Whats On Guide September - December 2017 by Liverpool Philharmonic

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Featuring Billy Bragg All or Nothing: The Mod Musical Marc Almond The Magnetic Fields Sir Bryn Terfel Christmas at Liverpool Philharmonic Box Office liverpoolphil.com 0151 709 3789

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Image All or Nothing: The Mod Musical / Page 6

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Contemporary Music | 11

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September – December 2017 at Liverpool Philharmonic

CHRISTMAS AT LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC

The Human League

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WELCOME

Wednesday 14 December 8pm £36, £42.50, £50 – The new wave darlings are back with A Very British Synthesizer Group: The Anthology Tour.

Contents Christmas at Liverpool Philharmonic Page 5 – Contemporary Music Page 6 – Music Room Page 14 – Family & Variety Page 23 – Talks, Tours & Taking Page 25 – Classical Music Join Katherine Jenkins, Page 27 conductor Anthony Inglis and – the Manchester Concert Film Orchestra as she performs a Page 35 magnificent concert of her – Monday December 7.30pm favourite music and songs Comedy12 & Spoken Word accompanied by a live £29.50, Page 37£45, £60, £65 orchestra.

Katherine Jenkins: Celebration

GIFT CARDS GIVE THE GIFT OF LIVE MUSIC A perfect Christmas present for the music lover who has everything! Available online at liverpoolphil.com/giftcards, or phone 0151 709 3789. Redeemable online or at Box Office for any concert or event at Liverpool Philharmonic.

Start your festive season in style in the glorious Art-Deco setting of Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, specially decorated for Christmas.

Christmas with The Overtones Wednesday 21 December 7.30pm £22.50, £29.50, £38.50, £45.50 – The Overtones are torchbearers for flat-out fantastic singing, as LiverpoolPhilharmonic much as a throwback to the timeless appeal of doo-wop and Motown as they are to modern

day R&B and pop. Celebrating the most wonderful time of the year, with a stocking rammed full of Christmas crackers, in the shape of good ol’ classics such as ‘White Christmas’, ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ and ‘Let It Snow’, this will end a vintage year for the @Liverpoolphil Darren, Mark, Mike, Lachie and Timmy.

CHOOSE FROM 3 DIFFERENT DESIGNS Raymond Gubbay presents

Carols by Candlelight

Monday 18 December 7.30pm £xx – See page XX for details

Christmas at Liverpool Philharmonic | 5

Kate Rusby at Christmas Saturday 9 December 7.30pm £18 (under 16s), £25, £31 – See page 12 for details

Raymond Gubbay presents

Christmas with Katherine Jenkins Wednesday 13 December 7.30pm £29.50, £45, £60, £66 – See page 13 for details.

Lunchtime Concert

Raymond Gubbay presents

Monday 18 December 1pm £8 – See page 22 for details.

Monday 18 December 7.30pm £17.50, £22.50, £24.50, £32.50, £38.50, £44.50 – See page 34 for details.

St Luke’s Ensemble: Secret Santa

Carols by Candlelight

LiverpoolPhilharmonic

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Family Concerts

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday 16 December 11.30am & 2.30pm Sunday 17 December 11.30am & 2.30pm £14, £17, £28 (adults) £9, £10, £15 (children) – See page 24 for details

Saturday 16 December 7.30pm Sunday 17 December 7.30pm Tuesday 19 December 7.30pm Thursday 21 December 7.30pm Friday 22 December 7.30pm Saturday 23 December 2.30pm (please note start time) Tickets £20, £26, £35, £40, £47 – See page 33 for details.

Liverpool Welsh Choral

Raymond Gubbay presents

Wednesday 20 December 7.30pm £13, £18, £22, £24, £27 – See page 34 for details

Monday 1 January 2.30pm £17.50, £22.50, £24.50, £32.50, £38.50, £44.50 – See page 34 for details

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Sing-Along with Santa

Christmas Crackers

Spirit of Christmas

New Year’s Day Prom

6 | Contemporary Music

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

All or Nothing: The Mod Musical Friday 8 September 7.30pm Saturday 9 September 7.30pm Sunday 10 September 7.30pm £22, £25, £31 – In 1964, a new phenomenon exploded onto the dingy British streets. It was the essence of all that was cool. It was Mod. Mods stuck two fingers up at the class-ridden society and its dull redundant culture. They were working-class free spirits who rode sexy streamlined Italian Vespas or Lambrettas. The sharpest Mod of all was known as a ‘FACE’.

Image All or Nothing: The Mod Musical

Peace Train – The Cat Stevens Story Saturday 2 September 7.30pm £27, £33.50, £39.50 – In an evening of musical storytelling featuring a full live band, audiences will be treated to a concert of Cat Stevens’ hits, revealing the man in the music and the real stories behind the classic songs.

The Magnetic Fields Sunday 3 September 8pm Monday 4 September 8pm £22.50, £28.50 Two night package - £37.50, £49.50 – Stephin Merritt, the master craftsman behind the Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs, is one of our great living songwriters— a sardonic Stephen Foster with an expansive literary wit. Celebrating his 50th birthday and a new album on Nonesuch Records, Merritt and band perform two distinct programmes of new songs—one for every year of his melodious existence. In a spectacular staging featuring 50 instruments from Merritt’s formidable collection, the seven-member band recounts his five decades on planet Earth.

Re-live 23 hits from the seldom-seen icon, such as: ‘Remember The Days Of The Old School’, ‘Lady D’Arbanville’, ‘Sad Lisa’ and ‘Peace Train’. Tracing the path of a man who never stopped wondering about how to make the world a better place is Darren Coggan. One of Australia’s most exciting young artists, Coggan and his band’s performances in Peace

songs 1 through 25 on 3 September and songs 26 through 50 on 4 September. The music will be played and sung by seven performers in a stage set featuring fifty years of artifacts both musical (vintage computers, reel-to-reel tape decks, newly invented instruments), and decorative (tiki bar, shag carpet, vintage magazines for the perusal of idle musicians).

Train – The Cat Stevens Story have met with critical acclaim in Australia.

The seven performers each play seven different instruments, traditional (cello, charango, clavichord) or invented in the last fifty years (Slinky guitar, Swarmatron, synthesizer). ‘Stephin Merritt has distinguished himself as one of contemporary pop’s most beloved and influential artists’ The New York Times

The Small Faces encapsulated all that is Mod, a unique blend of taste and testosterone, neat, clothes obsessed and streetwise. But these cult sophisticates shared another passion, their dedication to Rhythm ‘n’ Blues. This ‘Mod’ Musical is a transgenerational musical experience celebrating the unique sound of the iconic Mod band, The Small Faces. Featuring the music of the Small Faces, including an arsenal of brilliant hits like ‘Whatcha Gonna Do About It’, ‘Lazy Sunday’, ‘Tin Soldier’, ‘Sha La La La Lee’, ‘Itchycoo Park” and of course ‘All Or Nothing’. ‘Funny, fiery and brave… you’ll have a rocking night out’ The Daily Star Sunday ‘A Small Faces musical with all the raucous vitality – and hits – you’d hope for …All or Nothing delivers the goods’ The Daily Telegraph

The whole album will be performed over two nights: Booking fees - Online and phone 7.5% per order administrative fee applies, this includes all costs and standard postage is free. In Person No fees for cash or debit card payments. Credit card payments incur a 2% transaction fee and cheque payments are subject to 70p per order charge.

Contemporary Music | 7

Tubular Bells (Mike Oldfield)

Saturday 23 September 7.30pm £19.50, £25.50 – Tubular Bells plus Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeia Featuring Tubular Brass and Hannah Peel Arranged and conducted by Sandy Smith – Mike Oldfield’s classic album Tubular Bells, performed live by Tubular Brass – a 28-piece brass band featuring some of the UK’s finest players – and presenting a new score of this pioneering sonic masterpiece by acclaimed composer, conductor and arranger Sandy Smith.

‘Absolutely terrific, and the most satisfying live musical event I’ve attended in years.’ The Arts Desk

Justin Hayward

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Friday 29 September 7.30pm £28.50, £37.50, £49.50, £60 (VIP £95)

Presented in association with the PRS Foundation, Arts Council England and Root Music.

Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells is one of the great icons of electronic music. Released in 1973, it became one of the biggest selling albums of all time and famously stayed in the UK charts for an incredible 279 weeks.

Texas

Plus a special performance of Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeia by electronic artist and composer Hannah Peel that combines synthesizers and brass to stunning effect.

Plus special guest Mike Dawes Sunday 1 October 7.30pm £33.50, £37.50, £42.50 – Justin Hayward will tour the UK in support of his latest album release All The Way. The possessor of one of the most recognisable voices in rock, Justin will be performing new songs from the album as well as Moody Blues favourites.

who has left his soul on the battlefield and is having a difficult time adjusting to being home. The song is dedicated to all of those who have served their country and has received standing ovations worldwide.

All The Way includes the newly released single ‘The Wind of Heaven’, a heartfelt song about a wounded warrior

Thomas McClary Sunday 8 October 7.30pm £27.50, £33.50 – Motown icon Thomas McClary made his mark on the music industry by writing or co-writing the majority of The Commodores hits and classic album tracks along with Lionel Richie. Richie once referred to the McClary/ Richie songwriting team as the ‘Lennon & McCartney of The Commodores.’

McClary’s guidance pioneering and developing the art of funk! The hits are all there in this amazing sound and vision show, delivered the way it should be – with passion and energy that will have you dancing ‘All Night Long’.

The hits just kept on coming with The Commodores under

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8 | Contemporary Music

Midge Ure, The Christians and Altered Images Wednesday 11 October 7.30pm £30.50, £32.50, £38.50 – Midge Ure with his Band Electronica, The Christians and Altered Images featuring Clare Grogan; three critically acclaimed legends of the 80s join forces in this major new UK tour. With millions of album sales and iconic hits, plus over 30 years perfecting their craft, performing to audiences at sold out stadiums, intimate unplugged sets and everything in between, this is an authentic 80s triple-header.

A Country Night in Nashville

The Solid Gold Rock ‘n’ Roll Show

Sunday 15 October 7.30pm £30, £36 – A Country Night In Nashville recreates the scene of a buzzing Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville, perfectly capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of country music. Prepare to be transported on a musical journey through the history of Country, featuring songs from its biggest stars both past and present. Hits from Johnny Cash to Alan Jackson, Dolly to the Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson to Little Big Town, are showcased by the amazing vocals of Dominic Halpin, Shelly Quarmby and their fabulous backing band, the Hurricanes.

Monday 16 October 7.30pm £26.50, £28.50, £34.50 – Join us in celebrating Marty Wilde’s 60th anniversary in the business as he, together with Eden Kane, Mike Berry, and The Wildcats, as well as very special guest Mark Wynter, come together in The Solid Gold Rock ‘n’ Roll Show. The late fifties and early sixties were without doubt some of the most exciting and important years in the history of music. With the arrival of rock n’ roll, a whole new pop culture was born. Performing their own hits and collaborating live on stage, these teen idols of their day, show us how rock ‘n’ roll with its fusion of sound and rhythm shaped the style of music that we listened to then and still do today.

With songs including ‘Ring Of Fire’, ‘Crazy’, “Follow Your Arrow’, ‘It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere’, ‘Need you Now’, and ‘The Gambler’ to name just a few, this is an incredible celebration of country music.

Includes hits such as ‘A Teenager In Love’, ‘Rubber Ball’, ‘Donna’, ‘I Don’t Know Why’, ‘Well I Ask You’, ‘Don’t

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Tuesday 17 October 7.30pm £35, £40, £45, £51 – Alone (released late 2016) is the first Pretenders album for eight years. Chrissie Hynde recorded the album in Nashville with Dan Auerbach, from The Black Keys, who stood as captain, producer and multiinstrumentalist on the record – an album which sees Chrissie at her searingly honest, most incisive best. With support from The Rails.

Michael Kiwanuka

The Pretenders

You Think It’s Time’, ‘The Sunshine of Your Smile’, “Venus In Blue Jeans’, ‘Go Away Little Girl’, and many, many more!

Saturday 21 October 7.30pm £17.50, £25, £30

John Mayall Plus the Buddy Whittington Band Friday 20 October 7.30pm £30.50, £32.50, £38.50 – For over 50 years, John Mayall has served as a pioneer of blues music, rightly earning him the title ‘Godfather of British Blues’. Regarded by many as blues’ most influential artist, John’s band The Bluesbreakers, launched the careers of many true legends including Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Peter Green and Mick Taylor.

64 albums later and John’s captivating and authentic sound is still as vital today is it ever was. Special guest and long term collaborator, Texan guitarist Buddy Whittington makes a welcome return to the UK with The Buddy Whittington Band. After joining The Bluesbrakers in 1993, he energized the band with his unique and fiery live style. Buddy made his recording debut on the Spinning Coin album and proved to be more than equal to following in the footsteps of his illustrious predecessors.

Booking fees - Online and phone 7.5% per order administrative fee applies, this includes all costs and standard postage is free. In Person No fees for cash or debit card payments. Credit card payments incur a 2% transaction fee and cheque payments are subject to 70p per order charge.

Contemporary Music | 9

The Musical Box Monday 23 October 7.30pm £35, £41, £46.50 – The Musical Box, internationally acclaimed for its historical re-enactment of early Genesis works, is coming to the UK to perform The Black Show, a re-imagining of their performance of Selling England By The Pound, featuring classic songs from all of the early albums.

musicianship, the band’s artistry would produce some of the most iconic images and sounds of the progressive rock era, such as the mythic, 23 minutes long ‘Supper’s Ready’, considered to be one of the most intense live music experiences ever created.

Collabro Tuesday 24 October 7.30pm £19.50, £29.50, £39.50, £50 – Since meeting above a pub in 2014, and winning the TV talent show Britain’s Got Talent just months later, Collabro

have become the world’s most successful musical theatre group. Now made up of Jamie Lambert, Michael Auger, Matt Pagan and Thomas Redgrave, the group have performed to 7 million people to critical praise and excellent reviews as a four piece.

The emblematic 1974 show, originally only ever seen in America, allowed Genesis and Peter Gabriel to attain rock star status, enjoying to this day a cult following from nostalgic and young music lovers alike. With Peter Gabriel’s famous theatrics and Genesis’ unique

Sixties Gold Saturday 28 October 8pm £35, £41 – This is Gerry and The Pacemakers’ farewell tour, so don’t miss the chance to experience this record breaking Merseybeat band. They were the second Liverpool group to chart, after The Beatles, but the first to reach No. 1 and the first act ever to top the chart with their first three singles. Also from Liverpool, where it all started, The Searchers, whose first single went to number one and led to five more top five hits

Live on Mars Wednesday 25 October 8pm £24.50, £29.50, £35.50 – A bold new stage production celebrating iconic pop hero David Bowie; his music, artistry, style and showmanship. Influenced by Bowie’s legendary concert performances, Live on Mars fuses sound and vision to portray the essence of Bowie, his alter egos and creative muses, with stunning big screen visuals and animation.

and lifelong Bowie fan Alex Thomas, with a hand picked world-class band, and covering the Bowie back-catalogue from ‘Space Oddity’ to ‘Let’s Dance’ and everything in between, Live on Mars is sure to become the definitive musical tribute that all generations of Bowie fans have been waiting for.

Marc Almond Monday 30 October 7.30pm £24.50, £29.50, £39.50, £60 – One of Britain’s most gifted and unique vocal talents, Marc Almond, has announced an orchestral tour performing songs and hits from his 36-year career and from his new album Shadows and Reflections to beautiful new orchestral arrangements.

and a total of 128 weeks in the charts with sales in excess of 50 million. Brian Poole and The Tremeloes, featuring original members Brian Poole, Chip Hawkes and Dave Munden, are the Essex band that broke the Liverpool stranglehold and went on to have 21 hits that spent over 220 weeks in the UK charts. Steve Ellis, the original lead vocalist and founder of Love Affair who had five top 20 singles, including their number one ‘Everlasting Love’. And finally, Vanity Fare, who scored three top 20 hits in the late sixties, including their catchy ‘Hitchin’ A Ride’.

found fame in the early 1980s as one half of the pioneering synth-pop duo Soft Cell, and has had a hugely successful, prolific and diverse solo career that has seen him sell over 30 million records worldwide, including his much-revered interpretations of Jacques Brel songs, as well as his own selfpenned pieces.

The UK tour cements the 60th Birthday year for the synth pop pioneer, following his Top 10 album Hits and Pieces earlier this year. ‘A musician who has never stood still’ according to The Observer, Marc Almond

Featuring the electrifying vocals and uncanny likeness of singer

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10 | Contemporary Music

Purple Rain: A Celebration of Prince Monday 6 November 8pm £22.50, £28.50 – Purple Rain are a world class celebration of the life, legacy and music of Prince. This full eight-piece live band delivers a non-stop, hit-packed show spanning more than two hours! The band is Jimi Love as the unsurpassed Prince on vocals and guitar, Miss Emma Blakk on vocals, Tony T on keys, Amanda B on drums and vocals, Andy T on bass and vocals, Becca H on alto sax, N8 H on tenor sax and Sheila MG on trumpet.

Saturday 11 November 7.30pm £25, £31 – Enjoy the songs of the Queen and King of country music – Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, leave your 9 to 5 worries at the door and get ready for a night in the company of Country Music Royalty!

Dolly, along with Kenny’s charisma and energy with hit after hit, including: ‘Jolene’, ‘Ruby’, ‘9 to 5’, ‘Lucille’, ‘Here You Come Again’, ‘The Gambler’, ‘I Will Always Love You’, ‘Coward of the Country’, plus the smash hit ‘Islands in the Stream’. Enjoy a superb score and supreme musicianship as we bring the house down with the ultimate tribute to two country music legends.

This thigh-slapping stage show brings together the beloved glamour and personality of

Billy Bragg: Bridges Not Walls

he was inducted into the British Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011 - ‘for promoting and for services to the advancement of Country Music in Great Britain and in recognition of outstanding contributions, leadership and service to the British Country Music industry’. Charlie is a true and immensely talented star, he is a well proven writer of fabulous songs, and is well known and well loved for his wonderful voice, but his ability to tell a fine tale is a hidden gem.

Islands in the Stream

His talent and ability received the ultimate recognition when

Saturday 4 November 7.30pm £32.50, £47.50, £59.50

Monday 13 November 7.30pm £20, £26 – Charlie is generally recognised and categorised as a country singer, however, as his regular supporters will tell you, country music actually only accounts for a very small part of his concert repertoire and music catalogue in general.

Plus support Nine Below Zero

Charlie Landsborough

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ABC was formed in Sheffield in the 1980’s when they decided they wanted to fuse the world of disco funk with their own unique post-punk vision. ABC’s debut album, The Lexicon Of Love went to No 1 and sold over a million records. To date, ABC have released 8 studio albums. A mere 34 years since the release of their landmark debut album, ABC returned with their resounding triumph The Lexicon Of Love II which immediately entered into the top 5.

ED IT

Friday 3 November 7.30pm £32.50, £47.50, £75 (£149 VIP) – Following an incredible 12 months, including a critically acclaimed new album and nationwide sell out shows, ABC have announced a brand new UK tour performing all their greatest hits.

Squeeze

Plus special guests Kid Creole and The Coconuts

ABC

Tuesday 14 November 7.30pm £22, £28 – Fresh from touring the world with Joe Henry and galvanised by ‘events’, not least, the worrying rise of popularism, Billy Bragg is dealing with it in the best way he knows how, by strapping on his electric guitar and heading out on tour across the UK and Europe in November, under the title ‘Bridges Not Walls’. Billy, in one-man Clash mode, will perform songs from his 30 plus year career, some pertinent covers by his heroes and mentors and some freshly minted songs about the state of the world.

a Riot With Spy Vs Spy, the more love-infused Workers Playtime, pop classic Don’t Try This At Home, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee-timed treatise on national identity England, Half-English, and his stripped-down tenth, Tooth & Nail, his most successful since the early 90s. At their best, Billy’s songs present ‘the perfect Venn diagram between the political and the personal’ The Guardian.

Billy Bragg has been a fearless recording artist, tireless live performer and peerless political campaigner for over 30 years. Among the former Saturday boy’s albums are his punk-charged debut Life’s

Contemporary Music | 11

Wednesday 15 November 8pm £45, £65, £80 – One of music’s true originals, Sir Van Morrison’s unique and inspirational musical legacy is rooted in postwar Belfast. Born in 1945, Van heard his shipyard worker father’s collection of blues, country and gospel early in life. Feeding off musical greats such as Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Muddy Waters, Mahalia Jackson and Leadbelly he was a travelling musician at 13 and singing, playing guitar and sax in several bands, before forming Them in 1964.

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Chris Rea

Thursday 30 November 7.30pm £45, £60, £66 – Legendary singer-songwriter Chris Rea will be returning to Liverpool as part of his ‘Road Songs For Lovers’ European tour.

With one of the most revered catalogues in music history and his unparalleled talents as composer, singer and performer, Morrison’s past achievements loom large. But, as throughout his extraordinary career, how that past informs his future achievements and still stirs excitement and keen anticipation.

Of the tour, Goldie says: ‘This will be one of a kind: a culmination of everything past, present and future in my music, like it has never been heard before, live. I’ve got the absolute best of the best on stage with me and we’re going to create something new right in front of your eyes...alchemy in its purest form.’

ED IT

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Van Morrison in Concert

Thursday 16 November 7.30pm £30, £35, £41, £75 – On The Journey Man Tour, Goldie brings together members of the Heritage Orchestra as well as special guests, to perform tracks live from his iconic repertoire as well as material from his highly-anticipated, forthcoming album The Journey Man. The album comprises two parts, 16 brand new tracks in total, all written and produced by the MOBO award-winning songwriter, DJ, producer, visual artist and actor Goldie.

Alison Moyet

Goldie with the Heritage Orchestra Ensemble

Monday 20 November 7.30pm £25, £35, £49.50, £55.50 – Other is the brand new album by pop legend and relentless explorer Alison Moyet.

Other finds Alison at the top of her game - making exactly the adventurous electronic pop music she wants to with her voice and songwriting both intense, poetic and thought provoking. The album was catalysed by Alison’s fruitful dalliance with producer and song writing collaborator Guy Sigsworth, who (as well as having worked with Björk, Goldie and Madonna), co-created her last album the minutes, which debuted at No. 5 in the national charts and won critical acclaim. The new longplayer features backing vocals from Alison’s daughter on ‘The English U’, which was preceded by her guest appearance on stage at Alison’s Royal Albert Hall show, and an appearance in the video for ‘When I Was Your Girl’ (from the minutes).

Greatest Hits

The Stylistics Friday 1 December 7.30pm £28, £34 – The Stylistics with their charisma, style and harmony, evolved into one of the best-selling soul groups to ever return to the UK. The Philadelphia group recorded a remarkable 10 straight top ten hits during the early 1970s including the Grammy nominated hit ‘You Make Me Feel So Young’, plus ‘Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)’, ‘You Are Everything’, ‘Betcha By Golly Wow’, ‘I’m Stone In Love With You’, ‘Let’s Put It All Together’, ‘Break Up To Make Up’ plus many more.

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12 | Contemporary Music

Kate Rusby at Christmas Saturday 9 December 7.30pm £18 (under 16s), £25, £31 – With a career spanning 25 years in music, Kate Rusby is one of the finest interpreters of traditional folk songs and one of our most emotive original songwriters - melding old and new so you can barely see the join. She’s a Mercury-Prize nominee, and has won ‘Folk Singer of the Year’, ‘Best Live Act’, ‘Best Album’ and ‘Best Original Song’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Forever proud to call herself a folk singer, Kate Rusby’s beautiful, expressive vocals never fail to connect the emotional heart of a song to that of her audience. Famously down to earth, for over twenty years Kate’s

engaging personality and sharp Yorkshire wit have further endeared her to concert goers everywhere. In her special Christmas concerts all these elements combine to exquisite effect.

Contemporary Music | 13

The Bootleg Beatles in Concert Sunday 10 December 7.30pm £29.50, £32.50, £38.50 – Re-live the sights and sounds of the sixties with the world’s premier Beatles band and their spectacular two hour multi-media stage production featuring all the classic Beatles hits. Using film footage of the period and ‘with a little help from’ their regular brass and string ensemble, the show traces the history of the Fab Four from Liverpool’s Cavern Club through Sgt Pepper to The

Apple rooftop. This incredible band have headlined the acoustic stage at Glastonbury festival, played support slots with Oasis, Rod Stewart, Simple Minds and David Bowie, performed for the Queen, and recently collaborated with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in a sold-out UK tour of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, cultivating a new contemporary audience into the bargain. They may not be the fab four, but they’ve done what most tribute acts could only dream of.

Raymond Gubbay presents

Christmas with Katherine Jenkins

Wednesday 13 December 7.30pm £29.50, £45, £60, £66 – Mark Vincent guest singer Anthony Inglis conductor Manchester Concert Orchestra Start your Christmas celebration in style with singing sensation Katherine Jenkins, as she performs a magnificent concert of seasonal music and songs.

Raymond Gubbay presents

Pete Harrison conductor Manchester Concert Orchestra

Wednesday 27 December 7.30pm £17.50, £22.50, £24.50, £32.50, £38.50, £44.50 – Music from: E.T. The Dark Knight Rises Jurassic Park Close Encounters Star Wars Superman Inception Pirates of the Caribbean Batman Begins The Da Vinci Code Gladiator Man of Steel

The very best scores from the two greatest film composers of the 20th Century.

through the waters of madness to the release of flight.

as a performative work and as never seen before.

With the play-through of the game on-screen accompanied by live narration and performance of BAFTAwinning composer Jessica Curry’s powerful score, the story of the acclaimed videogame is brought to life

Originally released in 2012, the game Dear Esther, created by developers The Chinese Room, quickly gained critical acclaim for abandoning traditional gameplay in favour of atmosphere, rich storytelling and extraordinary art, proving

videogames are capable of the same musical, narrative and artistic expression as film, visual art, literature and classical music.

Zimmer vs Williams

Dear Esther - Live Friday 26 January 8pm £14.50 (under 26), £18.50, £24.50 – A deserted Hebridean landscape, memories of a fatal crash, a book written by a dying man – explore a haunting, deserted island shrouded in mystery in a live performance of the videogame Dear Esther.   Starting on a small beach, only brooding cliffs and a small lighthouse in sight, BAFTAnominated narrator Oliver Dimsdale takes you through the game, journeying from a desolate Scottish island, to a car crash on the M5, to a crisis of faith of a guilty heart, to the lost shores of a dreamed shoreline… into a final ascent

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14 | Music Room

MUSIC ROOM

Image Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita

Music Room is our newest space and the perfect place to experience, and get closer to, live music. Located on Sugnall Street, to the rear of Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, it is a friendly and informal setting with a great bar and a range of layout options, depending on the artist – this includes cabaret or theatre style seating, and standing events.

A.J. Croce

Jim Croce, A.J.’s career has spanned over 20 years. An ivory-searing New Orleans piano style established an essential juju, but his exploratory pop gems revealed a spectrum of influences from art rock to Americana and beyond.

Ímar

BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, a BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, nine All-Ireland and eight All-Britain titles, this is a concert not to miss!

Saturday 2 September 8pm £15 – From his debut as a jazzinfluenced blues artist to his evolution into a pop music iconoclast, singer-songwriter A.J. Croce has travelled a circuitous musical road. The son of legendary singer-songwriter

As well as gigs by the best folk, roots, blues and world music artists, Music Room is home to both the Lunchtime and Close Up concert series, and a selection of evening chamber music concerts, featuring performances by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra musicians and some visiting artists from the main concert series.

Saturday 9 September 8pm £14 – Glasgow’s hottest new folk property, five-piece Ímar have created more than a bit of a stir in little over a year since their formation. The Irish and Manx flavoured quintet now present their debut album Afterlight. With a line-up featuring members of Mànran, RURA, Talisk and Barrule, and a heavyweight collective haul of top prizes – including the 2016

Music Room | 15

James Clark, violin Jonathan Aasgaard, cello Timothy Horton, piano Monday 11 September 1pm £8 – Rachmaninov Trio No. 2 in D Minor, Elegiac

‘Peter Gabriel Played Live’ by Brian Cummins Friday 15 September 8pm £15 – The music of Peter Gabriel’s solo career has always been critically acclaimed, full of depth, emotion and vast

sonic textures, and pulsating rhythms to compliment one of the greatest voices of the past Century. Hailing from Liverpool, Brian Cummins is widely renowned for his uncanny likeness to the great man’s voice.

Kate Marsden © Mark McNulty

Lunchtime Concerts

Close Up Concerts

Mishima Quartet

Sponsored by

Monday 18 September 8pm £17 – Glass String Quartet No. 3 Gershwin Lullaby Copland Two Pieces for String Quartet John McHugh Hidden Voice Kate Richardson, violin Kate Marsden,violin Rachel Jones, viola Hilary Browning, cello John McHugh, keyboard

Thea Gilmore Tuesday 19 September 8pm £20 – That Thea Gilmore’s latest album is as ethereal as it is thought-provoking, will come as no surprise to her army of admirers. Since releasing her debut as a teenager nearly 20 years ago, Gilmore has gained global acclaim for making music not only of extraordinary beauty, but of rare honesty and insight.

in favour of an iPad and a piano. While, sonically, The Counterweight marks a fresh start, its outward-looking themes - the shifting political landscape, our absorption in technology, America’s gun culture and the search for hope in times of trouble included. Despite its hefty themes, The Counterweight is as catchy as it is current.

What will surprise fans is how The Counterweight sounds. Fifteen albums in, Thea has all but abandoned her trusty acoustic guitar

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Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls Friday 22 September 8pm £14 – During The Wonder Stuff’s year out in 2007 front man Miles Hunt and violinist Erica Nockalls released a debut album together Not An Exit. A ten date tour quickly turned into an 18 month tour, pausing only to play a handful of Wonder Stuff shows. Their follow up album, Catching More Than We Miss was heralded by the music press as Hunt’s best work in his 21 year career. The duo’s now never ending acoustic tour sees them regularly tour the world playing a mixture of their own material as well as classic and rare Wonder Stuff tunes interspersed with musings from Miles and tales from the road.

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McGoldrick, McClusker and Doyle Saturday 23 September 8pm £18.50 – John Doyle, John McCusker and Mike McGoldrick first crossed paths as teenagers. Quarter of a century later, the fired-up folk live-wires are set to celebrate their friendship, and musical kinship, with their first studio album, The Wishing Tree. A thrilling trip through traditional, contemporary and original jigs, reels, ballads and more, it sees them branch out musically, while tracing the roots of their tunes, and acquaintance.

Book now at liverpoolphil.com

16 | Music Room

Kaz Hawkins Band Thursday 28 September 8pm £12 – Kaz has been wowing UK venues and festivals with her 2016 album Feelin’ Good featuring eight original songs and a new take on two vintage favourites. Renowned bluesman, BBC Radio 2 host Paul Jones is a fan, enjoying her new songs ‘It Ain’t You’ and ‘Don’t Wait For Me’ and her great rendition of ‘Feelin’ Good’. This is one powerhouse of a woman, who effortlessly demonstrates her superb songwriting skills, touched with tenderness, humour and a whole lot of oomph.

Blue Drag Music Presents

Django’s Legacy IV: The Remi Harris Trio

Album Launch Show

Martin Simpson Album Launch Show Friday 29 September 8pm £14 – Universally acclaimed as one of the finest ever acoustic and slide guitar players, and a fine banjo-picker to boot, Simpson’s solo shows bear witness to an artist at the very top of his game. This

album launch show previews Simpson’s eagerly awaited new solo album entitled Trails and Tribulations which will be released in September 2017. Album guests include Andy Cutting, Kathryn Tickell, Nancy Kerr and John Smith.

The Coal Porters Wednesday 4 October 8pm £14 – The Coal Porters were formed in the 1990s by ex-Long Ryder Sid Griffin. Relocating from Los Angeles to London, the band left its electric instrumentation behind and slowly mutated into the acoustic act they are today. The band has demonstrated the power of fiddle, mandolin,

Lunchtime Concerts

Stravinsky Suite Italienne Copland Waltz and Celebration from Billy the Kid Samuel Barber Cello Sonata Gershwin Two pieces from Porgy and Bess

Monday 2 October 1pm £8

Sponsored by

Liubov Ulybysheva, cello John Paul Ekins, piano

Saturday 30 September 8pm £20 – Fresh from recent appearances at the Montreal Jazz festival (2016) and the BBC Proms, with Jamie Cullum, young rising star guitarist Remi Harris brings the Remi Harris Trio to Liverpool for their first concert appearance. Get ready for an exciting evening of Django classics, Gypsy Jazz, Swing, Jazz Standards, blues and the Beatles, plus a few more surprises on the way! Featuring Remi Harris (solo guitar), Caley Groves (rhythm guitar) and Mike Green (double bass).

banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with three and four-part harmonies and memorable melodies – and taken this sound around the world. They have wowed audiences at numerous UK and European arts centres, done no less than four North American tours and performed to tens of thousands at festivals.

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G IN

LL SE

Andy McKee

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Thursday 5 October 8pm £19.50 – Andy McKee is among the world’s finest acoustic guitarists. His youthful energy and attention to song structure and melodic content elevates him above the rest. He entertains both the eye and the ear as he magically transforms the steel string guitar into a full orchestra via his use of altered tunings, tapping, partial capos, percussive hits and a signature two-handed technique. McKee’s crossover success has helped him to achieve millions upon millions of YouTube viewers, underscoring his emergence as one of today’s most unique and influential artists.

Mad Dog Mcrea Friday 13 October 8pm £12 – 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.

Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman Friday 6 October 8pm £14 – Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman have long established themselves as one of the UK folk scene’s most rewardingly enduring partnerships. Twice recent winners of the BBC

Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo, the couple’s intimacy and strength of passion on stage have won them many fans and an enviable reputation as ‘songwriters par excellence’ (fRoots), whose greatly varied original songs cover such subjects as wicked mermaids, Norwegian legends, and a lonely whale. Africa Oyé 25th Anniversary

Kanda Bongo Man Saturday 7 October 8pm £15 – The man who single-handedly gave the world the infectious Kwasa Kwasa dance, Kanda Bongo Man is one of the most well-known stars of world music, and one of the first pioneers of African Soukous music. Championed by John Peel and Andy Kershaw in the late 80’s, he developed a huge loyal fanbase, and was a key figure in the introduction of African & World music to the mainstream. His music can still be regularly heard on mainstream radio – especially BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 3.

Mad Dog’s new album Almost Home, produced by Sean Lakeman, is an album fuelled with the all the essential Mad Dog energy and antics that the band have become known for. In constant demand and having played just about every festival and two-bit, jibe-arsed dive in Christendom, Mad Dog Mcrea are, in every sense of the word, a live band. This is a standing concert.

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Richard Smith Sunday 15 October 8pm £15 – With fretboard fireworks and lyrical endeavours Richard Smith will melt your heartstrings, get your toes tapping and your jaws hanging open. Richard’s ever growing repertoire comprises a wide variety of music from Bach to Beatles pop. It includes Scott Joplin rags, Sousa marches, Chopin, Mozart and fiddle tunes. It ranges from jazz standards to Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed and to Django Reinhardt gypsy swing, not to mention his intriguing originals. He delivers both lightning fast barn-burners and beautiful ballads, occasionally spiced with vocals.

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18 | Music Room

Maddy Prior with Hannah James and Giles Lewin Wednesday 18 October 8pm £18.50 – A true legend of British music, Maddy Prior has built her career on exploring various musical avenues. The latest album 3 For Joy is no exception, a further exploration of the tradition that she loves. Together with new musical partners Giles Lewin (Carnival Band) and young accordion player Hannah James, Maddy returns to perform the music of England, the British Isles and Eastern Europe – all delivered in her own unique style.

The Eskies Saturday 21 October 8pm £12 – Having been cast out, blacklisted, rejected and ejected from gentlemen’s clubs far and wide, five dejected cast asides joined forces in what was to be their own celebration of commonality. Purveyors of music that meanders from sea soaked waltz to Italian tarantella, from brassy funeral march-esque lament to weep along Klezmer knees up, from chain gang holler to rag time finger snap. Skipping through the dark side of anything that makes you want to dance, steeped in melodrama and usually with not a small amount of tongue in cheek.

and lowering inhibitions of get togethers and social occasions wherever they have ventured.

We will be hosting several events as part of the Liverpool Irish Festival – keep an eye out for future announcements.

The Eskies have brought this unique brand of folk noir/ gypsy jazz/sea shanty and swaggering stage spectacle to ballrooms and booze houses far and wide, sullying soirees

Jinski Saturday 28 October 8pm £10 – Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Jinski are song writer Stephen Wegrzynski and musician Dave Kennedy, a partnership forged from acoustic roots and the love of a strong melody. Their music touches the borders of folk, country, and pop, keeping alive the song writing tradition whilst remaining resolutely modern.

Close Up Concerts

Philharmonic Quintet Monday 30 October 8pm £17 – Dvorák ˇ String Quartet No. 2, Op. 77 Delibes Suite from ballet Coppelia (arr. for string quintet by Timothy Jackson) Rossini Sonata for Strings No. 1

Mihkel Kerem violin Kate Richardson violin Gwendolyn Fisher viola Ian Bracken cello Anthony Williams bass

Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton Tuesday 24 October 8pm £14 – Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton, internationally recognised multi-instrumentalists, composers and arrangers, have a long history of shared musical roots from their days with the Vale of Atholl pipe band, at the age of 12. They were mentored by one of the most innovative pipers in the last 30 years, the late great Gordon Duncan. Gordon sparked a deep passion in Ross and Ali for playing pipes with other instruments and they went on to be founding members of the musical powerhouse Treacherous Orchestra as well as playing with bands such as Old Blind Dogs, Salsa Celtica, Dougie Maclean, Shoodlenifty, Zakir Hussain, The Levellers and Capercaillie. Their individual and joint musical journeys have led them through a long list of high profile awards and nominations, most recently winning Best Duo at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017. Ross and Ali’s live performances deliver music with atmosphere, energy and passion. Working primarily with their own compositions they combine their rich musical experiences to produce an exciting and beguiling sound with an undeniable synergy forged from a lifetime of friendship.

Playing ‘live’ with just two voices and two guitars, Jinski have built a reputation for delivering music for the head and the heart that is full of passion, meaning and originality.

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Will Pound, three-time nominee for BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician Of The Year, is one of the finest harmonica players of his generation whose innovative style pushes the boundaries of his instrument and the folk genre.

Will Pound and Eddy Jay Wednesday 1 November 8pm £12 – The dynamic and exhilarating duo of Will Pound and Eddy Jay leaves audiences breathless. The pair read each

Eddy Jay is a real master of the accordion with the ability to turn it into an orchestra at his fingertips. He was a key player in the arrangement of the hit stage musical version of Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter’ (Kneehigh theatre) which toured US theatres including Studio 56 on Broadway (NY).

Doug MacLeod

Catfish Keith

Friday 3 November 8pm £12.50 – Doug MacLeod, perennial blues music award-winner & nominee, is a singer-songwriter in the American tradition. He is a travelling artist that writes and sings original songs that are based on his own life and experiences. He learned from the old masters, lived the music, survived the life and carries forward a valuable tradition. MacLeod is known for his superb songwriting, guitar wizardry, warm soulful vocals, wit and unforgettable live performances.

Saturday 4 November 8pm £14 – Cutting-edge blues singer, songwriter and bottleneck slide guitarist Catfish 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. He has reinvented the guitar with great power and artistry, and brings a rare beauty and vitality to his music. Handing down the tradition, Catfish continues his lifelong journey as one of the brightest

Duke Special Wednesday 8 November 8pm £15 – Seamus Heaney described his friend, the poet Michael Longley, as ‘a keeper of the artistic estate, a custodian of griefs and wonders’.

An Evening with Nasher Thursday 2 November 8pm £15 – Thirty years ago, a band from Liverpool achieved three number one hits in the charts and followed it with a million selling debut album. Frankie Goes To Hollywood exploded in 1984 and imploded in 1987 leaving ‘Relax’,’Two Tribes’ and ‘The Power Of Love’ as their epitaph.

in his 50’s viewing the world around him and putting it to music”. Don’t come expecting Frankie. It would be impossible to re-create most of that on an acoustic guitar, but there may be a little slice in there somewhere.

Since the band’s demise, guitarist Nasher has continued to make music. After various band projects he embarked on a solo career in 1995 and has released three solo albums with a fourth out now. His latest album, 432:1 Open The Vein is described by him as “a man lights in acoustic blues and roots music. This concert tour celebrates Catfish’s 25th Anniversary of touring the UK, and his 46th Overseas Tour!

Image © Rob Bridge

other instinctively, forging a path to new folk sounds with harmonica and accordion together as one instrument.

Peter Knight’s Gigspanner Sunday 5 November 8pm £15 – His departure from folk-rock pioneers Steeleye Span, has enabled fiddle player Peter Knight to turn his full attention to his trio Gigspanner, and in the process establish their reputation as one of the most genuinely ground-breaking forces on the British folk scene.

gentleness, honesty, mischief and love and are peppered with a cast of artists, animals, flowers, friends and long forgotten soldiers. As ever, Duke Special is mining a new seam of inspiration, hunting for treasures and what it means to be a human being.

On this very special tour, Duke Special will be performing songs and music based on the poetry of this influential and renowned Belfast writer. Longley’s poems are full of

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20 | Music Room Africa Oyé

Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita Wednesday 15 November 8pm £20 – Transparent Water is an exquisitely beautiful new collaboration between the seven-time Grammy-nominated pianist, composer and bandleader Omar Sosa from Cuba, and the award-winning Senegalese kora master and singer Seckou Keita.

The Magic Band

Sosa and Keita are both acclaimed musical adventurers with a rich global heritage that spans jazz, Latin and African

influences, and the combination of both artists on stage together is an incredibly exciting prospect. Transparent Water is the latest example of Omar Sosa’s transcendent determination to seek new combinations, a manifestation of improvisatory freedom and the joy of shared artistic expression with Keita, who recently won the Songlines ‘Best Album’ Award 2016 for Africa and Middle East for his latest solo album 22 Strings alongside a nomination for ‘Best Artist’.

Friday 10 November 8pm £20 – Sharing the vision of celebrating the music of the late Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart, original members John “Drumbo” French and Mark “Rockette Morton” Boston, share the stage with guitarists Eric Klerks & Max Kutner (from the Grandmothers of Invention, replacing Denny Walley), and drummer Andrew Niven to re-visit the classic Beefheart tunes with renewed fervour.

Album Launch

Mawkin

Thursday 16 November 8pm £12 – Launching their new album, Down Among the Dead Men and following their support with Bellowhead, Mawkin return with rebel rousing folk songs and instrumentals, modernising traditional material with their own touch. In 2015 Mawkin delivered their self-produced and critically acclaimed album The Ties That Bind. Their ‘unapologetically energetic’ approach and DIY ethic surprised critics, and welcomed new audience members describing them as a ‘modern day Fairport’. With a host of rebel rousing folk songs and instrumentals, the band modernise traditional folk material with their own touch and have since excited audiences with their artillery of loud, boisterous, foot stomping live sets.

This is a standing concert.

Africa Oyé 25 and Mellowtone

Blick Bassy

Saturday 25 November 8pm £15 – Blick Bassy formed his first band in Cameroon at the age of 17 - The Jazz Crew. They would later develop into Macase, inventive jazz fusion group inspired by local rhythms with three vocalists, all singing a different Cameroonian

language. After 10 years with Macase, Blick moved to Paris. After collaborating with a wide range of artists he eventually released his debut album Léman in 2009, fusing West African and Central African rhythms. This was followed up two years later with Hongo Calling, recorded in Brazil, following his research into the musical link – mainly through slavery – between Cameroon and Brazil.

Lunchtime Concerts

Union by marking the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, when Europe began to come together after WWII.

Monday 27 November 1pm £8 – Since the European Opera Centre moved to Liverpool in 2004, it has brought many of the finest young European voices to the city. Many of these singers are now performing major roles internationally. This recital gives an opportunity to hear popular operatic arias performed by the next generation of outstanding artists involved over the previous weeks in the Falstaff project with Sir Bryn Terfel. The event also expresses the European Opera Centre’s appreciation of its past support from the European

Sponsored by

Singers from the European Opera Centre

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Peggy Seeger Tuesday 28 November 8pm £18.50 – To coincide with the publication of her memoir (Faber & Faber, Oct 5th) and accompanying CD, singer songwriter and feminist icon Peggy Seeger will take to the road this autumn for a 20date UK concert and literary festival tour. At 82 she is the undisputed queen of folk and political song with a charisma that shines as brightly as ever. Concerts will feature Peggy and

family members performing her and Ewan MacColl’s most treasured songs from a career spanning over 60 years interspersed with readings from her memoir and plenty of whipsmart banter. Peggy has always had the ability to take an audience from laughter to tears and back again in the space of a few songs. Her memoir achieves the same in just a few paragraphs. Put the two together and it’s guaranteed to be a memorable night.

Celebration of Life 2017 Thursday 30 November 7.30pm £18.50 – Following on from the success of last year’s Celebration of Life, Thomas Lang and Jennifer John, both established musicians from Liverpool and both patrons of Merseyside’s HIV charity Sahir House, bring together an eclectic mix of Liverpool musicians for Celebration of Life 2017 to raise awareness of World AIDS Day, National HIV testing week and much needed funds for Sahir House. Celebration of Life 2017 will be hosted by Gerry Potter and headlined by Brian Kennedy, who will be joined on stage by Sense of Sound singers to perform a collection of his songs.

Seafoam Green & Mellowtone

The Last Waltz

Saturday 2 December 8pm £14.50 – On 25 November, 1976, at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, The Band performed their last ever concert after 16 years on the road. On that faithful night they were joined by some ‘friends’ - Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Dr John, Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris & Joni Mitchell to name but a few. In recognition of the influence that night has had on songwriters since, Seafoam Green & Mellowtone celebrate with a concert of songs from the very setlist on that day in 1976. This isn’t a tribute night; it is a band of friends, celebrating one of the most influential evenings in music history.

This is a standing concert.

The Moulettes Sunday 3 December 8pm £14 – Moulettes are a Brightonbased British band of multiinstrumentalists with 2 part harmony female vocals, amplified cello, auto-harp, electric guitar, drums, bass and synths and samples woven into an incomparable alt. pop/rock/ folk universe.

Revenge in 2012 (**** The Guardian) and third studio album Constellations (No.7 Indie Charts, Best Album: Spiral Earth Awards) have been played across BBC6 and BBC2 with support from Cerys Mathews, Mark Radcliffe, Mary Anne Hobbs, Bob Harris, Tom Robinson and Lauren Laverne. This is a standing concert.

Singles from their eponymous release in 2010 (****Mojo), their follow up The Bear’s

Lau Tuesday 5 December 8pm £20 – Brilliant musicians, thrilling performers, free-thinking visionaries and all-round good chaps as well…small wonder Lau are regarded as the epicentre of the new folk boom. And they’ve got shelves groaning with awards including BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for ‘Best Band’ in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013, a forest’s worth of ecstatic reviews and breathless plaudits from excited audiences in various outposts of the world ringing in their ears to prove it!

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Lau comprises Kris Drever (vocals, guitar), Martin Green (accordion, wurlitzer, keys, electronics) and Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle) and together they effortlessly bridge the seemingly diametrically opposed worlds of acoustic folk tradition and post rock – electronics.

Book now at liverpoolphil.com

22 | Music Room Lunchtime Concerts

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Gethyn Jones promises a lunchtime concert to get you in the festive mood – a ‘Secret Santa’ box of treats!

Monday 18 December 1pm £8 – Alexander Marks violin Elizabeth Lamberton violin Robert Shepley viola Gethyn Jones cello

Sponsored by

St Luke’s Ensemble: Secret Santa

Thursday 14 December 8pm £15 – Nominated for best British Female Blues vocalist 2016 and her new album Renaissance nominated Best British Blues album 2016. Connie and her band are back again for Christmas. This gig has sold out for the past four years so get your tickets early.

www.nakedwines.com/livphil

Image Elizabeth Lamberton © Mark McNulty

Connie Lush

Close Up Concerts

Jesús León, tenor and guitar Monday 18 December 8pm £17 – When Jesús León came to Liverpool for the 2012 Spirit of Christmas concerts, the audience went wild. The encore where he played guitar, having led the audience to join in with him for Feliz Navidad, is unforgettable. Tonight, hear his beautiful tenor voice in the more intimate setting of the Music Room, with a programme which the singer introduces himself.

Family & Variety | 23

FAMILY & VARIETY

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth in concert Saturday 30 September 7.30pm £15, £20, £25, £30 – The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth are set to make a triumphant return to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall this September. Backed by spectacular lighting and big screen imagery, the Royal Marines will demonstrate the outstanding virtuosity and versatility that has earned them international acclaim. Highlights at the concert include a performance by

The Magic Forest A family concert especially for the Under 5s

Music Room Wednesday 11 October 1pm & 2.45pm £11 (adult) £7 (children) – It’s never too early to introduce your children to the sights and sounds of an orchestra and these concerts are designed specifically for our very youngest audiences.

the world-renowned Royal Marines Corps of Drums, known for their precision drill and breath-taking drum displays. The performance will include music from the stage and screen, superb solo items and traditional marches and overtures from the military band catalogue.

Wriggling, dancing and exploring are all part of the 45 minute experience! These concerts introduce young children to the different sounds of the orchestra through storytelling. Easy to access, with lots of space for prams and a baby-changing area.

Claire Henry is your presenter, and together with musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra they will take you on a journey through the enchanted forest. She might need your help with casting spells along the way!

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League of Welldoers Monday 25 September 2pm £12, £15 – The League of Welldoers present a family variety benefit concert featuring your compere Tony Ravel plus 8 well-known Liverpool entertainers. You’ll be treated to a whole afternoon of pure entertainment whilst at the same time helping one of Liverpool’s oldest independent charities. Don’t delay and book early to avoid disappointment.

Dancing through the 50s

Rip It Up

Tuesday 10 October 7.30pm £19.50, £29.50, £35, £41, £75 (VIP) – Two ‘Strictly’ champions together with one strictly professional live on stage with BBC Radio Two’s Leo Green plus musicians, dancers and singers

Catapluf’s Musical Journey – Children’s Show

Music Room Monday 23 October 2pm & 6pm £10 – Catapluf is a sound explorer who makes sound with anything he finds. He guides us on a fascinating journey of discovery through of the world of sound, percussion and musical instruments, and meets some friends who will introduce us to different music styles, including reggae, funk, swing, bossa nova and Eastern European tunes — all with a touch of jazz. The performance features Jenny Adejayan on cello, Marcelo Andrade and Giuliano

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in a 50s-themed extravaganza. Jay McGuiness, Natalie Lowe and Louis Smith will swing, bop, jitterbug, lindy hop, jive and ballroom through the greatest songs from the greatest decade of music! The music in the show spans romantic ballads and crooner songs through to classic pop hits and the shattering world of rock ’n’ roll.

Pereira both on saxophone, flute and guitar, Andres Ticino on percussion and Adriano Adewale on – saucepans and everything else! Suitable for ages 5 – 7.

Book now at liverpoolphil.com

24 | Family & Variety

Children’s Workshops £7 (including accompanying adult), additional adults £7 – We have a variety of music workshop options available for children aged 0-5 years. The whole family can get involved, with parents and grandparents encouraged to join in. Led by musicians from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the workshops involve singing, creative music making and the opportunity to have a go on a range of musical instruments.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Family Concert

Peter and the Wolf with Alexander Armstrong Thursday 14 December 6.30pm £15, £18, £29 (adults) £10, £11, £16 (children) – Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf Tchaikovsky Theme from Swan Lake Stravinsky Firebird (excerpt) John Williams Hedwig’s theme from Harry Potter Rawsthorne Practical Cats An entertainment for speaker and orchestra – Alexander Armstrong, narrator Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Family Concert

Sing-Along with Santa

Saturday 16 December 11.30am & 2.30pm Sunday 17 December 11.30am & 2.30pm £14, £17, £28 (adults) £9, £10, £15 (children) – Alasdair Malloy presenter Michael Seal conductor

Baby Voices

Little Notes

Friday 27 October 10am – The perfect introduction to making music with your baby, these workshops include songs, movement, and active listening.

Thursday 26 October 10am Friday 27 October 11.45am – Your child will explore pitch and rhythm, using songs and activities to help them develop their creativity. They will also explore percussion and learn about other instruments of the Orchestra.

Suggested age: 0-18 months

Toddler Tunes

Suggested age: 3-5 years

Thursday 26 October 11.45am – In this session, you’ll use songs and games to help your child develop their musicianship and creativity. Children will lead the music making, with you responding and ‘tuning in’ to the sounds.

Age ranges are for guidance only.

Suggested age: 18-36 months

Spaces are limited - to book, call the Box Office on 0151 709 3789.

Due to space limitations, the number of additional adults is limited for each workshop. Doors open 15 minutes before the workshop starts, and sessions last 45 minutes.

The ever-popular Alexander Armstrong, English comedian, actor, host of Pointless, and voice of Danger Mouse and narrator of Hey Duggee on CBBC, narrates Prokofiev’s charming musical tale, Peter and the Wolf. Peter and his animal companions are brought to life before your ears by dancing strings, quacking oboes, fluttering flutes and prowling horns in Prokofiev’s charming tale of courage and friendship, Peter and the Wolf.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Family Concert

Spooktacular

Sunday 29 October 2.30pm £11, £15, £22 (adults) £8, £10, £13 (children) – Calling all Ghostbusters! Come along in your devilish disguises and hear the Orchestra at their spookiest and spinechilling best in this concert combining the creepiest classics with a gruesome mix of all manner of haunting Halloween music. Liverpool Philharmonic Family Concerts are a great way for children and adults to come together to experience a full symphony orchestra performing music live. Concerts last about one hour. Fidgeting is allowed, and the whole family is welcome, so come along and give it a try! Children are invited to have a go on a variety of instruments from 30 minutes prior to each concert at our Instrument Petting Zoo.

In this 90 minute concert, children will learn about instruments of the orchestra through this timeless story, and also be entertained by other musical works featuring animals!

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Liverpool Philharmonic Children’s Choirs and Melody Makers

Philharmonic Children’s Choirs are here to help, and this is a musical Christmas treat filled with seasonal songs that simply everyone will know.

He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice – and now he’s asking you to join in and sing along! That’s right, Santa himself is leading the musical fun today, and he really wants to hear how loud you can sing! That goes for the whole family: but don’t worry, the Liverpool

Liverpool Philharmonic Family Concerts are a great way for children and adults to come together to experience a full symphony orchestra performing music live. Concerts last about one hour. Fidgeting is allowed, and the whole family is welcome, so come along and give it a try!

Children are invited to have a go on a variety of instruments from 30 minutes prior to each concert at our Instrument Petting Zoo.

Talks, Tours FAMILY & Taking & VARIETY Part | 25

TALKS, TOURS & TAKING PART

Discover the Classics

Saturday 23 September 11am – Classic FM’s Tim Lihoreau is joined by Chief Conductor, Vasily Petrenko to discuss the Philip Glass 80th Birthday concert and provide commentary with plenty of opportunities for questions, discussion, fun and lively debate. See page 28 for concert details.

Saturday 14 October 11am – The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Gethyn Jones is joined by Timothy Jackson, horn, to discuss The Planets concert. See page 29 for concert details.

Gethyn Jones with Timothy Jackson

Tim Lihoreau with Sir Bryn Terfel and Vasily Petrenko

Hosted by Classic FM Creative Director and Breakfast Show host, Tim Lihoreau, Gethyn Jones, cellist in the Orchestra, and Jane Jones, Classic FM Full Works presenter, Discover the Classics sessions feature commentary by our host presenter with added insight by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra musicians, conductors and guest artists, plus opportunities for questions, discussion and fun, lively debate.

Tim Lihoreau with Vasily Petrenko

Sessions take place on Saturdays from11am to 1pm in the Music Room. £15 per session – Join us to discover the musical, social, and historical stories behind some of the music, composers and artists in the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s 2017-2018 season. All you need is a passion for musc and we’ll take care of the rest!

Saturday 18 November 11am – Classic FM’s Tim Lihoreau is joined by Sir Bryn Terfel bass-bartione and Chief Conductor, Vasily Petrenko to discuss the Verdi’s Requiem and Verdi’s Falstaff concerts. See page 22 for concert details.

Tim Lihoreau with Guy Barker

Each session will focus on the concerts they are linked to, but will not always discuss all of the repertoire.

Saturday 2 December 11am – Classic FM’s Tim Lihoreau is joined by Guy Barker, trumpet to discuss the First Ladies of Swing concert. See page 23 for concert details.

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26 | Talks, Tours & Taking Part

Lunchtime Learning Lunchtime Learning offers a chance to learn something new, meet like-minded people and enjoy inspiring music. Tickets £15 / £10 (under 25s and claimants) Join composer and lecturer Ian Stephens for our Lunchtime Learning series in the Music Room. Informal and friendly, these three-hour (approximate) sessions are open to everyone, whether you are new to classical music or a regular concertgoer. All events are in the format of a workshop followed by a Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsal.

Music of Korngold, Delius, Respighi, and Stravinsky Vasily Petrenko, conductor Wednesday 4 October 12.45pm (linked to 5 October concert)

Music of David Matthews, Vaughan Williams and MacCunn Andrew Manze, conductor Wednesday 8 November 1.45pm (linked to 9 November concert)

Liverpool Philharmonic Experience Tours Have you ever wondered what happens backstage, wanted to see the dressing rooms, been curious about the workings of the UK’s oldest continuing professional symphony orchestra or wanted to learn more about the heritage of our glorious Art Deco building? The ‘Liverpool Philharmonic Experience Tour’ is just the ticket.

Discover

Classic Intros Our free pre-concert talks and interviews with visiting artists are a great way to get more out of the performance. The talks are free to all concert ticket holders. They start at 6.15pm in the Music Room. There is no need to book (you’ll already have your concert ticket) just turn up.

Casablanca: Film with Live Orchestra

Thursday 28 September 11am £15 – Learn about the organisation’s rich heritage, explore some of the ‘secret spaces’ and enjoy a musical surprise by a Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra musician. Tour lasts about 2 hours.

Saturday 14 October 6.15pm – Join conductor Dirk Brossé and BBC Radio Merseyside’s Angela Heslop to explore the music of Casablanca. See page 35 for details.

Play (For Families)

Sunday 19 November 4.30pm – Classic FM presenter and author John Suchet talks about Verdi – the Man Revealed to coincide with the release of this new book. See page 31 for details.

Sunday 3 December 11am £12 (adult), £8 (children) – Play is a super-engaging experience for families with musical surprises and untold tales. You’ll experience what it’s like to play an instrument centre-stage, hold the conductor’s baton and enjoy a live demonstration by a Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra musician. This tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. This is an accessible tour, but if you are a wheel-chair user or have access needs, please call us to make your booking, so we can accommodate your needs.

Post-Concert Question Time Post-Concert Question Times are free to ticket holders. They start 15 minutes after the concert, last about 30 minutes and take place in the Music Room.

New World Symphony Saturday 16 September 9.30pm – Conductor Sir Andrew Davis and soprano Emily Birsan will answer your questions about the New World Symphony concert. See page 27 for concert details.

Verdi’s Requiem

CLASSICAL MUSIC

New World Symphony Saturday 16 September 7.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – Sousa Marches Washington Post and The Stars and Stripes Forever Ives ‘Decoration Day’ from A Symphony: New England Holidays Weill ‘Sing Me Not a Ballad’ Gershwin ‘Summertime’ and ‘By Strauss’ Bernstein Overture, Candide Dvorák Song to the Moon Dvorák Symphony No. 9, From the New World

Image Vasily Petrenko, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Chief Conductor

ED IT

M LI

Classic FM: Celebrating 25 Years

Thursday 7 September 7.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – Handel Zadok the Priest Rimsky-Korsakov ‘The Young Prince and the Young Princess’ from Scheherazade Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 Sibelius Finlandia Walton March, Crown Imperial Mozart Ave verum corpus Jenkins Palladio Beethoven Symphony No. 6 Pastoral (first movement) Borodin Polovstian Dances – Bill Turnbull Classic FM presenter Michael Seal conductor Callum Smart violin Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Friday Afternoons with the Orchestra New this year, Friday afternoon concerts (1.30pm start time) will feature some of our artists speaking to the audience to help explain aspects of the music. You’re also invited to have a drink and mingle with Orchestra members and staff in the Grand Foyer pre-concert. All tickets are just one price - £25, so if you book early you could get fantastic seats in the boxes, stalls or grand circle.

Classical 27 27 | Talks, Tours & Music Taking |Part

Time flies when you’re enjoying yourself! We can’t quite believe it either: has it really been 25 years since Classic FM gave us a new way to enjoy classical music on the radio? The Orchestra is proud to have been part of that story, and tonight, Bill Turnbull hosts a 25th birthday party filled with music by Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Bruch, Sibelius and Karl Jenkins. Melodies you’ve loved – and a few that Classic FM has helped us discover – beautifully wrapped, and delivered in style by Classic FM’s official Orchestra in the North West of England.

Sir Andrew Davis conductor Emily Birsan soprano Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Who doesn’t love Dvořák’s New World symphony? With its epic drama, aching nostalgia and unforgettable tunes (just don’t mention the Hovis advert), it’s been a hit everywhere it’s been played for over a century: the ultimate musical letter from America. To launch a series of concerts of music inspired by the USA, Sir Andrew Davis and soprano Emily Birsan make it the grand finale to a night of all-American fireworks – show tunes by Gershwin and Bernstein, the off-the-wall genius of Charles Ives, and of course, the piece that says it all: The Stars and Stripes Forever!

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Dvořák’s Cello Concerto Thursday 21 September 7.30pm Friday 22 September 1.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 (£25 Friday) Barber Overture, School for Scandal Dvorák Cello Concerto Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2

2016 BBC Proms. It’s part of a celebration of music inspired by America: so Barber’s firecracker of an overture will set things off with a bang! Sponsored by

Vasily Petrenko conductor Alexey Stadler cello Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra When Vasily Petrenko conducts Russian music, you know to expect big emotions. And they don’t come much bigger than in Rachmaninov’s glorious Second Symphony. He’s paired it with Dvořák’s Cello Concerto: written in the New World and performed tonight, for the first time in Liverpool, by a young Russian star who caused a sensation when he appeared as a last minute replacement with the Orchestra at the

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Philip Glass: 80th Birthday Thursday 28 September 7.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – Dvorák ˇ American Suite Philip Glass Symphony No. 11 (UK premiere) Scriabin Symphony No. 2

Red Priest: Gypsy Baroque Fantasy Tuesday 26 September 7.30pm St George’s Hall Concert Room £25 – Piers Adams recorders Adam Summerhayes violin Angela East cello David Wright harpsichord They called him the Red Priest – but you probably know him better as Antonio Vivaldi. Led by ‘superhuman’ recorder player Piers Adams, ‘baroque supergroup’ Red Priest puts the fire back into the baroque, making every performance into a carnival. Tonight, it’s all about the gypsy spirit, with wild, folk-inspired music by Telemann, Handel and of course Vivaldi himself. If you’ve heard them before (they sold out last season), you won’t need telling twice: they’re hot stuff! Sponsored by

The Birds Thursday 5 October 7.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 Korngold Theme from The Sea Hawk Delius Two Pieces for Small Orchestra: On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring and Summer Night on the River Respighi Suite The Birds Stravinsky The Firebird (original version, 1910)

Vasily Petrenko conductor Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Philip Glass is a composer who defines our age. From Hollywood blockbusters to the New York underground, in concert hall, opera house and nightclub, he electrifies everything he touches. So tonight, in his 80th birthday year, we make musical history with the UK premiere of Glass’s Eleventh Symphony. This is going to be big: be there and make two further discoveries, both equally magical, as Vasily Petrenko conducts a rare performance of Scriabin’s sweeping, romantic Second Symphony, plus Antonín Dvořák’s delightfully tuneful musical postcard from the New World.

Z.E.N Trio Tuesday 3 October 7.30pm St George’s Hall Concert Room £25 – Haydn Piano Trio No. 10 Dvorák ˇ Piano Trio No. 4 ‘Dumky’ Brahms Piano Trio No. 1, Op. 8 Esther Yoo piano Narek Hakhnazaryan cello Zhang Zuo piano Emotion recollected in tranquillity: the young Brahms was tormented by an impossible love. Years later, he recrafted his Opus 8 into a trio which distils youthful ardour into music of soul-shaking power and profound beauty. Combined with the playful wit of Joseph Haydn and the folk inspired dances of Brahms’ great friend Dvořák, it’s an impressive Liverpool debut for the all-star Z.E.N Trio – of which two members will each perform a concerto with the Orchestra this season.

‘The symphony was full of bodyrocking vitality.’ New York Classical Review on Philp Glass’ Symphony No. 11 Sponsored by

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to Korngold’s buccaneering score for one of the all-time great Hollywood swashbucklers. Vasily Petrenko is never happier than when exploring new worlds, but he’ll also find the inner glow in Delius’s luminous musical watercolour, and bring out all the mock-baroque playfulness of

Respighi’s (and definitely not Hitchcock’s!) The Birds. Sponsored by

Vasily Petrenko conductor Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Green-clawed demons, summer fragrances, ancient dances and Errol Flynn: the 20th century was when classical music exploded into Technicolor. In Italy, France, Russia and America, four great composers throw caution to the wind in four ravishingly melodious orchestral showpieces – from Stravinsky’s revolutionary ballet, Booking fees - Online and phone 7.5% per order administrative fee applies, this includes all costs and standard postage is free. In Person No fees for cash or debit card payments. Credit card payments incur a 2% transaction fee and cheque payments are subject to 70p per order charge.

Classical Music | 29

Ensemble 10/10

The Planets I

Wednesday 11 October 7.30pm St George’s Hall Concert Room £20 – Copland Appalachian Spring Steve Reich Pulse Andrew Norman Try Nioco Muhly Motion Richard Miller Nighthawks (World Premiere)

Thursday 19 October 7.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – Bernstein Suite On the Waterfront Aaron Jay Kernis Legacy for Solo Horn, Percussion and Strings (UK premiere, co-comission with Grant Park Festival, Chicago) Holst The Planets

Clark Rundell conductor ‘Tis the gift to be simple’, when Aaron Copland put an old Shaker hymn at the climax of Appalachian Spring, he’d stumbled on something fundamental about being American. Not that ‘simple’ means unsophisticated: Steve Reich, Andrew Norman and Nico Muhly all show that minimal means can lead to thrillingly unexpected ends – and even bridge the Atlantic. That’s the starting point, vibrant with potential, for a concert that, like everything Ensemble 10/10 does, is all about new musical worlds – which tonight means a premiere from the young Liverpool composer Richard Miller, our second Christopher Brooks Composition Prize winner, in association with the Rushworth Foundation. Sponsored by

James Feddeck conductor Timothy Jackson horn Ladies of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

rhythms of Mars or the majesty of Jupiter. But Holst’s masterpiece isn’t just about great tunes. Tonight, James Feddeck takes us to infinity and beyond, and joins two American masters on their own voyages to new worlds: Leonard Bernstein’s hardhitting movie score for the young Marlon Brando, and the UK premiere of Aaron Jay Kernis’s beautiful new work for horn. This is musical history in the making. Few living composers have more to say– or say it in such vibrant colour. Sponsored by

Everyone has their favourite bit of Holst’s The Planets, whether it’s the thundering

The Planets II Sunday 22 October 2.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – Adams Short Ride in a Fast Machine Gershwin Piano Concerto in F Holst The Planets James Feddeck conductor Julian Joseph piano – Ladies of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

a leading figure on the international jazz scene. Everyone has their favourite bit of Holst’s The Planets, whether it’s the thundering rhythms of Mars or the majesty of Jupiter. But Holst’s masterpiece isn’t just about great tunes. This afternoon, James Feddeck takes us to infinity and beyond, and joins two American masters on their own voyages to new worlds.

John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine is a sonic riot at a rhythmical carnival - it blew the roof off the Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Proms 2014. And looking up is where you need to be. New York’s skyline is the perfect accompaniment to Gershwin’s fabulously jazzy ‘Skyscraper Concerto’ performed this afternoon by Julian Joseph,

Series

Fingal’s Cave Thursday 26 October 7.30pm Friday 27 October 1.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 (£25 Friday) – Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave) Sibelius Violin Concerto Brahms Symphony No. 4 – Jacke Kaspszyk conductor Henning Kraggerud violin Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

the night: it begins with a sigh, but ends with a tempest. It’s one of classical music’s most stirring spiritual journeys, and guest conductor Jacek Kaspszyk knows how to make it sing – just as the charismatic Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud will wring every last drop of feeling from the fire and ice of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto. But first, all aboard for a boat-trip, as the young Felix Mendelssohn sets sail for the Hebrides. You can almost taste the salt!

When Johannes Brahms wrote his last symphony, he wasn’t going gently into

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30 | Classical Music

Rachmaninov’s Third: World’s Toughest Piano Piece? Thursday 2 November 7.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – Gabriela Ortiz Suite from Hominum (UK premiere) Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3 Shostakovich Symphony No. 6 – Carlos Miguel Prieto conductor Boris Giltburg piano Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Prieto, back by popular demand, is equally gripping. So expect some serious energy in a brilliant new work from his native Mexico, and prepare to be astonished by Shostakovich’s remarkable Sixth Symphony: a vodka-fuelled collision of dark emotions and sheer fun. Sponsored by

Tuesday 7 November 7.30pm St George’s Hall Concert Room £25 – Symanowski String Quartet No. 2 Ravel String Quartet Schubert String Quartet No. 15

A hut on hen’s legs, an angry gnome, and all the bells of old Russia. Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition is a musical jewel-box overflowing with glowing colours and fantastic tales – and that’s just the climax of this evening’s Russian adventure. First comes the piece they call the ‘Everest of Piano Concertos’, a concerto so overwhelming that even Rachmaninov himself had to practise extra-hard before playing it! So we can’t wait to hear it performed by the phenomenal Boris Giltburg. Conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto will be with him every step of the way. chamber music: the shimmering intensity of Szymanowski, and Schubert’s vast, visionary G major Quartet. Sponsored by

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Adventures in time and space: the Diotima Quartet is renowned for its willingness to explore – and its power to bring breathtaking clarity to even the most complex avant-garde scores. So imagine what they’ll discover in this imaginatively-conceived programme, which places the greatest of all French string quartets between two extremes of romantic

The Lark Ascending Thursday 9 November 7.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – David Matthews Norfolk March Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending Hamish MacCunn Overture, The Land of the Mountain and the Flood Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony (Symphony No. 1) – Andrew Manze conductor James Ehnes violin Sarah Fox soprano Andrew Foster Williams bass-baritone– Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Sunday 5 November 2.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.3 Mussorgsky (arr. Ravel) Pictures at an Exhibition Carlos Miguel Prieto conductor Boris Giltburg piano Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

They call it the ‘Everest of Piano Concertos’, and no question: Rachmaninov’s huge, passionate Third Piano Concerto is a supreme challenge for any pianist. So we can’t wait to hear it performed by the phenomenal Boris Giltburg (last time he played here, the Liverpool Echo called him ‘mesmerising’). Conductor Carlos Miguel

Diotima Quartet

Pictures at an Exhibition

Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

‘Behold, the sea itself!’ Vaughan Williams’s A Sea Symphony takes the poems of Walt Whitman and opens the floodgates to a spring tide of inspiration. Andrew Manze’s Vaughan Williams recordings with the Orchestra have been praised for their ‘rare sensitivity and warmth’, and the Choir has this music in its blood. Violinist James Ehnes, meanwhile, loves The Lark Ascending so much that he’s come here specially to play it – though when you hear the tunes in Hamish MacCunn’s delightful The Land of the Mountain and the Flood, you’ll wonder why it isn’t just as popular.

Sunday 12 November 2.30pm Tickets £9 adults / £6 under 25s – Britten An American Overture Bizet L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2 Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 – Simon Emery conductor Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company consists of Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir, Rushworth Young Composers Scheme and a variety of music making opportunities for young people.

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Classical Music | 31

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Sir Bryn Terfel After his sold-out residency in 2013, we are thrilled Sir Bryn Terfell will join us again for 10 days of extraordinary music making. Thank you to select donors who have generously supported Sir Bryn Terfel’s residency.

Sunday 19 November 6pm £30, £37, £42, £52, £68 – Vasily Petrenko conductor Ainhoa Arteta soprano Ekaterina Gubanova mezzo-soprano David Butt Philip tenor Sir Bryn Terfel bass-baritone

Verdi’s Requiem

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra The drama, the passion, the spirit of song, all united by a burning passion to communicate: the music of Verdi was simply made for Sir Bryn Terfel. Tonight, he joins Vasily Petrenko and the massed Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir in possibly the most dramatic piece even Verdi ever wrote: his Requiem. Its famous Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) sends shivers down the spine – but this great sacred masterpiece is staggeringly beautiful, too. With Sir Bryn heading a world-beating team of soloists, this should be a truly unforgettable way to launch his Liverpool residency. Classic Intro 4.30pm (Main Auditorium) Classic FM presenter and author John Suchet speaks about his new book, Verdi – The Man, to co-incide with its release.

Verdi’s Falstaff

A Night at the Musicals

Friday 24 November 7pm Sunday 26 November 2.30pm £30, £37, £42, £52, £68 – Sir Bryn Terfel Falstaff Judit Kutasi Mistress Quickly Rebecca Evans Alice Ford Amy Lane director Soloists from the European Opera Centre

Wednesday 29 November 7.30pm £30, £37, £42, £52, £68 – Ruthie Henshall Sir Bryn Terfel

Vasily Petrenko conductor

For this evening of music from the shows, Bryn makes a special guest appearance as legendary West End and Broadway star Ruthie Henshall takes centre stage. Don’t miss Ruthie singing hits including ‘Send in the Clowns’, ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’, ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ and ’As Long As He Needs Me’.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Tutto nel mondo è burla: ‘All the world’s a joke’. The final words of Verdi’s Falstaff bring down the curtain on one of the warmest and funniest comedies in all music. Sir Bryn Terfel’s portrayal of Shakespeare’s fat knight is one of the wonders of the operatic world – so what better way to mark his Liverpool residency than with this uproarious operatic re-imagining of The Merry Wives of Windsor, in an imaginative concert staging? Vasily Petrenko conducts a dynamic cast in an opera that’s basically three solid acts of laughter and joy.

Paul Bateman conductor Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Following his sell-out Grange Park Opera performances of Fiddler on the Roof, Bryn will sing ‘If I Were a Rich Man’, as well as ‘The Impossible Dream’ from Man of La Mancha.

Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

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32 | Classical Music

John Wilson and the John Wilson Orchestra Sponsored by

First Ladies of Swing: Ella, Lena and more Saturday 2 December 7.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – Claire Teal singer Guy Barker director Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Monday 4 December 7.30pm £31, £39, £44, £49, £57 – John Wilson’s superstar orchestra returns with their brand new show A Celebration of the MGM Film Musicals. The orchestra has established an international reputation, performing repertoire from the golden era of Hollywood and Broadway musicals and music for the big screen. Joined by guest soloists and, for the first time, the John Wilson Orchestra Chorus, this is a joyous celebration of the MGM film musicals.

to the American first ladies of swing. Clare’s joined by jazz legend Guy Barker to sing the songs of Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, Doris Day and their sisters: ‘Stormy Weather’, ‘Let’s Do It’ and many more. Hear them all, sung with Clare’s inimitable style and supported by the luxurious sound of the full Orchestra, in a concert that really does have that old black magic.

A big voice, a big band, and big, big tunes! Swing into the festive season with the fabulous Clare Teal, in this glittering salute

Series

A Russian Christmas Thursday 7 December 7.30pm Friday 8 December 1.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 (£25 Friday) – Prokofiev Suite from Lietenant Kijé Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 Rimsky-Korsakov Suite from The Snow Maiden Delius Sleigh Ride Tchaikovsky Suite from The Nutcracker Elim Chan conductor Kathryn Stott piano Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Thick white snow, jingling sleighbells and stories by the fireside: there’s no Christmas quite like a Russian Christmas. So gather round, as conductor Elim Chan and the Orchestra tell a wintry fairy tale by Rimsky-Korsakov, take a sleigh ride with Delius and drop in on the most magical Christmas party of all time: Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker suite. Prokofiev gets the fun started with a frosted shot of musical vodka – and then we welcome an old friend,

pianist Kathryn Stott, in Shostakovich’s sparkling Second Piano Concerto. Music to make hearts warm – and cheeks glow!

Stile Antico Sunday 10 December 2.30pm St George’s Hall Concert Room £25 – Tired of the hectic pace of a modern Christmas? Fancy something a bit more traditional? Then join the twelve virtuoso singers of Stile Antico for a glimpse of Christmas, Tudor style – the world of Tallis and Byrd, where joyful carols mingle with the timeless beauty of Renaissance sacred music. Performing without a conductor, these singers love this music – so come and share it with them, in a concert that’s the perfect antidote to the Christmas shopping. Sponsored by

Classical Music | 33

Spirit of Christmas Saturday 16 December 7.30pm Sunday 17 December 7.30pm Tuesday 19 December 7.30pm Thursday 21 December 7.30pm Friday 22 December 7.30pm Saturday 23 December 2.30pm (please note start time) – Tickets £20, £26, £35, £40, £47 – Ian Tracey conductor Jesús León tenor John Suchet presenter Simon Emery Artistic Director, Youth Ensembles – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Choir Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Liverpool Philharmonic’s annual Carol Concerts are a Christmas tradition – up there with mulled wine on Lord Street, the Everyman Panto and Sir Ken Dodd’s Happiness Show. The full Orchestra and our terrific choirs serve up a mouthwatering spread of Yuletide music for the whole family: all your favourite carols, from ‘O Come all ye faithful’ to ‘Hark! the Herald Angels Sing’ mingled with seasonal readings from our host, Classic FM’s John Suchet. And this year, there’s a very special surprise in the stocking. Returning after his success at Christmas in 2012, the show stopping Mexican tenor Jesús Léon stars! A good old festive singalong!

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34 | Classical Music

Raymond Gubbay presents

Carols by Candlelight Monday 18 December 7.30pm £17.50, £22.50, £24.50, £32.50, £38.50, £44.50 – Nika Goric soprano Michael Bawtree conductor Canzonetta choir Mozart Festival Orchestra in full period costume

Corelli Allegro & Pastorale from Christmas Concerto Mozart Alleluia from Exsultate, jubilate Rutter The Twelve Days of Christmas Cullen Joy to the World Gruber Silent Night

With carols for all including: Away in a Manager Good King Wenceslas O come, all ye faithful Hark! the Herald angels sing O little town of Bethlehem God rest ye merry, gentlemen

ABBA on New Year’s Eve

Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra get ready to say Happy New Year – and thank you for the music!

Celebrate in elegant style with this exquisite concert of carols and seasonal classics staged in full 18th-century costume in an evocative candle-lit style setting. Handel Christmas sequence from Messiah including Hallelujah Chorus and Let the bright Seraphim

Liverpool Welsh Choral

Christmas Crackers Wednesday 20 December 7.30pm £13, £18, £22, £24, £27 – Keith Orrell conductor Stephen Hargreaves accompanist Sparkles, suprises and smiles with the Liverpool Welsh Choral, starring Liverpool’s very own Danielle Thomas plus the Northop Silver Band.

Raymond Gubbay presents

New Year’s Day Prom Monday 1 January 2.30pm £17.50, £22.50, £24.50, £32.50, £38.50, £44.50 – Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending Tchaikovsky Waltz from Swan Lake Bizet The Pearl Fishers Duet Dukas Sorcerer’s Apprentice Elgar Nimrod Monti Csardas Vivaldi Summer from The Four Seasons Goodwin Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines Mascagni Intermezzo from Cavelleria rusticana

Sunday 31 December 7.30pm £20, £26, £35, £40, £47 – Mamma Mia! Here we go again, dancing away the old year with this sensational concert featuring the music of ABBA. You know them, you love them: ‘Waterloo’, ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Super Trouper’, ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’, ‘Knowing Me Knowing You’… Every night’s a party with ABBA, so why not come in 1970s clothes? Why not dig out those flares or miniskirts, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to celebrate, as top West End singers and the full Royal

James Cleverton baritone Samuel Sakker tenor Joo Yeon Sir violin John Pryce-Jones conductor Manchester Concert Orchestra

A thrilling concert of rousing classics with a grand flag-waving British finale! And all your New Year’s favourites: ‘Rule, Britannia!’ ‘Dambusters March’ ‘Nessun Dorma’ ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ Booking fees - Online and phone 7.5% per order administrative fee applies, this includes all costs and standard postage is free. In Person No fees for cash or debit card payments. Credit card payments incur a 2% transaction fee and cheque payments are subject to 70p per order charge.

Film | 35

FILM

The antidote to the multiplex, watching a film at Liverpool Philharmonic is a unique experience. The last remaining working Walturdaw cinema screen in the world rises from the stage, accompanied by resident organist Dave Nicholas.

Image Casablanca

My Cousin Rachel

12a

Tuesday 26 September 7.30pm £8, £10, £12 – Director Roger Michell Starring Rachel Weisz, Sam Claflin, Holliday Grainger, Iain Glen USA/UK 2017 After health problems determine that he must spend his winters in warmer climates, Ambrose (Glen), a wealthy landowner and guardian to his orphaned cousin Philip (Claflin), heads to Italy. Years later, Philip receives a letter from Ambrose announcing that he has fallen in love with and married a distant relation, the eponymous Rachel (Weisz). Soon after, Philip learns that his guardian is dangerously ill, but by the time he arrives in Italy, Ambrose is dead and Rachel has left for England, bound for her deceased husband’s estate in Cornwall. Racked by suspicion, Philip confronts Rachel, but he too soon finds himself under her beguiling spell. What is she? A femme fatale? A golddigger? A tease? Thanks to skilled direction and first-rate performances, Roger Michell’s enticing period drama keeps the audience guessing throughout.

Dunkirk

12a

Tuesday 3 October 7.30pm £8, £10, £12 – Director Christopher Nolan Starring Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Fionn Whitehead

forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using every serviceable naval and civilian vessel that could be found. At the end of this heroic mission, 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated.

In May 1940, Germany advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French

Casablanca: Film with Live Orchestra

Film Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Sponsored by

Classic Intro 6.15pm (Music Room) – Join conductor Dirk Brossé and BBC Radio Merseyside’s Angela Heslop explore the music of Casablanca.

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Saturday 14 October 2.30pm & 7.30pm £15, £21, £27, £34, £44 – Dirk Brossé conductor – Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra You must remember this… Rick and Sam, Bogart and Bergman, and a love story that amounts to much more than just a hill of beans amidst the turmoil of wartime North Africa. Casablanca is a thriller, a film noir, and an unforgettable weepie – and these screenings, with Max Steiner’s orchestral score played live by the full Orchestra, will spring urgently to life, sounding as rich and as passionate as it did when it was first released in 1942. The fundamental things apply – so play it again, Sam…

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36 | Film

The Limehouse Golem

the police put the relatively inexperienced Detective Inspector Kildare (Bill Nighy) on the case, a scapegoat for when the next victim surfaces.

Tuesday 31 October 7.30pm £8, £10, £12 Director Juan Carlos Medina Starring Bill Nighy, Olivia Cooke, Douglas Booth – A series of gruesome and bloody murders have shaken the Limehouse community. So monstrous and ruthless are these crimes the press claim they’re the work of ‘The Golem’ – a legendary creature from dark times… Confronted by a murderer of a yet unknown kind and with no genuine leads,

It’s A Wonderful Life

Sunday 24 December 11am & 2pm £10, £13, £17 – Director Frank Capra Starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Henry Travers 1947 USA – Capra’s perennial festive favourite, starring James Stewart as a desperate man offered salvation by an impish guardian angel. Beautifully crafted and acted, its humour and gentleness imbued at times with an almost Dickensian darkness, the film is now a cult classic, one of the most popular and enduring of all Christmas traditions. Enjoy Christmas Breakfast (8.30am – 10am) Lunch (11.30am – 1.30pm) or a

Victoria & Abdul

12a

Tuesday 21 November 7.30pm £8, £10, £12 – Director Stephen Frears Starring Judi Dench, Ali Fazal – The extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria’s (Judi Dench) remarkable rule. When Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favor with the Queen herself. As the Queen

questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle all attempt to destroy. As the friendship deepens, the Queen begins to see a changing world through new eyes and joyfully reclaims her humanity.

Festive Afternoon Tea (4pm – 6pm) catered by Delifonseca in the glorious Art-Deco setting of the Grand Foyer for £29, including film ticket. Christmas Breakfast includes a selection of mini pastries, whisky-cured salmon and cream cheese bagels, venison sausages and more. The two-course lunch features slow-braised Welsh Black Beef or Wild Mushroom, Sweet Potato and Parsnip Wellington with a selection of starters and puddings. And a variety of delectable sandwiches and sweets including Fonseca’s Chocolate Decadence, Gingerbread Truffles, Burnt Orange Angel Shortbreads comprise the Festive Afternoon Tea. More information is available at www.liverpolphil.com

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Back to the Future: Film with Live Orchestra Saturday 30 December 2.30pm & 7.30pm £20, £26, £35, £40, £47 (£15 - under 25s - limited availability) – Power up your DeLorean… recharge your flux capacitor… and get ready to celebrate this unforgettable movie classic as you’ve never seen and heard it before! Back to the Future, staring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover, is the 1.21-gigawatt blockbuster that topped the 1985 box office chart, spawned two wildly successful sequels and stamped

an enduring imprint on pop culture. In this time-travelling coming-of-age story, Marty McFly (Fox) suddenly finds himself transported back to 1955… where he struggles to change the destiny of his parents (Thompson, Glover), rescue an eccentric friend (Lloyd) from terrorists, and solve an alternative-plutonium crisis… all while trying to ensure he has a future to get back to! Now, fans old and new will experience the thrill of Back to the Future like never before – on a big hi-def screen with a full symphony orchestra performing Alan Silverstri’s dazzling musical score live in synch with the movie.

Comedy & Spoken Word | 37

Stewart Lee: Content Provider

COMEDY & SPOKEN WORD

Thursday 14 September 8pm Friday 15 September 8pm £23.50, £29.50 – Content Provider is Stewart’s first brand new full-length show since the award-winning Carpet Remnant World and follows four years of writing and performing his TV show Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle. ‘The most consistently funny show of his brilliant career…I laughed till it hurt’. The Times ‘Characteristically twisty and frequently brilliant’. The Guardian

Image Stewart Lee

Age guidance: 16+

Liverpool Comedy Festival

an oxymoron), to the movement of goods and services - even troops on their way to war.

Music Room Thursday 21 September 8pm £12

The show is a mixture of stand-up, songs and train announcements. With everything from Beeching to Brunel, Steam H20 and HS2 to privatisation and the sheer grinding frustration of modern rail travel where the most difficult three words are not ‘I Love You’, but ‘Bus Replacement Service’.

Steve Gribbin: Shunted Again

Veteran train traveller and stand-up comedian Steve Gribbin rails against the current state of Britain’s railways. Using his very worst journeys as examples, Steve takes us on a (de)tour of cancellations, delays and overcrowding that’s enough to drive you to drive. It’s the antidote to Michael Portillo.

Steve Lamacq: Going Deaf for a Living Music Room Sunday 1 October 8pm £16

Next Big Things, interviewed Noel Gallagher 17 times, and, in 2013, was awarded the prestigious radio gong, the Sony Lifetime Achievement Award.

DJ and journalist Steve Lamacq celebrates 30 years in the music industry with a new, intimate one man show of anecdotes and observations, clocked up over three decades of championing new music. Expect frontline stories from his NME days (including the lunchtime spent interviewing Nirvana in a Shepherds Bush B&B in 1990) and about life at Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music, where, over 20 years, he’s booked sessions for numerous

Steve shunts back into history to acknowledge the immense social change that the trains have brought. From the adoption of ‘railway time’ (not

Joel Dommett Live Friday 13 October 8pm £18.50, £24.50, (£15.50 student tickets) – Catch the star of 2016’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and Sky1’s Bring The Noise as he delivers his high octane comedy for you. Joel came onto the comedy scene in 2007 and has never looked back. After receiving critical acclaim for his Edinburgh Fringe shows, he has gone on to appear in numerous television

LiverpoolPhilharmonic

@liverpoolphil

shows including Impractical Jokers, Reality Bites, and Russell Howard’s Good News. 14+ (Parental Guidance). Contains some swearing and adult content.

Book now at liverpoolphil.com

38 | Comedy & Spoken Word

Ray Mears: Born To Go Wild

shaped his life. Ray will take you on a journey that he deeply values for cultural, spiritual, moral and aesthetic reasons and explain why he believes these are vital for the human spirit and creativity.

Laughterhouse

Jon Richardson

Sunday 3 December 8pm £20, £25, £29, £35 – On Sunday 3rd December Liverpool’s biggest comedy promoter Laughterhouse brings you another amazing night of entertainment, featuring six giants of comedy.

Friday 8 December 8pm £20.50, £26.50 – The British Comedy Award nominee and star of Live At The Apollo and 8 Out Of 10 Cats is complaining about the state of the world and offering no solutions. Since his last show he has become a husband and father, seen the UK vote to leave the EU and watched the rise of Donald Trump, all of which leaves him asking one question – why does it seem that no one else alive can correctly load a dishwasher?

Come and see what Jon Richardson can do with words when he has more than thirty seconds to work with. Or should that be ‘with which to work’? Jon has been massively in demand for television and radio appearances including Have I Got News For You, Live At The Apollo, and most recently Taskmaster on Dave. He can also be heard hosting The Warm Up show on talkSPORT with Matt Forde every Saturday.

Wednesday 1 November 7.30pm £25, £31 – From a very young age Ray discovered the joys of exploring the Wilderness, the most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet. His fascination with this environment that has not been modified by civilized human activity, has greatly

With very special guests Mary Turner Thomson and Eleanor Longden. Neither Mary nor Eleanor appear in Jon’s book, but it wouldn’t exist without them. We’re being oblique because we don’t want to spoil the extraordinary twists and turns in their stories. If you don’t know who they are, don’t Google them. The less you know the better. Jon Ronson is a journalist and writer of international best-selling books such as Them, The Men Who Stare at Goats, The Psychopath Test and, his latest book, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed.

We have already confirmed an amazing line-up - Tom Stade, Daliso Chaponda, Jo Caulfield, Chris Cairns plus 2 headline TV names to be announced. Book now for the best seats in the house for what promises to be the comedy event of the year!

Sir Ken Dodd Thursday 28 December 7pm £16, £18, £20, £25 – Ken Dodd was made Sir Kenneth in HM The Queen’s 2017 New Year’s Honours List. A fitting tribute to the Master of Mirth, and a comedian of legendary status. He is an icon and national treasure who has been entertaining audiences for a lifetime of happiness and laughter. Come and enjoy his famous Happiness

ED IT

Sunday 12 November 8pm £18, £24 – Is it true that psychopaths rule the world? Or have we gone labelling-crazy? In Psychopath Night, Jon recounts the adventure of a lifetime - the funny, terrifying and utterly compelling events that led to his bestselling book The Psychopath Test.

M LI

Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night

Show and you’ll be absolutely discumknockerated (that’s Knotty Ash for ‘over the moon’) by a truly tattifelarius (funfilled) evening of laughter and songs from opera to ballads, presented by a comedy genius and his guests.

The Nadler Liverpool is the affordable luxury hotel at the heart of the city. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your perfect base from which to discover the very best of Liverpool. Book direct for the best price. 0151 705 2626 nadlerhotels.com The Nadler Liverpool, 29 Seel Street, Liverpool L1 4AU

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A handsome 1826 mansion in the upper reaches of the georgian quarter

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DIARY How to Book Online liverpoolphil.com Post Box Office, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BP

Telephone 0151 709 3789

In person Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BP

Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.30pm Sunday 12noon – 5pm

Monday to Saturday 10am to 5.30pm and 90 minutes prior to each performance

Plan Your Visit For full booking information, directions and terms & conditions please visit www.liverpoolphil.com/ planyourvisit, where you can also see the view from your seat on our seating plan.

All major credit cards accepted (and are subject to a booking fee) Mastercard/Visa. We do not accept AMEX. Please make cheques payable to ‘RLPS’.

Key * Music Room / ** St George’s Hall Concert Room / *** Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

September 2017 Sat 2 7.30pm Peace Train - The Cat Stevens Story P6 Sat 2 8pm A.J. Croce* P14 Sun 3 8pm The Magnetic Fields P6 Mon 4 8pm The Magnetic Fields P6 Thu 7 7.30pm Classic FM: Celebrating 25 Years LIMITED P27 Fri 8 7.30pm All Or Nothing: The Mod Musical P6 Sat 9 7.30pm All Or Nothing: The Mod Musical P6 Sat 9 8pm Ímar* P14 Sun 10 7.30pm All Or Nothing: The Mod Musical P6 Mon 11 1pm James Clark violin, Jonathan Aasgaard P15 cello, Timothy Horton piano* Thu 14 8pm Stewart Lee: Content Provider P37 Fri 15 8pm Stewart Lee: Content Provider P37 Fri 15 8pm ‘Peter Gabriel- Played Live’ by P15 Brian Cummings* Sat 16 7.30pm New World Symphony P27 Sat 16 9.30pm Post-Concert Question Time: P26 New World Symphony* Mon 18 8pm Mishima Quartet* P15 Tue 19 8pm Thea Gilmore* P15 Thu 21 7.30pm Dvorák’s Cello Concerto P27 Thu 21 8pm Steve Gribbin: Shunted Again!* P37 Fri 22 1.30pm Dvorák’s Cello Concerto P27 Fri 22 8pm Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls* P15 Sat 23 11am Discover the Classics: Tim Lihoreau P25 with Vasily Petrenko* Sat 23 7.30pm Tubular Bells P7 Sat 23 8pm McGoldrick, McClusker and Doyle* P15 Mon 25 2pm League of Welldoers P23 Tue 26 7.30pm Red Priest: Gypsy Baroque Fantasy** P28 Tue 26 7.30pm Film: My Cousin Rachel 12A P35 Thu 28 11am Liverpool Philharmonic Experience P26 Tour: Discover* Thu 28 7.30pm Philip Glass: 80th Birthday P28 Thu 28 8pm Kaz Hawkins Band* P16 SOLD OUT Fri 29 7.30pm Texas P7 Fri 29 8pm Martin Simpson Album Launch Show* P16 Sat 30 7.30pm The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines P23 Portsmouth in Concert Sat 30 8pm Django’s Legacy IV: The Remi Harris Trio* P16

October 2017 Sun 1 7.30pm Justin Hayward Sun 1 8pm Steve Lamacq: Going Deaf for a Living* Mon 2 1pm Liubov Ulybysheva cello, John Paul Ekins piano* Tue 3 7.30pm Z.E.N Trio** Tue 3 7.30pm Film: Dunkirk 12A

P7 P37 P16 P28 P35

Wed 4 12.45pm Lunchtime Learning: Music of Korngold, Delius, Respighi and Stravinsky* Wed 4 8pm The Coal Porters* Thu 5 7.30pm The Birds Thu 5 8pm Andy McKee* Fri 6 8pm Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman* Sat 7 8pm Kanda Bongo Man* Sun 8 7.30pm Thomas McClary Tue 10 7.30pm Rip It Up Wed 11 1pm The Magic Forest* Wed 11 2.45pm The Magic Forest* Wed 11 7.30pm Ensemble 10/10** Wed 11 7.30pm Midge Ure, The Christians and Altered Images Fri 13 8pm Joel Dommett Live Fri 13 8pm Mad Dog Mcrea* Sat 14 11am Discover the Classics: Gethyn Jones with Timothy Jackson* Sat 14 2.30pm Casablanca: Film with Live Orchestra Sat 14 6.15pm Classic Intro: Casablanca: Film with Live Orchestra* Sat 14 7.30pm Casablanca: Film with Live Orchestra Sun 15 7.30pm A Country Night in Nashville Sun 15 8pm Richard Smith* Mon 16 7.30pm The Solid Gold Rock ‘n’ Roll Show LIMITED Tue 17 7.30pm The Pretenders Wed 18 8pm Maddy Prior with Hannah James and Giles Lewin* Thu 19 7.30pm The Planets I Fri 20 7.30pm John Mayall Sat 21 7.30pm Michael Kiwanuka SOLD OUT Sat 21 8pm The Eskies* Sun 22 2.30pm The Planets II Mon 23 2pm Catapluf’s Musical Journey* Mon 23 6pm Catapluf’s Musical Journey* Mon 23 7.30pm The Musical Box Tues 24 7.30pm Collabro Tues 24 8pm Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton* Wed 25 8.30pm Live on Mars Thu 26 10am Little Notes Thu 26 11.45am Toddler Tunes Thu 26 7.30pm Fingal’s Cave Fri 27 10am Baby Voices Fri 27 11.45am Little Notes Fri 27 1.30pm Fingal’s Cave Sat 28 8pm Sixties Gold Sat 28 8pm Jinski* Sun 29 2.30pm Spooktacular! Mon 30 7.30pm Marc Almond Mon 30 8pm Philharmonic Quintet* Tue 31 7.30pm Film: The Limehouse Golem 15

P26

P16 P28 P16 P17 P17 P7 P23 P23 P23 P29 P8 P37 P17 P25 P35 P35 P35 P8 P17 P8 P8 P18 P29 P8 P8 P18 P29 P23 P23 P9 P9 P18 P9 P24 P24 P29 P24 P24 P29 P9 P18 P24 P9 P18 P36

Diary | 41

November 2017

December 2017

Wed 1 7.30pm Ray Mears Born To Go Wild P38 Wed 1 8pm Will Pound and Eddy Jay* P19 Thu 2 7.30pm Rachmaninov’s Third: World’s P30 Toughest Piano Piece? Thu 2 8pm An Evening with Nasher* P19 Fri 3 7.30pm ABC P10 Fri 3 8pm Doug McCleod* P19 SOLD OUT Sat 4 7.30pm Squeeze P10 Sat 4 8pm Catfish Keith* P19 Sun 5 2.30pm Pictures at an Exhibition P30 Sun 5 8pm Peter Knight’s Gigspanner* P19 Mon 6 8pm Purple Rain: A Celebration of Prince P10 Tue 7 7.30pm Diotima Quartet** P30 Wed 8 1.45pm Lunchtime Learning: Music of David P26 Matthews, Vaughan Williams and MacCunn* Wed 8 8pm Duke Special* P19 Thu 9 7.30pm The Lark Ascending P30 Fri 10 8pm The Magic Band* P20 Sat 11 7.30pm Islands in the Stream P10 Sun 12 2.30pm Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra P30 Sun 12 8pm Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night P38 Mon 13 7.30pm Charlie Landsborough P10 Tue 14 7.30pm Billy Bragg: Bridges Not Walls P10 SELLING FAST Wed 15 8pm Van Morrison P11 Wed 15 8pm Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita* P20 Thu 16 7.30pm Goldie P11 Thu 16 8pm Mawkin* P20 LIMITED Sat 18 11am Discover the Classics – P25 Tim Lihoreau with Sir Bryn Terfel and Vasily Petrenko* Sun 19 4.30pm Classic Intro: Verdi’s Requiem* P31 SOLD OUT Sun 19 6pm Verdi’s Requiem P31 SELLING FAST Mon 20 7.30pm Alison Moyet P11 Tue 21 7.30pm Film: Victoria and Abdul 12A P36 Fri 24 7pm Verdi’s Falstaff P31 Sat 25 8pm Blick Bassy* P20 Sun 26 2.30pm Verdi’s Falstaff P31 Mon 27 1pm Singers from European Opera Centre* P20 Tue 28 8pm Peggy Seeger* P21 Wed 29 7.30pm A Night at the Musicals P31 SOLD OUT Thur 30 7.30pm Chris Rea P11 Thur 30 7.30pm Celebration of Life* P21

Fri 1 7.30pm The Stylistics P11 Sat 2 11am Tim Lihoreau with Guy Barker* P25 Sat 2 7.30pm First Ladies of Swing: Ella, Lena and more P32 Sat 2 8pm The Last Waltz* P21 Sun 3 11am Liverpool Philharmonic Experience P26 Tour: Play (For Families)* Sun 3 8pm The Moulettes* P21 Sun 3 8pm Laughterhouse P38 Mon 4 7.30pm John Wilson and the John Wilson Orchestra P32 Tue 5 8pm Lau* P21 Thu 7 7.30pm A Russian Christmas P32 Fri 8 1.30pm A Russian Christmas P32 LIMITED Fri 8 8pm Jon Richardson P38 Sat 9 7.30pm Kate Rusby at Christmas P12 Sun 10 2.30pm Stile Antico** P32 Sun 10 7.30pm The Bootleg Beatles in Concert P13 Wed 13 7.30pm Christmas with Katherine Jenkins P13 Thu 14 6.30pm Peter and the Wolf with P24 Alexander Armstrong Thu 14 8pm Connie Lush* P22 Sat 16 11.30am Sat 16 2.30pm Sat 16 7.30pm Sun 17 11.30am Sun 17 2.30pm Sun 17 7.30pm Mon 18 1pm Mon 18 7.30pm Mon 18 8pm Tue 19 7.30pm Wed 20 7.30pm Thu 21 7.30pm Fri 22 7.30pm Sat 23 2.30pm Sun 24 11am Sun 24 2pm Wed 27 7.30pm Thu 28 7pm Sat 30 2.30pm Sat 30 7.30pm Sun 31 7.30pm

Sing-Along with Santa! P24 Sing-Along with Santa! P24 Spirit of Christmas P33 Sing-Along with Santa! P24 Sing-Along with Santa! P24 Spirit of Christmas P33 St Luke’s Ensemble: Secret Santa* P22 Carols by Candlelight P34 Jesús León, tenor and guitar* P22 Spirit of Christmas P33 Christmas Crackers Liverpool Welsh Choral P34 Spirit of Christmas P33 Spirit of Christmas P33 Spirit of Christmas P33 Film: It’s A Wonderful Life U P36 Film: It’s A Wonderful Life U P36 Zimmer vs Williams P13 Sir Ken Dodd P38 Back to the Future: Film with Live Orchestra P36 Back to the Future: Film with Live Orchestra P36 ABBA on New Year’s Eve P34

January 2018 Mon 1 Fri 26

Book tickets now at liverpoolphil.com Box Office 0151 709 3789

2.30pm 8pm

New Year’s Day Prom Dear Esther Live

LiverpoolPhilharmonic @Liverpoolphil

P34 P13

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15% off best available rates *Booking T&C apply*

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Full buffet breakfast £8.00 per person

To reserve your bedroom contact reservations on: 0151 709 7090 or Email Reservations@hiliverpool.com

– Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Offer –

ENJOY A COMPLIMENTARY KIR ROYALE FOR YOU AND YOUR GUESTS To redeem, present this offer when dining

TWO COURSES £10,95 THREE COURSES £12,95 MONDAY TO FRIDAY 12 - 7pm

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