 2019

Ensemble 10/10 Ensemble 10/10 celebrated its 21st birthday in Autumn 2018. Amongst composers featured this year, it performed works by Grace-Evangeline Mason, Carmel Smickersgill, Thomas Ades, Steve Martland, Tansy Davies, Mark Simpson, Gary Carpenter, Hans Werner Henze, Gavin Higgins, de Falla, Dutilleux, Hindemith, James Wishart, Adam Possener, and HK Gruber.

24 October 2019 André Previn Can Spring be far behind? (UK premiere) “Premiered in 2016, André Previn’s 15 minute-long orchestral fantasy Can Spring Be Far Behind? was given its first performance in the UK here by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Weilerstein described it as a “montage”, showing the influence of three composers — Korngold, Stravinsky and Shostakovich. In this episodic work, Previn presents the listener with a varied range of musical material which gets minimal development. With moments of cinematic lyricism, strong rhythmic drive and opposing harmonic languages, this constantly evolving piece has frequently changing meters and tempos, which never become incongruous. Its littering of short solos added to the variety of transparent textures, which allowed the RLPO principals their moment in the limelight in this interesting and well-performed piece.” – Bachtrack, October 2019

Top to bottom: Carmel Smickersgill, Ensemble 10/10,

Nigel Dufty and Mark Lindley, double basses

Audiences

Audiences are central to our organisation. We aim to ensure that ever more people from Liverpool, the UK and internationally will experience our performances and learning programme; that audiences will reflect Liverpool City Region’s diverse population; and that we will earn increased philanthropic support from our audience as part of making them part of the organisation and helping us to achieve our mission. In 2018-19 the 500 performances we presented were attended by: • 388,664 audiences in UK, plus 22,939 overseas; 411,603 in all. • 65,697 were attendances at concerts for children and young people • 94,061 for the Orchestra’s 82 concerts in Liverpool plus 17,776 for 13 schools concerts – 111,836 in total

It is also important that we attract and retain new audiences, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, or people who might not otherwise think of coming here. A key programme in this regard is LEAP Into Live Music, a targeted programme in which we work with a range of community groups and others to attract people to attend at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall who have never been before, and then to encourage them to come back. In 2018-19 we grew LEAP household registrations (2043) and attendances (3053) by 10%.

In Harmony Liverpool 10th Birthday

2019 was the 10th year of Liverpool Philharmonic’s groundbreaking In Harmony programme, which uses orchestral music-making to improve the health, education and aspirations of children in Everton and Anfield. A benefit concert performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra took place on 9 March, featuring Pacho Flores trumpet, a product of Venezuela’s El Sistema – the programme which inspired In Harmony. This concert was part of a three day celebration of In Harmony, involving In Harmony young musicians from Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. The celebrations culminated on 11 March with the 10th Birthday concert, featuring Everton Children’s Orchestra, Everton String Orchestra, Anfield Children’s Choir and musicians of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Much like the concert, however, the celebrations also enjoyed an encore, with a trip to Westminster with local MP Dan Carden and a proud performance at the House of Commons ensuring yet more acknowledgement for In Harmony Liverpool’s achievements and concluding the 10th anniversary celebrations in style on the banks of the Thames on 18 March.

Students from In Harmony Liverpool

The programme also saw significant expansion during this period, with the launch of Liverpool Philharmonic’s In Harmony Liverpool partnership with All Saints Catholic Primary School and Anfield Children’s Centre. All Saints joins Everton schools, Faith Primary where Liverpool Philharmonic established In Liverpool Harmony in 2009 working with 84 children; Everton Nursery School and Family Centre from January 2015, and The Beacon CE Primary School in September 2015. The new partnership adds 600 children aged 0-11 years and their families to the programme taking In Harmony Liverpool’s weekly reach to 1,500 children. The expansion marked a significant moment for In Harmony Liverpool, moving into a second neighbourhood in North Liverpool, Anfield, and signalled a new international collaboration in Sierra Leone working with All Saints and other local schools. Following a visit by Liverpool Philharmonic musicians with All Saints staff to Sierra Leone in February 2019, the exchange resulted in a performance at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in June 2019 to celebrate the first year of In Harmony in Anfield, including a children’s choir from Sierra Leone performing alongside In Harmony children and Liverpool Philharmonic Children’s Choirs.

Since it was established in 2009, longitudinal evaluation of In Harmony Liverpool demonstrates strong evidence that the programme is having a significant impact in North Liverpool. Children are making outstanding progress in developing their musical ability as individuals and as members of an orchestra with benefits to their skills, health and well-being, and wider positive impacts on family relationships, increased pride, wellbeing and aspirations in the community.

Music and Mental Health Programme

Our successful partnership with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust continued for the 11th year, delivering programmes in Mersey Care in-patient settings and the local community, targeted at people experiencing mental illhealth, their families, carers and NHS staff.

Mandy Burvill, clarinet

The programme expanded in 2019 to include musicians leading activities in dementia care with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and with people with learning disabilities with Wirral Council. Thanks to the generous support of the Foyle Foundation, we launched more community mental health music courses in the Music Room welcoming referrals from GPs, NHS Trusts and other mental health support services and charities. The programme supports people across the Liverpool City Region living with a range of mental health needs and learning disabilities, with over 10,000 service users and their families and carers having participated since 2008. The programme creates pathways and progression routes including independent visits to Liverpool Philharmonic and sign-posting to other activities. We deliver a range of activities within Community settings, including Mersey Care’s expanding Life Rooms facilities. Sessions and activities include: creative music making, informal adult learning opportunities, composition and song writing, improvisation, participant-led group performances, visiting musician performances, Recovery College courses including singing, music promoters and music appreciation, ,employability opportunities and skills development. The programme also includes supported concert and rehearsal visits to Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Ian Stephens, double bass

Liverpool Philharmonic staff have also played a key role in supporting high-profile anti stigma and advocacy activities in the city, championed by our Chief Conductor, Vasily Petrenko. For example, we once again took part in Mersey Care’s Zero Suicide Alliance programme, supported the Big Brew and other Mental Health Awareness campaigns and have contributed to the All-Party Parliamentary group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing.

“There are methods other than medication, to help people living with mental health problems. We know the music programme is working, the service users tell us it’s working and it’s making a difference. People with poor mental health lose their social networks and through creative projects we can help them recreate these and build new ones as part of their recovery. Being socially active and culturally engaged creates new lease of life.” Mersey Care Manager

“During the long process of recovery, the music sessions have helped me as some kind of anchor I can hold on to.” Service User

Vasily Petrenko, Chief Conductor and Clara Marshall Cawley, Learning Projects Coordinator with Rachel Jones, viola

Top to bottom: Georgina Aasgaard, cello and Rebecca Walters, viola

Celia Goodwin, viola

Keychange 50/50 T

Top to bottom: Laura Murphy and Nigel Dufty, double basses; Connie Lush

Liverpool Philharmonic is one of the latest signatories to commit to the UK PRS Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global and ground-breaking Keychange 50/50.Â Originally established in 2018 with more than 180 international music festivals, signing and committing to programming gender balanced line-ups by 2022, the Keychange pledge is now open to music organisations who want to take positive action towards gender parity in the music including conservatoires, orchestras, broadcasters, concert hall, agents, label, and venues. Liverpool Philharmonic has committed to working to towards a 50/50 gender balance by 2022 in relation to premieres presented by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and associated ensembles, our Board of Directors and artists promoted by Liverpool Philharmonic in its Music Room programme.

Music Education 17,776 children and teachers from over 200 schools across the region attended the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra schools’ concerts for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Including a comprehensive digital curriculum resource enabling school teachers to deliver music activities in school based on themes from the concerts. The programme included a newly commissioned song by Mandy Ross and our Section Leader Horn, Timothy Jackson, performed as a massed choir by all children attending the Key Stage 2 and 3 concerts, accompanied by the Orchestra. The concerts provide a major part of the region’s music education offer, which also includes our partnerships with Music Education Hubs throughout the Liverpool City Region with Resonate (Liverpool), Sky (Sefton and Knowsley) and St Helens. In 2019, this extended to Accent Music Education Hub in Warrington and Halton. Our extensive partnership with Resonate, Liverpool’s Music Hub, included coleading two weekly intermediate orchestras at Resonate Music Studios in North and South Liverpool, Resonate Youth Philharmonic; providing an after school A Level music programme for young people whose own school does not offer the subject; major performance events at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall including iSing and iPlay involving hundreds of the City’s children; and basing Liverpool Philharmonic Youth and Children’s Choirs and Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Academy Orchestra courses at Resonate’s home venue in Everton, Notre Dame Catholic College.

Developing Talent Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company continued to expand its activity in this period. For children aged 7-12 with a passion for singing, we offer choral training and performance opportunities for 110 children through our Children’s Choir and Melody Makers. For 400 young people aged 11-23, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company offers a range of opportunities through ensembles including Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Academy Orchestra and Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir and a wide range of creative projects and training opportunities. The Youth Company continued to provide chamber music experiences, work experience opportunities, master classes with international artists, supervised concert visits, conducting and composition workshops to participants, and creative projects in additional music genres including Musical Theatre, Brass Band, Folk and Big Band leading to performances in the Music Room. Our annual Music Industry Careers Day brought inspiring professionals from across the music industry to a sold-out Music Room event. We continued to work with University of Liverpool on our Classical Music Industry MA course, delivering lectures to students on all aspects of our business and offering opportunities for placements within the organisation.

Christopher Brooks Composition Prize 2018 22-year-old Carmel Smickersgill was the 2018 winner of our annual Christopher Brooks Composition Prize in association with The Rushworth Foundation and Lancashire Sinfonietta Legacy Fund. The prize forms part of Liverpool Philharmonic’s continuing commitment to the commissioning and performance of new music as well and supporting home-grown talent. The competition is open to a North West based composer aged 18-30. Carmel won a cash prize of £1,000 made possible through the support of the Lancashire Sinfonietta Legacy Fund and The Rushworth Foundation and a year’s complimentary membership of the Ivors Academy of Music Creators. All three organisations are supporting the competition for a fourth year running. The Christopher Brooks Composition Prize provided Carmel with a unique opportunity to be supported with a bespoke programme of workshops, masterclasses and mentoring sessions from resident and visiting musicians, conductors, composers, performers and other industry professionals associated with Liverpool Philharmonic She wrote a new work for performance by Ensemble 10/10, entitled Charcoal, which was premiered in autumn 2019. At that concert we also announced the 2019 prize winner, Anthanasia Kontou.

Rushworth Young Composers The Rushworth Young Composers scheme offers young composers the chance to develop their skills, work with mentors to develop their creative and musical voice, and write music for players and singers from Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Choir. These compositions were performed in the Music Room in March 2019.

Production Technician Apprenticeship Liverpool Philharmonic is one of the founding employers that established the National College Creative Industries, commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and led by Creative & Cultural Skills. The College develops and delivers new qualifications and apprenticeships for backstage roles that are devised by employers and address current and future skills needs in the workforce. Working with the College, we appointed our first Production Technician Apprentice in 2019, Eleanor Black.

Ian Fair, viola and Youth Company member, Laura Murphy and Youth Company member, Stephan Mayer, violin with Youth Company members

Top to bottom: Carmel Smickergill, composer; Nigel Dufty and Mark Lindley, double basses

Finances and Funding

Liverpool Philharmonic is a registered charity that relies on a mix of income to fund our artistic programme and help us reach the widest possible audience.

Expenditure Key Orchestra and artistic costs Hall and events programme and costs of sales Marketing, Fundraising, Administration costs Learning Programme costs

£6.2m £2.3m £2.2m £1.3m

Income Key Hall and Events income £3m Orchestra ticket sales £2.3m Arts Council England £2.2m Fundraising £1.7m Orchestra tax relief £1.3m Liverpool City Council £1.1m Orchestra other income £900k Learning income £300k

Clockwise from top: Nobu Tsujii, piano, In Harmony Liverpool students, Ensemble 10/10 and Sheku, cello

Our Supporters

Thank you to our sponsors in Liverpool’s business community, to the trusts and foundations who support us, and to our wonderful donors and audience. Your support makes our work, both on stage and in the community, possible. Support from our audience raised over £470,000 last year, including generous support for two projects: In Harmony Liverpool Expansion and Mahler Cycle Campaign.

Thank you to our Principal Funders Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council for their investment in our artistic and learning programmes.

In September 2018 we expanded In Harmony Liverpool into Anfield. The generous response to the campaign has changed the lives of 1,500 children and young people in North Liverpool, who are now accessing music education every week. In Harmony Liverpool celebrated its 10th birthday in 2019, and we were delighted to see so many of our donors at the birthday concert, supporting the project and our young musicians.

In 2017-2018 we received a record number of legacy donations, which helped us to support the expansion of In Harmony Liverpool into a third primary school in Anfield, resulting in hundreds more children being able to access fully immersive musical education in one of the most disadvantaged areas in Liverpool.

We launched our Mahler Cycle Campaign in spring 2019, asking for support to enable us to perform all the Mahler symphonies in order in 2020. Liverpool Philharmonic is proud to own the largest collection of church bells in the UK. As part of our Mahler campaign, people who donated £2,000 or more could opt to have their name engraved on a new church bell which was to be cast in the Netherlands in the summer. Thank you to everyone who supported this exciting project – we hope you enjoy seeing and hearing the bells on stage for years to come!

Graham Johns, percussion and In Harmony Liverpool students

We dedicated our largest new “Forever Bell” to all those who had made a legacy gift to Liverpool Philharmonic. It is thanks to the passion and generosity of those people who loved music that we have been able to plan for major projects, inspire creativity and ensure musical excellence in all the work that we do. To find out more about how you could make a lasting and meaningful contribution to future generations of music lovers, please contact our Fundraising Team on 0151 210 2921, or email fundraising@liverpoolphil.com.

Our Principal Funders Thanks to the City of Liverpool for its financial support

We are grateful to Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council for their investment in our work.

Our Principal Partners

Thank you to our Principal Partners, Investec Wealth & Investment and Liverpool John Moores University for their invaluable continued support.

Investec Wealth & Investment Following a five year extension, agreed in 2015, we enjoyed yet another year working in partnership with Investec Wealth & Investment. Investec Wealth & Investment continued to sponsor the Thursday series of concerts in 2018 – 2019, as well as the prestigious Chamber Music series in St George’s Hall Concert Room. We welcomed the firm and a number of their guests at the concert on 10 January 2019, led by our Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Manze. They also brought their guests to support world-renowned violinist Ray Chen, who performed with the Orchestra in April. They also supported the performance of Britten’s War Requiem at Liverpool Cathedral, conducted by Andrew Manze.

Liverpool John Moores University Building on from the Principal Partnership established in 2013, we continued to enjoy a successful partnership in 2018 – 2019 and have extended the partnership until 2022. We continue to work closely with the university’s Student Opportunities team to ensure as many students as possible are able to experience world-class music, orchestral or otherwise, for free. LJMU students have also been offered a behind-the-scenes experience of watching our orchestra during rehearsals. Our partnership means that Liverpool Philharmonic is a hugely important part of a student’s life in Liverpool, providing them with the opportunity to see our world class orchestra in action. Over 2,500 tickets were allocated to LJMU students in the 2018 – 2019 season, and we hope to exceed that number in 2020 as a direct result of the partnership. LJMU sponsored a series of concerts in 2018 – 2019. Highlights included our annual performance of Handel’s Messiah in the Hall and Jurassic Park performed with Live Orchestra.

Premier Sponsor

2018 – 2019 saw us into the third year of our three year partnership with locally-based international law firm, Hill Dickinson. The firm sponsors three concerts per season and in 2018 – 2019 supported Petrenko’s Brahms II (18 October 2018), Pictures at an Exhibition (22 November 2019) and Mahler 5 (24 January 2019). In 2019, Liverpool Philharmonic and Hill Dickinson were delighted to announce a further three-year extension to their long standing sponsorship deal, which including for the first time, the firm’s support of In Harmony Liverpool.

On Air

Our media partner Classic FM, along with BBC Radio 3, share our music-making in Liverpool with millions of people across the UK and internationally.

Left to right: Carl Cross, Divisional Director, Investec Wealth & Investment, Vasily Petrenko, Chief Conductor, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Eakin, Chief Executive, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Our Sponsors

LSCA 1870-2020

During 2018 – 2019, in addition to our Principal and Premier Sponsors’ support, we were grateful for the support of The Rushworth Foundation, David M Robinson, Weightmans, and Maestro! Tour Management. The Rushworth Foundation sponsored Brahm’s Requiem (21 October 2018) and Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique (31 January 2019). David M Robinson sponsored our Spirit of Christmas concerts (16-23 December). Weightmans sponsored Petrenko’s Brahms III: The Dream Team Returns (15 November 2018) and Giltburg plays Beethoven I (9 May 2019).

Chief Conductor, Vasily Petrenko, an LJMU Honorary Fellow, pictured with final year LJMU History students

Boodles sponsored Eroica (8 February). Maestro! Tour Management sponsored our series of Lunchtime Concerts in Music Room.

Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Malcolm Kennedy, Beatrice Frankel, Chairman and Joe Rafferty, Chief Executive of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Hill Dickinson, Vasily Petrenko and Liverpool Philharmonic Musicians who lead our Musician in Residence programme

In Memory We are grateful to all those who have made charitable bequests to Liverpool Philharmonic. They help to ensure future generations will receive as much pleasure from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as audiences today. We are proud to honour these benefactors and also thank those who have given anonymously: With special thanks to supporters who left us an exceptional gift: Mr Anthony Brown Dr Michael Charles Richard Butler Mavis Clark Francis Ann Edwards David Anthony Hebbert Raymond Holdman Alec Mackinnon Dr A E Mussett Thomas Nugent John Owen Mary Riddoch Jean K Roberts Mrs Lillian Woodward

With thanks to supporters whose generosity has enabled us to achieve so much: Miss M N Alexander Mrs Phyllis Amos & Mr Frank Amos Jean Margaret Anderson Mr W J Armstrong Mrs E M Ashcroft Laura Elizabeth Barlow Norah Cameron Barr Barnaby Mr S E Beddoe Charles George Bell Mr James Richard Bell Horace Richard Bennett Melville Bernstein Mrs Mintose Bibby Mr J Birch The Solomon and Isabel Blankstone Charitable Trust Margaret Jean Bleach G H W Boam

Mrs Irene Frances Brand Herbert Clifford Brough Miss Annette Buckley Mr A J Burd Mr S A Burns Iris Caulfield Dorothy Iris Clayton Mr H Coville Dr K J Cowen Kathleen Cromwell Barbara Cross Mr Eddie Cross Dr AH Cruickshank Miss L M Cunningham Miss Shelagh Cunningham Anne Curtis Marjorie Cutts Miss J C Dicks Mr Gordon Dinwoodie Doreen Joan Dormer Dr Mona Duggan of Ormskirk Joyce Edwards Mrs F R Edwards Kenneth Edwards Charles Elston (CHE) Mrs Megan Evans Laurence Anthony Fagan Sandy Ferguson Dr J G Foley Mrs Hilda Isabella Foster Dorothy H Gill Betty Greenwood Alma Griffiths Kathleen A Hamilton Mrs Dorothy Agnes Hawkins Helen Hayward Mrs B V Herd Miss Elisabeth Hickie Marjorie Edith Holliday Mrs Shirley Hope Dr Charles Hopkins Miss Beatrice Adelaide Hough Frederick and Christina Hughes

Kenneth Harry Huxley Miss Margaret Johnson Roz Kelly Dr Stanley Kennett Roy Kenyon Norman Kidd Elsie Mary Kidd Miss Ida Louise Kirby Mrs Marjorie Krell Louisa and Walter Joseph Lello Miss M A Lewis Margaret Lewis Miss I Lowe Mrs Mary Macphail Dr Phyllis Marsh Mr William Harold Spencer Mason Mr Colin Maude Ruth Maxwell Carl & Glenys Mayl Ernest McCormick Miss B Mcgree Miss Margaret Young Mckenna John Stanley Moorman Peter Mountain Mr G Mugridge Father Peter Nicholson Arthur Owens Mrs Frances Peck Albert Phythian Miss K V Pollard Miss D Rathbone Betty Roberts Richard Roberts Mrs J Rogers Miss Nan Rushton Cyril Schofield Miss Kathleen Elizabeth Sconce JAS Memorial Trust Jack Shuttleworth Dr David James Silvester Miss A V Simpson Ms Jessica Stuart Simpson

Mr J P Sloane Edith Olwen Smith George Walter Smith Mrs D Stankley Phyllis Stephenson-Jones Dr Harold Jacob Stern Mr J H Stowell Miss Cynthia Stroud Mrs EM Sutton Lillie and Abe Swift Mr Allen V Taylor Mr Neil Ronald Lindley Thomas Miss C Tilsley Eileen Tregunna Mrs Margaret Turner Joseph Taylor Unsworth Mr Arthur Utley Miss J Wallace Mr Derek A Webb John Alexander Weir Estate of Miss Margaret M Wethered Margaret B Willett Kenneth & Pamela Williams Meta Wilson Charles Vernon Wilson Anne Wolff Mr A D Wood Mrs Lillian Woodward Miss Nancy Work

Thank You Thank you to everyone who has supported Liverpool Philharmonic over the last year. Your support helps us to attract the best musicians and music to Liverpool; continue our commitment to lifelong learning and participation in music; and provide musical experiences of the highest quality for our audience and players. 1840 Circle and Gold Plus Members Susan Abraham, Dr & Mrs RS Ahearn, A & J Alexander, Prue Ashworth, Michael Bates & in memory of Elizabeth Marchbank, Dr & Mrs Bayley, Bob Bell, Yvonne Bieniek, Mrs Jean Bingham, The Blankstone Family, Peter & Geraldine Bounds, Robin Bloxsidge & Nick Riddle, Bill & Christina Bowley, John & Patricia Britland Horne, Mrs Angela Brodbelt, Peter & Margaret Brooks, Richard & Jenny Bryson, Mr Campbell, Austin Carty, Liz Christie in memory of Stuart, Michael & Jenny Coe, Mrs Valerie Connolly, Brian D Crabtree, Crosby Festival of Music and Dance, Susan Davies in memory of Iris Caulfield & Susan Rattle, Peter de Figueiredo & Julian Treuherz, Michael & Yvonne Dempsey in memory of Michael Key, Dave Dixson, Lorna Dobson, Michael & Kim Eakin, Mrs B Ellison, Christine Elliott, Peter Eyre, Ms Hilary Fass, Helen Favale, MJ Feltham, Kay & Mike Fox, Dr A E Gallon, Mrs A Gardner, John & Tor Gillespie, Nigel & Tilly Gilmour, WJ & SH Gilpin, John Goodsir CBE, Dr J Graham, Dr S & Mrs B Grant, Victor Greenberg, Roger & Susie Greenwood, The Preston Friends, Ms K.A. Hamilton, Mel & Delia Grodner, Ken Grundy, Michael D Handley & Edward J Davies, John Harsant, Pam & Steve Hasell, Paul Herbert, Christen Herbert, Brian Higgins & in memory of Colleen, Jackie Hine, In memory of Mike Atkinson, Viv Hollinshead, Mr JR & Mrs CA Holmes, Peter & Margaret Johnson, Tim & Julia Jones, Mr Ian Jones & Dr RK Curley, In memory of Winifred M. Sheldon 1915-2012, Mary Kennan, Robert & Rose Kingston, Mrs Elizabeth Lanceley, Edward & Marion Landor, David Lockwood & Laura Doyle, David & Indira Maddison, Maureen Malkinson, Mr & Mrs Simon Marsh, John Maxwell, Mr & Mrs JP Monaghan, Richard Morris in memory of Diana Morris, Hugh & Juliet Morton, Bob & Anne Neate, Oswestry Concert Goers, Anne & Paul Pedley, Gordon & Gillan Poole, Mr & Mrs Michael Potts, Paul Radford, Gary Pritchard, Tim & Margaret Ransome, Peter & Susan Rathe, Aldham Robarts, Howard & Sue Rogers, Mr AW Shone, Peter B & Margaret Smith, Ingrid Spiegl in memory of Fritz, Jonny & Gillian Stone, P. Sumption, Ian & Kathy Taphouse, Bill Tavener, Jeffrey Taylor, Collin E Thompson in memory of Jill Carr, Maggie Tillett, Steve Valiant & Ellen Jones, CP & JM Vellenoweth, Professor Julian Verbov, Professor Nigel & Dr Barbara Weatherill, Mr Kevin F Wilde, Willaston Village Concert Society, Val & Brian Willis, Roland Zollner & Colin Parr

Gold Members Roger Ainsworth, Peter Allan, Pauline & John Barker, Mrs P Browning, Mrs Audrey Carr, Ms Y Charlett, Ms Maria Cody, Mrs Alison Cohen, Joe Connell, Dorothy Taylor & Jill Conlan, Andrew & Jane Cornall, Mr FI Cottrell, Brian D Crabtree, Duncan & Susan Crewe, Ms Crosbie, Mr P Dagley, Ken & Kay Davies, Mr D & Dr A Davidson Lund, Mrs Netta Dixon, Sean & Diana Duncan, Fr Bernard Eager, Mr TG Ferguson, Mrs Frazer, Mr & Mrs G Goodchild, John Telford Gorner, Vanessa & Clement Goldstone, Mr & Mrs G Goodchild, Peter & Gwen Goodhew, Mr M Gubbins, Ian Hamilton-Burke, Wendy Hazlehurst, Claire Hetherington, Linda Hepworth, Barry & Jean Highcock, Peter Hodgson, John & Barb Ingham, Mr Eric Jennings, Mike & Joanne Jones, Dr WE & Mrs JM Kenyon, Mr & Mrs Kingston, Anthony Knifton, Mr & Mrs SG Laing, Paul Leach, Mr & Mrs Richard & Susan Lewis, Mr J & Mrs B Martin, Dr Tom & Mrs Jo Mawdsley, KJA Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, Jim & Monica Parkinson, Jeremy PatersonFox, Jorgen Petersen, Andy Phoenix, Barbara Pickering, Ms Anne Pope, Ronald Powell, Isabel & Glyn Roberts, Jon & Sally Sheard, Diana & Alan Sheridan, Mr Nigel Smith, Ingrid Spiegl in memory of Fritz, Mr Peter Somerfield & Mrs Amanda Branson, Philip Stern, Miss Carmel Stewart, Martin Strauss in memory of Valerie, Mrs BM Sweetlove, Captain & Mrs Taylor, Mr I Taylor, Mrs PA Temple, Mrs DE Todd, Mrs Gillie Tomkinson, Nancy M Tuke, Peter Urquhart, Andrew Vaughan, Sue & Colin Weir, Dr John H W Whitford & Mrs K Whitford, Jacqueline Williamson, Eric & Val Winstanley, Mr Paul Wisdell, Eric Wright FRICS, Dr & Mrs A Zsigmond

Silver Members Angela, Will & Philip in memory of Geoff Adams, Fred Airey, Mr A Almond, Miss Alexander, Mr J Alexander, Diane Anderson, Mr D Anson, Ann Ap-Thomas, John Ardrey, Mr Howard Atkinson - In memory of Marie Atkinson, Dr Brian & Dr Irina Axcell, JP & GL Backwell, Prof David J Bacon, Kate Banbury, Mr Banyard, Mr John Barker, Joan Barkley - In memory of James Barkley, Miss Barton, Richard & Sheila Barton, Ian & Alison Bates, Mrs Bates, Dr Kevin Bean, Norma Beaumont, Sylvia Bawden RLPC, Mr & Mrs JW Beckitt, Clive Beesley, Elizabeth Bell, Brian & Ruth Bennett, Jane Bennett, Timothy Biddle, Ian Birchenough, John Bithell, Ken Black, Peter & Diane Blackburn, Mrs J Blackwood, Mr Blomeley, Albert & Jo Bloor, Mrs K Boothroyd, Roy & Lyn Braithwaite, Mrs Brining, JG & BP Brisco, Mr Peter Briscoe, David Brown, Miss Barbara Brown,

Mr Brown, Sandie Brunnen, Mrs AM Brzezicki, Anthony Buckley, Brian Bull, Joyce Bullen, Derek Bunting, Sarah Bunting, W & MI Burke, Mike Butterworth, Mrs & Mr D Campbell, R J Burton, Effie Cadwallader, Julie Calvert, Cambriance Cleaning, Mrs I & Mr D Campbell, Janet R Carver, Neil Carver, Maggie Casaus, Brian Case, Jo Cassidy (RIP Steve Jubb), Elspeth Christie, R Christie, Brian Clarke, Graham Cleaver, Mrs JC Cleaver, Ted Clement-Evans, Irene Clements, Mrs Drey Cole, Sheila Collins, Andrew & Liz Collinge, Helen Collins, Marjorie Colville, Peter Connell, Herr Mad Jest Tea Wrecks, Mrs Katherine & Mr Nicholas Cooper, Mr DL & Mrs K Cooper, Sally Cottrell, Jenny Couldrey, David Cowan, Reg Cox, Vanessa Crabtree, Barbara F Crellin, Marcus & Paula Crompton, Ms Crosbie, Jean Cross, Jennie Cunningham, Howard Curtis, Dr PJR Cuthbertson, Mrs Dale, Mrs Patricia Daniels MBE, Ms Davies, Barbara Davison, Hazel Dawes, Rod & Heidi Dawson, B Denton, Mr & Mrs Denye, Edward Devine, RE Devonport, Peter Deyes, Mr Dodd, Mrs P Downey, Dr P Drury, Robert Duffield, Philip Duffy, Christina Duncan, James Durkin, Kenneth & Judith Duvall, Sarah Dyas, Mr Egerton, Stuart Eglin & June Eglin-Lowe, Tony & Jenny Ensor, William Esplen, Mrs P Evans, Prof Rhiannon Evans & Dr Graham McLean, Greta Fenney, Robert & Pamela Ferguson, John Findlow, David Finnegan, Derek Finney, Edith Firth, Prof JR & Mrs EA Fisher, Timothy Fitzsimons, David W Fletcher, Jeffrey Fletcher, Paul Flight, Ms Caroline Fogell, Dr Ewen Forrest, Jill Forrest-Biggs, Mrs Sandra Foster, Mr & Mrs BW Fowler, Mrs Fox, Catherine Freeman, Dr Anne Fuller, Michael & Sue Gaffney, Joyce & Carole Gardner, Arthur William Garnett, Arthur William Garnett, Jayne Garrity, Noreen Garrity in memory of Ken, Mr SA Gent, Peter & Rachel Giblin, David & Kathy Gibson, Robert & Jennifer Gill, Mr D & Mrs B Gilyard, John Telford Gorner, Mr TR Gough, Dr & Mrs Derek A Gould, P&M Gray, Mr & Mrs R Greenway, The Preston Friends, Adrian & Clare Griffiths, Siân Griffiths, Jane Grimes, Sally Groves, Mat & Ann Grunnill, Rob Hackett, Mrs Christine Hall, Miss Halliday, JA & CM Hampton, Chris Hardaker & June Parkins, Ann Hardwick, Joanna Hargreaves, Dr F & Mrs S Harkins, Mrs Harper, Celia Harris, Mrs Harris, Mr Taran Harris, Heather Harrison, Linda Harrison, Mr Michael Harrison, Mrs Hartell, Mr Philip Harvard, Michael Harvey, Mrs Noreen Hayden, Paul & Pauline Hayward, Catherine Henthorn, Philip Hepworth, The Heswall Friends, Marilyn Heywood, Vivienne Higgins, Allan Higgs, Gordon P Hoare, Ros & John Hoggarth, Mr Ken Holding, Mr & Mrs NA Holladay, Rod & Sally Holmes, David Holt, Dr & Miss Howard & Bonnett, Mr Paul Howard, Mike Howden & Teri Holmes, Ms Maureen Howell, Rob & Val Howell, Anne Sandbach-Hughes, Mr & Mrs David Hughes, Mr & Mrs D Hugo, Prof Derek Hull, John Hunter, Mrs D Igglesden, Colin & Cally Ince, Mr J Ireland, Mrs Ann Ives, Diane Jackson, Mr & Mrs I Jackson, Mrs Jackson, Mr Jaeger, Lincoln & Bel Jones, Michelle O’Callaghan, Mr Eryl Wynne Jones & in memory of Mair, Mr Gary S Jones, Mr Paul Jones, Sybil Anne Jones, Mrs M Joynson, Mrs Katherine Keegan, Barry Keeling, Mr John Keogh, Mr A J B Kidson, Phil & Cath Kightley, Martin Kime, Douglas & Frances Kirby, Philip Kitts, Dr Walter La Frenais, Ronalde Le Blanc, Mr & Mrs Nick Ledingham, Linda Leggett, Mr Bob & Trish Lewinski, Mr Hedley Lewis, Geoff Liddy, Douglas Ligertwood, Michael Lind, Dr Dale Littler, T Lockyer, Robert Lovatt, A & H Lovelady, PS & SI Lucas, Mrs Harrison, Miss PL Mackenzie, Dr Susan Main, Mrs J Markham, Mr & Mrs WE Marsden, Dr David & Mrs Katy Marsh, Dr VJ Martlew, Mrs D Mason, Alan Matthews, Ms Fiona Matthews, Marguerita McBride, JR & IM McCann, Dr Melissa McCarthy, Chris McCormack, Mr David McCrave, Bryan McDonagh, Andrew McGowan, Colin McGreary, John McIntosh, Pam McNamara, Mrs Cath McVey, R.I.S. Meadows OBE DL, Dr Pam Melding, Shevaun Mendelsohn, Stephen & Maureen Mercer, Lynsey Merryweather, Margaret Metcalf in memory of John, JE & WT Middlehurst, HJ Mills, NG Mills, Barry Minnery, Dr & Mrs B Mintz, Mr Paul Molyneux, Jan Monkley, Robin & Ann Moor, Valerie & Elfed Morgan, Nancy Mortimer Rudd, P Morton,

Mrs MJ Murphy, Mrs M Nathanson, Mr Newbery, Professor Emeritus Peter Newstead, Dr Cliona Ni Bhrolchain, Alan Nixon, Sheila Nuttal, Dr F & Mrs L Nye, TF & T O’Dempsey, Bill Ogle, Mrs M O’Hare, Dr Olojugba, Mr & Mrs WA Owens, David & Stella Owen-Setty, Beth & Richard Parker, Sandra Parr, J & B Pearson, Mrs Mary Pearson, Cynthia & Rab Peck, Margaret Pegg, Janice Perkins, Malcolm Perry, P & L Dvelt Ltd, Cornicopia, Alan Platt, Dr Christopher Pogson, Mr Geoffrey Ponton, Mrs Hazel Poole, Mrs Margaret Povall, Mr John Prescott, Mrs Susan Prime, Dudley Pritchard, Helen Pritchard, Peter Quinn, In memory of Stephanie Redmond, Barbara Reece, Vanessa Reed, Ann Rees, Malcolm & Margaret Reid, CA Reilly, Arthur Rice, William & Audrey Richardson, Joyce A Ridpath, Judith Rigby, Helen Roberts, Jane Roberts, Mrs Sheila M Roberts, Raymond & Pamela Roberts, Mr Keith Roberts, Susan Roberts, Mrs I Roberts Bulmer, John Robertson, Mrs MF Robertson, Ms Christine Robson, Mrs E R Rowlands, Ella Ryrie, Mr T Salter, Claire Scholes, Gaynor Scrivenger, C & M Scudamore, Mr JR Settle, Karen Segal, Paul Sharrock, Mrs M Shellard, Mr JA Shields, Aurora Sim, In Memory of Anne Wolff, Hope and John Sills, In Memory of Stephanie Redmond, Mr & Mrs JW Slatcher, Mr J Slater, Leonard J Smith, Mr & Mrs G Smith, Mr Colin Smith, Mr J D Smith, Mrs Margaret F Smith, Royston & Sarah Smith, Susan Smith, Laura Dean, Mrs Olga South, Dennis Southwick, Carl Spurling, Mrs Stanistreet, Judy Stead, Mrs EM Stephenson, J Stopforth, Anita Sumner, Anna Sutherland, Dyanna Swindlehurst, Martyn Harris & Michael Sykes, Adrian Tayler, Thomas Teague, Professor & Mrs AB Templeman, Derek Thew, Dennis Thomas, Geoffrey & Susan Thomas, Michael Thomas, Ms Helena Thomas, Edward Thomas, Paula Thomas, Drs B & R Thompson, Mr JR & Mrs CM Thwaite, John & Diane Tiernan, Mr & Mrs David Tilley, Reverend M & Mrs W A Tompkins, Mr & Mrs P Toosey, Maureen Tosson, Ms Jo Travis, Sue Tressider, Tony Tudor, Alan Turnock, Mr PM & Mrs M Tyler, Jane Tyndall, Rosemary Urion in memory of Allan Urion, Mr & Mrs KF Vearncombe, Miss NL Wainwright, Ms Jennifer Waite, Rachel Wakerley, Barbara Wall, Mary Wall, Joan Walters, Colin Wardale, Janet Wareing, Mrs Christine V.W Warner, Brenda Waterson, Gillian Marsh & David Watson, Mr & Mrs JR Watson, Professor Andrew Wawn, Norman Westerman, Bernard & Mary Weston, Julia Westwell, David Wetherell, Frederick Whaley, Veronica Maguire, Ms Margaret Whitfield, Peter Whitfield, Claire & Marc WhitesideEhlen, Miss Jill Wilkinson, Mrs P Wilkinson, Colin Wilkinson, Barry Williams, Hilary Williams, Mr Terry Williams, Sylvia Williams, Gillian Winstanley, Ruth Winterburn, Prof Neil Winterton, Canon Michael & Mrs Brenda Wolfe, Dr Geoffrey Woodcock, AF Wright, Andrew Wright, Mrs A Wright, N Wright, Mr Paul & Mrs Ann Wynn, Mr & Mrs GR Wynne, Alan Yuill And all our donors who give anonymously, and the hundreds of people who support our work year after year. If you would like to find out more about how you can support us, please call 0151 210 2921 or email fundraising@liverpoolphil.com

Royal Royal Liverpool Liverpool Philharmonic Philharmonic is is is Royal Liverpool Philharmonic grateful grateful to theto following the following supporters supporters

grateful to the following supporters In Harmony Liverpool In Harmony Liverpool

Principal Funders Principal Funders

Thanks to theThanks City to the City of Liverpool for of Liverpool its for its financial support financial support

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