Jan – July 2019
Feel Moved Music | Events | Café Bar | Exhibitions Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 0845 40 24 001
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Welcome Feel Moved – we proclaim it on our leaflets and stamp it across our website and on posters around the city, but what does it mean to you? Is it about using the experience of listening to music in the very special surroundings of St George’s to tap into your inner emotions in a way that’s not quite the same elsewhere, or is it about shifting your perspective in response to a spoken word event and coming around to a new way of seeing the world? There may be no single answer but contained within these pages are more than 100 bespoke opportunities to explore this idea for yourself, with concerts and talks to leave you refreshed, uplifted, curious and more than a little inspired.
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We’ve had some wonderfully positive feedback to our new extension and now that it’s open throughout the day as well as on concert nights, St George’s is ideally placed to play a part in making music an invaluable part of your everyday life. Come in during the daytime to spend time in the café – combine lunch with a concert on Thursdays – and see what’s going on in our smaller performance and heritage spaces, or arrive early for a drink in our bar before wandering through to the main hall to experience some of the greatest musicians of our time.
Welcome
A rousing Viennese upbeat to the year comes courtesy of Aurora Orchestra before we cascade down through an expertly selected offering of classical, jazz, folk, blues and everything in between. As ever, there are stripped back ‘from the heart’ solo concerts, intimate groupings of singers and players and exhilarating, large scale orchestras and choirs who fill the hall with the most intoxicating of sounds. The New Year is all about resolutions too – have you ever caught yourself or a friend saying ‘It’s a subject I’m really drawn towards but I just don’t know where to start’? It’s something I hear a lot when it comes to classical music and this year we’ve decided to do something about it by launching a new Classical Mixtape Live series. The concept is simple: you trust
us to invite the brightest stars of the new generation of musicians to breathe life into an evening of music that introduces music from far and wide, across time and continents and in some unexpected formats. Some music may be familiar but you’ve never been able to name it while some may be altogether new and thrilling to your ears. We think this is going to be a popular series so book up early, get on board from the start and help us spread the word. As ever, our wonderful team is here to offer advice around your booking and to help you find your way around when you arrive – we look forward to welcoming you to St George’s. Suzanne Rolt Chief Executive
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Feel Part of the Future St George’s is a charity. We inspire people from all walks of life to get involved with music making, creativity and culture through our education work and artistic programmes. We support development and performance opportunities for artists and we create magical experiences for audiences. We do this because we passionately believe that music can be life changing. It can fire the imagination, help us look at the world differently and inspire curiosity. Our donors believe this too; without their support, we would be unable continue our work.
‘Great audiences and a great vibe. If you love music then support this great venue’ CO U R TN E Y PI N E, A R TI S T 4
Support Us
Concert by Malkit Singh
Member £40 (£10 Qtr)
Receive benefits including priority booking, updates, promotions and special events, while helping us to achieve our charitable goals.
Benefactor
From £250 (£62.50 Qtr) Enjoy the benefits of a Member, whilst helping us to foster our artistic and education work with communities across the South West.
Ways to join: • By credit card at the box office, over the phone, or online • By cheque made payable to ‘St George’s Bristol’ • By direct debit by completing and returning a direct debit form available online or during your visit For more details on supporter programmes, please visit stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/support-us
Patron
From £1000 (£250 Qtr) Enjoy special insights into the life of St George’s through bespoke events and behind the scenes experiences. Enjoy the benefits of a Benefactor, plus unique opportunities to explore the artistic programme from new perspectives, guided by artists, guest speakers and the St George’s team.
Star Circle
From £2,500 (£625 Qtr) The Star Circle is our programme for major donors who support and champion our ambition and development. In addition to Patron benefits, Star Circle members enjoy an exclusive programme of events, including moments with high profile artists, visits to cultural destinations and an annual supper with Trustees and the Chief Executive.
Education project with Chineke!
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Glass Studio The Glass Studio is our brand new performance space above our Café Bar. We’re using it for an expansive range of concerts, talks and workshops designed to get beneath the skin of music and the creative process. Here's what's coming up in the Glass Studio. Bex Burch from Vula Viel
The Listening Room The Listening Room is an intimate performance space for musician-composers of all kinds to present new material and explain the inspiration behind it. It's an informal setting for open-eared audiences to get up close to artists and the ideas that shape their work. Local composers as well as those from further afield will give an insight into the inner workings of their creative approach. Check our website and social media, and sign up to our e-newsletter, for future announcements. Saturday 16 March | 1.30pm Kate Stapley | £7.50 Fresh off her headline European tour, rising star Kate Stapley gives a sneak preview of her new album in solo format – just voice and guitar – and talks about the genesis of her songs and her approach to songwriting. Kate writes poignant yet playful music fusing folk sensibilities with a modern grasp of what it means to be young today. She has caught the ears of BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson and this is a chance to discover her new songs close up. 6
Saturday 6 April | 1.30pm The Spindle Ensemble | £7.50 The Spindle Ensemble are a quartet of eclectic instrumentalists from Bristol’s music collective Bloom. They play a Celtic harp, accordion, marimba, cello, piano and lots more besides and they perform original music that hovers enigmatically between jazz, folk and classical. They conjure up cinematic scenes and soundscapes; today they play their latest material and talk about the creative process behind the music. ‘Beautiful sounds, definitely a band to watch.’ FI O N A TA L K I N GTO N , B B C R A D I O 3, L AT E J U N C T I O N
The Spindle Ensemble
Glass Studio
Philosophical Times Sat 19 Jan | Sat 16 Feb | Sat 23 Mar Sat 20 Apr | Sun 19 May | Sun 16 Jun All at 11am Tickets: £6 (includes free filter coffee)
Julian Baggini
Philosopher in Residence Our philosopher in residence Julian Baggini is back this spring cross-pollinating our programme with conversations, questions and ideas. He talks with artists about their compositional process, digging beneath the news headlines, and engaging writers, thinkers and doers in their areas of interest. Keep an eye on our website and social media for philosophically-tinged events.
Artists in Conversation We want to hear artists talking more about their creative approach, musical background, working process, collaborative techniques, side projects, political beliefs, you name it: whatever motivates and shapes their art. We’ll be inviting a tantalising selection of musicians to give a glimpse into their world and creative vision. Check the website for announcements! Saturday 26 January | 6.30pm Brona McVittie | £5, free to concert goers Brona McVittie’s debut album We Are the Wildlife was a deep reflection on the interconnectedness of things natural and manmade. It garnered widespread praise (‘A rare, and rarified, beauty’ The Independent). Before her evening show, Brona discusses her creative preoccupations and how her background as a biologist has influenced her music.
Join Julian Baggini in his regular monthly look into the philosophy behind the headlines. Taking his cue from the weekend papers, he unpacks the often under-explored philosophical issues tied up with the big issues of the day and leading their discussion. Suggest which news stories you’d like to be discussed on the day or in advance on social media using the hashtag #SGPhilosophy. Anything could come up: from issues of war and peace to sporting triumph and disaster. Free filter coffee is included to keep your brain sharp.
Friday 29 March | 7.30pm Bex Burch from Vula Viel In conversation with Julian Baggini | £7 Bex Burch lived, farmed and studied music with a tribe in Upper West Ghana for three years before she formed her spellbinding, acclaimed trio Vula Viel. Tonight she talks to our resident philosopher about her experience absorbing another culture and how it has shaped her music. She has her Gyil (xylophone) with her so expect some impromptu demonstrations! Thursday 23 May | 6.45pm Steve Williamson in conversation £5, free to concert goers Steve Williamson is one of the most original and distinctive saxophonists on the UK jazz scene. Before his concert he gives a glimpse into his influences, approach to playing and creative process. 7
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Lunchtime Concerts
Mela Guitar Quartet
Ruth Harrison from the Cadran Trio
Duo Dorado
Maria Gilicel
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Thu 24 Jan | Mela Guitar Quartet Park Lane Group Young Artists 2018/19, these four exceptional guitarists present their own thrilling arrangements of SaintSaen’s Bacchanale and Milhaud’s Brazileira (‘Scaramouche’), plus original works for guitar quartet. melagq.com Thu 31 Jan | Cadran Trio This new and exciting young ensemble, whose members met whilst students at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, performs Weber’s Trio in G Minor, Gaubert’s Serenade (‘Trois Aquarelles’) and Debussy’s Trio in G. Thu 7 Feb | Emma Abbate / Julian Perkins, 4 hands / 1 piano Seasoned duet recitalists Julian Perkins and Emma Abbate present a wonderful collection of original works for 4 hands / 1 piano: Mozart’s Andante mit Variation, CM von Weber’s Six Pieces Op 10a, Debussy’s Petite Suite and two of Dvorak’s lively Slavonic Dances. Thu 14 Feb | Duo Dorado Hazel Brooks Violin David Pollock Harpsichord This acclaimed duo presents ‘A Celebration of Bach’: a sumptuous selection of Bach’s Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord (BWV 1021, 1014, 1015), alongside two Prelude & Fugues (BWV 885, 872) from the much-loved ‘Well-Tempered Clavier’, all introduced with colourful anecdotes from his life. Thu 21 Feb | Maria Gilicel Violin Thomas Kelly Piano Currently a winner of the prestigious Tillet Trust Young Artists’ Platform, Romanian violinist Maria Gilicel is joined by fellow RCM student Thomas Kelly to perform popular violin sonatas by Beethoven (Op 12 No1) and Cesar Franck, beautifully contrasted with Krzysztor Penderecki’s Candenza for Solo Violin. Supported by The Tillett Trust.
Lunchtime Concerts
Thu 7 Mar | Reiko Fujisawa Piano Japanese pianist Reiko Fujisawa has curated a programme celebrating the bicentenary of Clara Wieck Schumann, featuring Brahms’ Intermezzo Op 119 No 2, Chopin’s Impromptus 1 & 2, Robert Schumann’s Carnaval de Vienna, Schumann/Liszt’s Widmung & Frühlingsnacht and two works by Clara herself. reikofujisawa.com
Reiko Fujisawa
Thu 14 March | Evva & Emma Duo Evva Mizerska Cello / Emma Abbate Piano A delightful programme of romance and fairy tale from the long-standing duo of Evva Miserska and Emma Abbate: Schumann’s Five Pieces in Folk Style, Janacek’s Pohadka (‘Fairy Tale’), Debussy’s Cello Sonata in D minor and Stephen Dodgson’s Two Romantic Pieces (1969). Thu 2 May | Peter Cigleris Clarinet Martin Cousin Piano This accomplished duo presents a dazzling concert of works for clarinet and piano: Poulenc’s Clarinet Sonata, Stanford’s Three Intermezzi, Carl Maria Von Weber’s Grand Duo Concertante and Michèle Mangani’s Blues on Gershwin’s ‘American in Paris’ Thu 9 May | A4 Brass Quartet These four brilliant musicians provide a distinctive and new take on chamber music, with a programme that includes Bate’s Toccata, Smetana’s Overture to the Bartered Bride, Bruckner’s Locus Iste and Grainger’s Molly on the Shore. Supported by The Tillett Trust.
Evva & Emma Duo
Peter Cigleris
A4 Brass Quartet
All Concerts | 1pm Tickets £8; Free 8 – 25s Lasts up to 60 minutes
Multi-buy offer:
Lunch
> Buy a series ticket for just £45. Save £27!
> Enjoy lunch in our new Café Bar when coming to our lunchtime concerts 9
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 13 January | 4pm Tickets: £20, £18, £15, £13, £10, £8, Free Under 25s
IMS Prussia Cove Sándor Végh Memorial Concert
Christoph Richter
Mozart Adagio and Fugue in C minor K 546 Beethoven Grosse Fuge Op 133 Beethoven String Quartet No 14 in C sharp minor Op 131
Lesley Hatfield
With renowned cellist Steven Isserlis as Artistic Director since 1996, IMS Prussia Cove has become one of classical music’s most respected institutions and many of the world’s greatest performers and composers consider our seminars a major influence on their musical development. This special project reunites a group of musicians who are all former students of legendary Hungarian violinist and IMS Prussia Cove’s Founder Sándor Végh. In 1987 and 1989 these musicians formed a small string orchestra conducted by Sándor Végh, and recorded Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge and String Quartet Op 131; 30 years later, IMS Prussia Cove have brought together as many of the original performers as possible. Now musicians with busy international careers, including Lesley Hatfield, Ulrike-Anima Mathé, and Christoph Richter, this memorial concert features fresh performances of the pieces they originally recorded.
Ulrike-Anima Mathe
> Charles Esten 17 January | SOLD OUT > Welcome to Night Vale 29 January | SOLD OUT If you would like to be put on our waiting list for either of these events, please contact our Box Office. i-m-s.org.uk @internationalmusiciansseminar
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January
Friday 18 January | 7.30pm Tickets: £35, £30, £25, £20, £5 Students*
Saturday 19 January | 11am & 3.15pm Tickets: £3 for performance, £14 for participants, £5 Students*
Richard Goode
Raise the Roof
JS Bach Preludes & Fugues from The WellTempered Clavier Book II (selected) Berg Piano Sonata Beethoven Piano Sonata No 28 in A Chopin Mazurkas, Nocturnes, Ballade, Barcarolle (selected)
In his inimitable style, Bristol choir director David Ogden returns to lead another hugely popular singing day for all ages and abilities. Come on your own or as part of a group to sing music from stage and screen including songs from Les Miserables, Mamma Mia and The Greatest Showman. There is also a chance to sing some of the immortal hits by Aretha Franklin. The massed group of singers is joined by a live band in the afternoon finishing with an informal concert for friends and family at 3.15pm. A hugely enjoyable event – don't miss it!
American master Richard Goode has been hailed for music-making of tremendous emotional power, depth and expressiveness, and is recognised worldwide as one of today’s leading interpreters of Classical and Romantic music. A regular performer in the major recital halls and festivals across Europe and the US, Goode also performs as soloist with some of the world’s finest orchestras. ‘There are brilliant young things among pianists, and there are wise old birds, who show their wisdom naturally in everything they do, without grandstanding or elaborate highlighting of details. Richard Goode is one of the latter sort.’ T H E DA I LY T EL EG R A PH
And don't miss... Philosophical Times with Julian Baggini Saturday 19 January | 11am See p7 for details
richardgoodepiano.com
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 20 January | 7pm Tickets: £32.50
Thursday 24 January | 8pm Tickets: £25, £20, £15
Neil and Liam Finn
Band of Burns
Neil and Liam Finn, the father and son duo, have created an amazing body of songs as distinct artists and taken them to the world. They have travelled into some remote and surprising places, along the way giving comfort and inspiration to millions. Neil and Liam have just released Lightsleeper, their first collaborative album together.
Band of Burns is a collaboration of 12 artists from the top echelons of the folk scene, coming together to perform a truly distinct show which celebrates the life, works and philosophies of Robert Burns. Featuring the mesmerising vocals of Ríoghnach Connolly (Afro Celt Sound System) and award-winning Scottish folk rabble-rousers The Langan Band, the show includes new versions of classic Burns songs, original compositions and instrumental sets.
Neil is known for his bands Split Enz and Crowded House (and now as the newest member of Fleetwood Mac). Liam has defined himself outside of the mainstream with three solo albums of sonic exploration, all the while retaining the family knack for melodic hooks and effortless song craft.
Bringing elements of the musical traditions of their homelands; Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, and Turkey, as well as a love of Burns’ writings. They all share a belief in the values he championed – equality, social justice and the power of love – and in their pressing relevance in today’s troubled times.
Neil and Liam, along with the family matriarch Sharon on bass, and Liam’s brother, Elroy (Neil's youngest son) on drums, perform songs from Lightsleeper, along with favourites from back catalogues.
'Nourishing stuff beyond its times, another warm, welcoming stew to feed the bones’
neilandliamfinn.com
bandofburns.com
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T H E G UA R D I A N
January
Friday 25 January | 7.30pm Tickets: £35, £30, £25, £20, £5 Students*
Florilegium The Complete Brandenburg Concertos JS Bach’s gift of six concertos to the Margrave of Brandenburg in 1721 was conceived as an elaborate and ultimately unsuccessful pitch for courtly employment. For their melodic and harmonic invention, and for the sheer variety of their instrumental line-ups, ‘The Brandenburgs’ have rightly come to be celebrated as one of the crowning musical achievements of the Baroque era. One of the world’s great baroque ensembles, an expanded 20-plus Florilegium brings these masterpieces to life in all their glorious colour – the soaring solo trumpet of the second concerto, the three-way virtuosity for flute, violin and harpsichord in the fifth, pairs of horns and recorders dominating the first and fourth, and distinctive string line-ups characterising the third and sixth concertos.
‘ This is consummate musicmaking that reflects the players’ evident joy with this repertoire. And by adjusting the order and the instrumentation, Florilegium has given us a particularly fresh and vibrant-sounding reading’ CL A S SI C FM
florilegium.org.uk
And don't miss... Lunchtime Concert Thursday 24 January | 1pm > Mela Guitar Quartet See p8 for details 13
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Saturday 26 January | 8pm Tickets: £18, £15, £5 Students*
Thursday 31 January | 7.30pm Tickets: £17.50
Chris Smither and special guest The Suitcase Junket
Bokanté
Chris Smither is an American original. Drawing deeply from folk and blues, modern poets and philosophers, his road-worn voice, artful lyrics and electrifying guitar have carved him out as a total one-off. Tonight he performs songs from his newest record Call Me Lucky – packed with trademark songs that offer wry commentary on the human condition – as well as digging deep into his back catalogue of favourites. Joining Chris is young American songwriter The Suitcase Junket (Matt Lorenz) whose music is rooted in the salvaged sounds of mountain ballads, blues manifestos, American juke joints and back porches.
Bokanté perform live in celebration of their much anticipated album with the Metropole Orkest, What Heat. Bokanté are the fresh new supergroup founded by musician and composer Michael League, he of Grammy Awardwinning, Texan-bred, New York-based instrumental jazz collective Snarky Puppy. A super group of players from five countries and four continents, different genders, races and generations working in harmony, celebrating individuality. A band whose members are united in the belief that music should be a voice for the voiceless, a force for change against a rising tide of exclusion and indifference in a world that is, well, reaching boiling point. Presented by Band on the Wall.
And don't miss...
And don't miss...
Glass Studio: Artist in Conversation Saturday 26 January | 6.30pm & 8pm > Brona McVittie See p7 & p63 for full details
Lunchtime Concert Thursday 31 January | 1pm > Cadran Trio See p8 for details
smither.com @chrissmither_ 14
bokante.com @bokantemusic
February
Friday 1 February | 7.30pm Tickets: £20 (upstairs, reserved) £15 (downstairs, unreserved) £5 Students* Adam Heron
Classical Mixtape Live 1 Adam Heron Piano Daniel Pioro Violin Laura van der Hejden Cello Amy Dickson Saxophone Exultate Singers | David Ogden Director
Daniel Pioro
This is the perfect try-it-out event for those a bit nervous about giving classical a go. There’s a huge variety of music – some of which you might not think you know (but you probably do) and all of which is thrilling, soothing, moving or energising. Composers include Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Ravel, Satie, Tavener and Eric Whitacre.
Laura van der Hejden
You can sit, stand or lie down. There are two main performance stages, but performers move around the space and crop up in surprising places. No piece of music is longer than about five minutes. You can keep your phones on, and take drinks in. Amy Dickson
And – let's not forget to mention – the performances are all memorably top-notch. In short, this is an event that defies preconceptions of what a classical concert is. See you there! #ClassicalMixtapeLive
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Saturday 2 February | 7.30pm Tickets: £20
Tuesday 5 February | 7pm Tickets: £5; free for students / under 18s
Eduardo Niebla
Young Artist Showcase / Tom Eveson Gala Concert
Hailed by the Guardian for his ‘exquisite guitar playing’, the formidable virtuoso Eduardo Niebla presents his amazing repertoire of ‘stunning flamenco jazz’ with guitarist Matthew Robinson. A master of today’s generation Eduardo has traversed the worlds of jazz, classical, world and pop music, collaborating with such diverse partners as Craig David, Juno Reactor, sitar maestro Nishat Khan, Lol Coxhill (sax) and the Dante String Quartet. He is a phenomenal artist whose artistry and passion knows no bounds.
Our annual celebratory evening showcasing young performers from Bristol Cathedral Choir School and Churchill Academy & Sixth Form, including winners of the ‘Churchill Young Musician of the Year 2019’ competition.
‘A stunning collection of originals showing what Jelly Roll Morton called the Spanish ‘tinge’ is still a potent force’ JAZZ UK
eduardoniebla.com @eduardoniebla 16
The evening also includes performances by recipients of the Tom Eveson Bursary – administered through St George’s, this is an award for promising young musicians – and by young musicians representing the current winner of the St George’s Prize for Music.
February
Thursday 7 February | 8pm Tickets: £24, £21, £5 Students*
Friday 8 February | 7.30pm Tickets: £30, £25, £20, £15, £5 Students*
Claire Martin & Ray Gelato Let There Be Love
Paul Lewis Haydn, Brahms & Beethoven IV
The reigning queen of UK jazz vocalists, Claire Martin, joins forces with singer and saxophonist Ray Gelato (‘The Godfather of Swing’) and the consummate musicians of the Dave Newton Trio for a grand tour of some of the best-loved romantic numbers in the Great American Songbook. Embraceable You, That’s Amore, When I Fall in Love and many more are among the delights of this brand new show, which visits St George’s as part of its debut run.
Haydn Piano Sonata in E minor Hob XVI/34 Brahms Three Intermezzi Op 117 Beethoven 33 Variations on C on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli Op 120
‘Claire Martin ranks among the four or five finest female jazz vocalists on the planet’ JA ZZ TIMES USA
And don't miss... Lunchtime Concert Thursday 7 February | 1pm > Emma Abbate / Julian Perkins, 4 hands / 1 piano See p8 for details raygelato.com | @gelatoray clairemartinjazz.co.uk | @CMartinjazz
Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, New York – as one of the most celebrated pianists of his generation, Paul Lewis’s concert schedule takes him all over the world and fortunately for Bristol he has a close relationship with St George’s. Tonight he gives the final concert in a series that has brought moments of startling originality, raw emotion and a generous dose of quirkish humour from three of classical music’s greatest composers: Haydn, Brahms and Beethoven. This journey comes full circle with that most astonishing of works, Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, and one of the most remarkable endings in all music: a final, Haydnesque chord that signals arrival but, for us, the end of an unforgettable musical venture. ‘Lewis’s way with these pieces is masterly’ T H E I N D EPEN D EN T, J U N E 2 018
paullewispiano.co.uk @paullewispiano 17
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 10 February | 7.30pm Tickets: £20, £15, £5 Students*
Barokksolistene's The Alehouse Sessions The walls erected between folk and classical have grown tall over the years. But The Alehouse Sessions – brainchild of Norwegian violinist Bjarte Eike – take us back to the time of Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth, when the two genres joyously co-habited in taverns. With theatres closed and church music banned, England's pubs became filled with highly-trained musicians only too ready to perform in these less formal surroundings.
Acclaimed Norwegian Baroque ensemble Barokksolistene’s Alehouse Sessions transform St George’s into one of these so-called 17th century Musick-Houses, mixing up Purcell with sea shanties and Scandinavian folksongs in performances that are raw yet sophisticated, seductive and sparkling – accompanied by anecdotes, humour and – of course – beer! As the slogan of Barokksolistene reminds us, ‘it's just old pop music’ . These sessions have already been hailed as ‘irresistible’ (The Times), ‘superb’ (The Scotsman) and ‘fabulously unrestrained... unlocking the joy of musicmaking’ (The Guardian).
‘An irresistible and totally organic fusion of styles – their eclecticism underpinned by skill and a spirit of inquisitive, joyous music-making…’ THE ARTS DESK
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February
Tuesday 12 February | 7pm Tickets: £10, £8, £4.50 partner rate
Tracey Thorn
Singer-songwriter Tracey Thorn talks to Festival of Ideas Director Andrew Kelly about her new memoir A Teenager in Suburbia and her formative years that were forged from what failed to happen: not buying things, not going to the disco, the school coach not arriving… Returning more than three decades later to Brookmans Park, scene of her childhood, Thorn takes us beyond the bus shelters and pub car parks, the utopian cul-de-sacs, the train to Potters Bar and the weekly discos, to the parents who wanted so much for their children, the children who wanted none of it. With her trademark wit and insight, she reconsiders the greenbelt post-war dream so many artists have mocked, and so many artists have come from. This talk will be one hour long.
‘Thorn is the rarest of things: a singer whose phrasing is as good on the page as it is through a microphone’ J O H N N IV EN
traceythorn.com @tracey_thorn 19
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Thursday 14 February | 8pm Tickets: £23, £20, £5 Students*
Silje Nergaard
After the success of her recent sold out tours, Norwegian songstress Silje Nergaard returns to the UK. Her latest album For You A Thousand Times was released in Europe to critical acclaim in 2017 and Silje will be performing tracks from this alongside songs that span the length of her 25 year career. Silje’s 2001 album At First Light remains the best selling Norwegian Jazz album of all time and featured the beautiful and haunting Be Still My Heart. This is a rare chance to see a truly stunning international and inspiring artist in concert.
And don't miss... Lunchtime Concert Thursday 14 February | 1pm > Duo Dorado See p8 for details siljenergaard.com
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February
Friday 15 February | 7.30pm Tickets: £25, £20, £15, £5 Students*
Sunday 17 February | 3pm & 6pm Tickets: £6; Family Ticket available £5 Students*
Piers Lane & The Goldner String Quartet
Sound of Sci-ence
JS Bach Prelude and Fugue in F sharp minor BWV 883 Chopin Sonata for Piano in B flat minor Op 35 Beethoven String Quartet in F minor Op 95 Korngold Piano Quintet
3pm The Sound of Sci-ence For families Science presenter Matthew Tosh brings his quirky take on sound to the beautiful acoustics of St George’s. We ask important questions including why do burps and farts make a noise? Why do things sound funny underwater? Can we break the sound barrier without breaking St George’s? Join Matthew and a stage full of noise for this mind-bending, entertaining and occasionally bone-shaking show.
London-based Australian pianist comes to Bristol with his Sydney-resident compatriots, the Goldner Quartet, indisputably the finest chamber ensemble downunder. Established in 1995, and still featuring the same founder members, the Goldners have worked closely with Piers Lane for many years, notably in a series of acclaimed quintet recordings for Hyperion. After Bach and Chopin from Lane, and Beethoven from the quartet, they come together for Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s youthful quintet, a work of expansive late romanticism that confidently presages his glorious Violin Concerto and Hollywood film scores.
And don't miss... Philosophical Times with Julian Baggini Saturday 16 February | 11am See p7 for details pierslane.com @PianoPiersLane
6pm The Sound of Sci-ence For teens & adults Sound gets deconstructed as we delve into the science of vibrations. Science presenter Matthew Tosh brings his infectious enthusiasm to the stage and takes us on a sound-infused journey of discovery. The former percussionist and physicist has long been fascinated by sound and how it behaves. Rich with demonstrations that you can feel as well as hear, Matthew attempts to break the sound barrier in the delicate acoustic of St George’s and explains why our bodies have a habit of making embarrassing noises. matthewtosh.com @MatthewTosh 21
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001 FAMILY EVENT
Tuesday 19 February | 7pm Tickets: £29.50
Wednesday 20 February | 11.45am Tickets: £6 | Family Ticket available
Lamont Dozier
Wild Words Sindbad the Sailor!
With Jo Harman support
Michael Loader Storyteller/performer Knud Stuwe Musician Natalie Bibi Arabic dancer
Lamont Dozier has written over 50 number 1 hits for artists such as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & the Supremes, The Four Tops and more as part of the songwriting team Holland/Dozier/Holland. Lamont and his band, featuring acclaimed musician/producer/arranger Fred Mollin, will perform his classic hits in support of a new album, which ‘re-imagines’ these iconic songs in a more intimate, more ‘unplugged’ format. Lamont will also, no doubt, share many of the stories behind the songs. Presented by AGMP
Jump on board an ancient sewn ship from the Middle East, hoist the mainsail and journey across the Arabian Sea to destinations unknown for adventure after adventure with one of the most famous seafarers of all time… Sindbad! Join his reckless crew to escape the spew and spit of a spuming whale, marvel at bejewelled somersaulting sheep, confront the dangers of banana propelling monkeys and help solve the moral dilemma of the watermelon headed man! Featuring live Arabic music and dance… hair dryers, hoovers and hoummus as extras!
10.45am | Playshop | Free to ticketholders Pre-booking is required Listen and fall in love with the ‘king of instruments’, the soulful oud and learn an Arabic dance for the final scene lamontdozier.com
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wildwordsstorytellers.co.uk somersetstoryfest.co.uk
February
Thursday 21 February | 8pm Tickets: £22, £20, £18, £15, £5 Students*
Saturday 23 February | 7.30pm Tickets: £10, £7
Lau
Brothas With Attitude
Scottish folk pioneers Lau return with their first new music since 2015’s The Bell That Never Rang (***** The Guardian). The new music was written in Shetland and highlights the continuation of Lau’s experimental approach to folk music with increasingly minimal arrangements in song form which include the themes of togetherness and forgiveness. Among the new songs is Scapa Flow 1919 written for the BBC Radio Ballads series around the experience of the stranded German sailors leading up to the scuttling of the Grand Fleet at the end of WW1. As always with Lau there’s plenty of progression on a purely sonic level too. Their new music continues to explore the marriage of acoustic and electronic sources and the arrangements continue down the path of intertwining instrumental music and song. Lau put a lot of thought into the live experience and presentation, something anyone who shared in Lau’s acclaimed Decade tour will know.
Following Ujima’s two great female-led performances it is now the turn of the men to take centre stage. Brothas With Attitude showcases singers, spoken word performers, DJs and other Bristol-based artists – with mental health and wellbeing as the main theme. It brings an evening of powerful creative talent from the African diaspora to inspire and lift the soul through art and heritage.
lau-music.co.uk @LAUmusic
Brothas With Attitude is a Ujima Radio Heritage event in partnership with St George’s, produced by Roger Griffith, and celebrates ten years of Ujima Radio.
And don't miss... Lunchtime Concert Thursday 21 February | 1pm > Maria Gilicel & Thomas Kelly See p8 for details ujimaradio.com @Ujimaradio 23
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 24 February | 7.30pm Tickets: £35, £30, £25, £20 £5 Students*
BBC National Orchestra of Wales Beethoven's Violin Concerto
‘Masterful music-making’ TH E TI M ES
bbc.co.uk/bbcnow @bbcnow 24
Aleksey Semenenko Violin Jiri Rozen Conductor Smetana Scherzo from the Triumph Symphony Dvorak Serenade for Strings Beethoven Violin Concerto If you've yet to experience the thrill of hearing the big sound of one of the UK's finest symphony orchestras at St George's, this is a chance to put that right. Wales’ acclaimed national orchestra comes to St George’s with a programme crowned by Beethoven’s mighty Violin Concerto, and adorned further by two exciting young talents, still both in their 20s. Czech conductor Jiri Rozen’s success at the Salzburg and Donatella Flick conducting competitions has led to a string of engagements with orchestras such as the Czech Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic. Ukrainian violinist Aleksey Semenenko, praised in The Strad for ‘an unparalleled level of refined musicianship and stage presence’, has recently joined the prestigious BBC New Generation Artist programme.
February | March
Thursday 28 February | 7.30pm Tickets: £12 advance / £15 on the door
Friday 1 March | 7.30pm Tickets: £24, £21, £18, £15, £5 Students*
Fantasy Orchestra Adventures in Transcription
Haffner Wind Ensemble Mozart's Serenade for 13 Winds
The Fantasy Orchestra are an open-to-all community orchestra based in Bristol and Paris and are celebrating the release of their first LP which brings together an eclectic mix of music by diverse artists such as Sun Ra and Caetano Veloso, folk musician Richard Dawson, Brooklyn-based post punk duo Buke and Gase and electronic composer Disasterpeace, as well as local composers.
Beethoven Rondino WoO25 Dvorak Serenade Op 44 Mozart Serenade ‘Gran Partita’ K361
Arrangements are expanded to their full harmonic breadth and richness to allow every instrument a part in every piece.
Led by Britain’s undisputed king of the oboe – and all-round force-of-nature great musician – Nicholas Daniel, the Haffner Wind Ensemble features a roll-call of outstanding wind soloists who come together for equally outstanding chamber music performances. Their concert here is crowned by Mozart’s extraordinary Serenade for 13 Winds (actually 12 winds and double-bass!) whose expansive seven-movement structure includes an Adagio that features so strikingly near the start of Peter Schaffer’s play/film Amadeus. As Salieri so memorably recalls in his sour old age: ‘This was no composition by a performing monkey. This was a music I'd never heard. Filled with such longing, such unfulfillable longing. It seemed to me that I was hearing the voice of God.’
fantasyorchestra.org @FantasyOrch 25
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001 FAMILY EVENT
Saturday 2 March | 7.45pm Tickets: £20, £17, £5
Sunday 3 March | 10.15am, 12pm, 2pm Tickets: £6 | Family Ticket available
Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra Slavonic Romance & Fairy-Tales of Adventure
MiniBeats Brilliant Brass!
Glinka Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture Dvorak Cello Concerto Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherezade
Limber up those lips and take a deep breath: join presenter Laura Tanner and Brilliant Brass players from the Bristol Ensemble for a musical journey through the history of brass instruments. Learn about the instruments of the brass family, and listen to exciting sounds from fanfares to film music. Join in during the show AND stay afterwards for the chance to try out some of the instruments. Not to be missed!
Guy Johnston, previous winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year, is one of the most exciting and versatile British cellists of his generation. The abundant, lyrical inventiveness of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto is the perfect vehicle for his ‘burnished and varied sound’ (New York Times). The irresistible Slavonic colours of Dvorak’s concerto are mirrored by the exotic scenepainting of two other composers in tales of myth and magic. Glinka’s glittering overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila is dominated by nationalistic themes whilst Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade is an apotheosis of Russian orientalism, elegantly combining seductive story-telling with vivid instrumentation and stirring tunefulness. BHCO are delighted to be performing again under the baton of Berlin-based conductor, Catherine Larsen-Maguire. bhco.co.uk
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10:15am For children aged 3 – 5 12pm For children aged 5 – 8 2pm ‘Relaxed Performance’* *Perfect for people of all ages who benefit from a more relaxed performance environment. For further information on relaxed performances, please visit stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/venue-info/ accessibility/ Ages are guidelines only. Running time 45 minutes without interval.
March
Wednesday 6 March | 8pm Tickets: £17, £15, £5 Students*
Thursday 7 March | 8pm Tickets: £18, £16, £5 Students*
Coven
Laura Jurd + guests Stepping Back, Jumping In
Coven is the collective of three of the British folk scene’s finest, most formidable and forthright acts: the exquisitely harmonic songwriting duo and BBC 6 Music favourites O’Hooley & Tidow, the enchanting BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Finalists Lady Maisery, and the irrepressible Leicester songwriter, activist and performer Grace Petrie. In 2014, the six of them got together to celebrate International Women’s Day in March and since then the tour has extended year on year with 2017 seeing them release EP ‘Unholy Choir’. Tonight you can experience these thoughtprovoking, heartfelt, entertaining and enthralling women performing individually and collectively on one stage.
Featuring the Ligeti Quartet, Dinosaur, Heida Mobeck & Anja Lauvdal
‘While still sounding like three clear entities, they drew palpable strength and conviction in the new format and were one of the highlights of the day’ T H E G UA R D I A N
And don't miss... Lunchtime Concert Thursday 7 March | 1pm > Reiko Fujisawa Piano See p9 for details
Curated by trumpet player/composer Laura Jurd, Stepping Back, Jumping In is a celebration of new sounds featuring worldclass improvisers and contemporary musicmakers from Norway and the UK, resulting in a dynamic, 14-piece ensemble. Mercurynominated band Dinosaur at the core, Jurd invites contemporary string specialists, the Ligeti Quartet; acclaimed Norwegian tuba and electronics duo Heida Mobeck & Anja Lauvdal and British/Iranian composer Soosan Lolavar; plus UK master-improvisers Rob Luft; Raphael Clarkson and Liz Exell to join forces to premiere some brand-new works written specially for the ensemble. The ensemble premieres a number of newly commissioned works by various members of the ensemble. A bold and ambitious meeting of creative minds, this is sure to be a unique and spell-binding evening.
laurajurd.com @LauraJurd 27
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Friday 8 March | 7.30pm Tickets: £18, £15, £5 Students*
Sean Shibe softLOUD
James Oswald Divertimenti No 12 Scottish Lute Music from the Balcarres, Rowallan, Straloch and Wemyss manuscripts (c.1695 – 1702) James Macmillan Motet No 1 for theorbo (Since it was the Day of Preparation) arr Sean Shibe James Macmillan From Galloway (2000) (transcribed/harmonised George Duthie, edited/arranged Sean Shibe) Peter Maxwell Davies Farewell to Stromness Steve Reich Electric Counterpoint for electric guitar and tape Julia Wolfe LAD (2007) David Lang Killer (2009)
Featuring an entire sonic journey from ‘soft’ to ‘LOUD’ repertoire, this revelatory programme juxtaposes Jacobean lute music for classical guitar with electric guitar arrangements of multi-tracked repertoire. This includes US Pulitzer Prize winning composer Julia Wolfe’s elegy LAD, (originally written for nine bagpipes), David Lang’s Killer and Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint.
The reviews are in:
‘Bracingly original… the results, like the performances themselves, are spectacular’ G R A M O PH O N E
‘A definitive performance of Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint’ T H E G UA R D I A N
‘Surprisingly urgent and thrusting’ B B C M U S I C M AGA ZI N E
seanshibe.com @seanstshibe 28
March
Saturday 9 March | 7.30pm Tickets: £15, £13, £12, £10, £8, £6, £1
Sunday 10 March | 7pm Tickets: £15, £12, £8, £5
Bristol Concert Orchestra
Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra
Frankie Carr Cello Jo Edwards Violin Stefan Hofkes Conductor
Aaron Copland Fanfare for the Common Man Joan Tower Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman Benjamin Britten Violin Concerto Op 15 – soloist Ben Baker Jean Sibelius Symphony No 2 in D major
Bantock The Sea Rivers Bruch Kol Nidrei Saint-Saens La Muse et le Poète Schubert Symphony No.9 ‘Great’ Bantock's tumultuous Sea Rivers (a ‘Hebridean Sea-Poem’ depicting the exploits of Hebridean pirates), gives way to the captivating beauty and calm of Bruch’s Kol Nidrei. Cellist Frankie Carr is then joined by violinist Jo Edwards in the Saint-Saens La Muse et le Poète – something of an intimate conversation between the two instruments. For the grand finale, Schubert’s Great Symphony (No 9). The last symphony he completed, it was written when he (mistakenly) thought his ill-health had abated, so this work is full of the joys of life including the breathtaking and restless last movement. bristolconcertorchestra.org.uk
Come and be inspired by music that reflects the human struggle for freedom and justice. Two contrasting fanfares will open the concert, representing the aspirations for equality among different groups. The Britten violin concerto explores Britten’s struggles with his own demons, where hope glimmers through a deeper sadness. Sibelius referred to his second symphony as a confession for the soul, while many saw the final triumphant movement as an expression of Finland’s hope for independence.
bristolmetropolitanorchestra.com
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Tuesday 12 March | 7pm Tickets: £12
Wednesday 13 March | 7.30pm Tickets: £26, £20, £15, £10
Going Beyond Diving Deep, Climbing High
Bristol Ensemble plays Ludovico Einaudi
This year, the Youth Adventure Trust’s Going Beyond Series has a line up to inspire you to climb high and to dive deep.
In a Time Lapse Experience; Burning; Life; Run; Waterways; Time Lapse Devenire No.2; Primavera; Svanire; L’origine nascosta Elements Petricor
Diving deep: Andy Torbet is an underwater explorer, a deep sea and cave diver as well as a skydiver and a climber. Andy's passion for exploring has taken him to sunken cities, underwater cave systems, deep wrecks, unexplored reefs and free diving with sharks. He often combines his adventures with TV and film production, academic studies and is a zoologist, archaeologist and self confessed science geek.
The Bristol Ensemble performs some of the most famous pieces composed by Ludovico Einaudi to the backdrop of beautiful images of nature. Scored for piano and strings, the ethereal works create a meditative atmosphere, creating waves of emotion that engulf the listener. An unmissable evening of music and images.
Climbing high: Jo Bradshaw is an outdoor instructor and expedition leader. She is currently undertaking the Messner 7 Summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of adventurers and talks to us about the journey from her former life to the adventurer she has now become, simply as a consequence of saying yes!
youthadventuretrust.org.uk
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bristolensemble.com
March
Thursday 14 March | 6pm Tickets: £5 / Free for U18s
Tuesday 19 March | 7pm Tickets: £6, £4
Cosmos & Friends
QEH
Cosmos Children’s Community Choir Choirs of Merchants’ Academy Primary School Big Friendly Choir
The Annual Spring Concert is the major classical music event of the QEH year and is a celebration of the musical ability of the pupils. Talented young musicians will perform a wide ranging repertoire in various instrumental ensembles and choirs.
An hour positively bursting with enthusiastic singing from these wonderful choirs! Now in its tenth year, the Cosmos Children’s Community Choir is St George’s flagship long-term education project. Cosmos is open to all children from schools in the Knowle West area of South Bristol, with up to 30 young singers in its ranks at any one time, all sharing a love of singing. They are joined for this concert by the equally enthusiastic and talented young choirs of Merchants’ Academy Primary School, and, to add that glowing intergenerational feel, by the Big Friendly Choir of Bedminster.
And don't miss... Glass Studio: The Listening Room Saturday 16 March | 1.30pm > Kate Stapley See p6 for full details
And don't miss... Lunchtime Concert Thursday 14 March | 1pm > Evva & Emma Duo See p9 for details qehbristol.co.uk
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Thursday 21 – Sunday 24 March Full times and prices for individual events to be announced via our website
Wednesday 20 March | 7.30pm Tickets: £10, £6, £3
BUMS Chamber Choir
Bristol Jazz & Blues Festival
This year’s works include Schumann’s Symphony No 2, Op 61, Brahms' Schicksalslied, and Haydn’s The Seasons and Insanae et Vanae Curae. Bristol University Music Society are proud to present their annual collaborative concert between the Chamber Choir and Chamber Orchestra. Schumann’s 2nd symphony, his first major symphonic work following his illness explores both the hardships of his suffering as well as his joy at overcoming these. Brahms' Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny), is a setting of a poem by Hölderlin representing the contrast between the lives of those in Elysium and those of mortals stuck on earth, struggling against Fate and Destiny. Haydn’s Seasons expertly uses instruments to show the change of the harsh winter into the delicate beauty of spring.
And don't miss... Philosophical Times with Julian Baggini Saturday 23 March | 11am See p7 for details
Check website for full details of individual events and tickets bumsonline.org.uk
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bristoljazzandbluesfest.com
March
Bristol Jazz & Blues Festival is back for its seventh year presenting an exciting programme celebrating jazz and blues from roots to contemporary (21 – 24 March 2019). It features the best international and UK artists, plus special commissions and a masterclass programme. St George’s is part of the Festival’s new ‘Festival Village’ comprising several of Bristol’s best music venues. Tuesday 26 March | 7.30pm Tickets: £30, £25
Seth Lakeman
Seth Lakeman takes a break from the Robert Plant musical juggernaut to release his ninth studio album The Well Worn Path. We welcome the charismatic singersongwriter and multi-instrumentalist to St George's with a new band line-up. The Well Worn Path is a return to a nononsense, organic, classic folk-rock approach with hints of Fairport Convention, Neil Young, Nick Cave and Billy Bragg – plus Lakeman’s trademark foot-stomping, fiddle bow-shredding and soaring vocals. Seth has brought in top producer Ben Hillier and along with long-time collaborator Ben Nicholls on upright and electric bass, and is joined by new boys Kit Hawes on electric and acoustic guitar, and drummer Evan Jenkins. BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner Seth Lakeman’s previous albums include Mercury Prize nominated Kitty Jay and the gold-selling Freedom Fields.
sethlakeman.co.uk @SethLakemanNews 33
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Wednesday 27 March | 7.30pm Tickets: £25, £23, £18, £5 Students*
Thursday 28 March | 8pm Tickets: £20, £18, £15, £5 Students*
Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham
Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali Torchbearers of the Qawwali tradition
Having toured together since 1986 Scotland’s supreme fiddler Aly Bain and world famous accordion player Phil Cunningham have played packed concert halls all over the world, charming audiences with their impassioned sound and deep musical rapport. Witty banter and vibrant, out-of-this-world playing make for a joyous evening of reels, melodies and anecdotes. Quite simply, two of the best traditional musicians on the planet.
The internationally renowned RizwanMuazzam Qawwali return to St George’s for an evening of majestic and entrancing Sufi music. Drawing on a rich vein of Islamic and Sufi poetry, Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music from the Indian subcontinent and Rizwan-Muazzam come from a direct family line of spiritual Qawwali singers that spans five centuries. Performing together since the late 1990s, the brothers have developed a devoted worldwide following with their exceptional live shows and acclaimed albums, including A Better Destiny and Days of Colour. The group have also been working on new material, so you can expect new music alongside Qawwali classics, as Rizwan-Muazzam continue to push the boundaries of the genre. Their imaginative reinterpretation of classic Sufi texts breathes fresh life into this rich centuries old tradition. Presented in association with Asian Arts Agency
philandaly.com
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rizwanmuazzam.com
March
Friday 29 March | 7.30pm Tickets: £25, £20, £15, £5 Students*
Ten Thing Ensemble Grieg Praeludium from the Holberg Suite Grandmothers’ Minuet from Lyric Pieces Gjendine's Lullaby March of the Trolls from Lyric Pieces Albinez Asturias from Suite Española Vivaldi Summer from The Four Seasons Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks Mozart Ronda alla Turca Copland Hoe-Down from Rodeo Bernstein Medley from West Side Story Tchaikovsky Valse Sentimental from Six Pieces Harald Saeverud Kjempeviseslotten from Slåtter og Stev fra Siljustøl Piazzolla Oblivion Bizet Suite from Carmen
Not only is Norwegian Tine Thing Helseth one of the finest trumpeters alive right now, she also heads up one of the most remarkable chamber ensembles anywhere on the planet. The all-female Ten Thing Ensemble is a dectet of fellow Scandinavians with equal amounts of verve and virtuosity. Their programme unashamedly sets out to entertain, with a wide range of composers and well-known pieces all brilliantly on display in superb, bespoke arrangements.
‘Riveting – great music, great players, and great fun to boot’ B ACHTR ACK O N TEN TH I N G AT B B C PR O M S
And don't miss... Glass Studio: Artist in Conversation Friday 29 March | 7.30pm > Bex Burch from Vula Viel in conversation with Julian Baggini Please see p7 for full details tinethinghelseth.com
‘Infectious in their enthusiasm and energy, and their intimacy’ TH E GUA R D I A N
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 31 March | 4pm Tickets: £10, £2.50
Tuesday 2 April | 7pm Tickets: £8, £5
Vibe Pop Rock Choir & Amplify Show Choir Mother's Day Mash Up
Clifton High School
Treat your Mum on Mother's Day to an afternoon of high energy singing for all the family. Enjoy the spectacle of two new children’s choirs: Mini Amps and Generation Vibe who both burst into life in 2018. They are joined by their parent choirs Amplify Show Choir and Vibe Pop/Rock Choir.
The musically-gifted pupils of Clifton High School return to St George’s in spring 2019 for their annual concert. The school’s eclectic, skilful and celebratory concerts are always so warmly received by their audience and this year looks to be their most aspiring performance yet. With music forming an integral part of the curriculum, children from the Junior School join fellow pupils from the Senior School and Sixth Form to showcase an impressive standard of instrumental and choral ability. In this evening’s concert, unique arrangements, in a variety of genres, will be performed by the school’s most promising soloists, choirs, instrumental ensembles and orchestra. The evening’s musical treats promise to fill the hall with a sense of community and collaboration that the school is so renowned for.
cliftonhigh.bristol.sch.uk
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April
Wednesday 3 April | 8pm Tickets: £22, £18, £15, £5 Students*
Thursday 4 April | 8pm Tickets: £22, £20, £18, £5 Students*
Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening
Andy Sheppard + VEIN
Musicians from Northumberland, Scotland, Ireland and England invoke the dark, powerful, sounds of Ancient Northumbria and broadcast them to the modern world. Their inspiration comes from the wild, dramatic, weather-bitten countryside along Hadrian’s Wall, which seems so quintessentially Northumbrian… and yet, almost 2,000 years ago that same landscape was inhabited by people from around the world, worshipping different gods and following different customs. Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening embrace that global perspective, bringing some of the oldest Northumbrian tunes and songs throbbing to life, intermingling them with new material and binding it all together with contemporary resonance and attitude. Dazzling duets from Kathryn’s pipes and Amy’s accordion contrast with the riffs and rhythms of Kieran’s octave mandolin. Intrepid world-traveller Kate adds her fearless explorations. The inventive use of drums and percussion unites the ensemble.
Star saxophonist Andy Sheppard’s latest partnership is with esteemed Swiss trio VEIN, who make a specialism of collaborating with famed sax players (Greg Osby, Dave Liebman) and whose signature sound is dedicated to blending the traditions of European chamber music with swinging jazz improvisation.
kathryntickell.com @kathryntickell
Michael Arbenz plays piano; Thomas Lahns, double bass, and Florian Arbenz, drums. Andy is heard on VEIN’s last album, ‘VEIN plays Ravel’. ‘Sophisticated, classically inspired but viscerally powerful Swiss piano trio’ T H E G UA R D I A N , O N V EI N
And don't miss... Glass Studio: The Listening Room Saturday 6 April | 1.30pm > The Spindle Ensemble Please see p6 for full details andysheppard.co.uk | @AndySheppardSax vein.ch | @veintrio 37
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Towards Easter Join us for this celebration of uplifting, dramatic, and beautifully poignant music in the lead-up to Holy Week and Easter
TOWARDS EASTER
Saturday 6 April | 7.30pm Tickets: £28, £22, £18, £12, £5
Bristol Bach Choir St John Passion TOWARDS EASTER
Saturday 30 March | 7.30pm Tickets: £24, £20, £16, £12 Concessions half price
Exultate Singers Bristol’s Exultate Singers and the internationally renowned early music ensemble His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts join forces again for a celebration of European baroque choral and instrumental music. Opening with music from 16th century Venice, the performers take a musical tour around the cathedrals and musical powerhouses of Europe, exploring the evocative, virtuosic and exubertant Italian-influenced music of Germany, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and France. Come and experience this unique sonic event as the music reverbates around the hall and balconies of St George’s.
exultatesingers.org
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Nicholas Mulroy Evangelist Tenor Canzona Baroque Ensemble Theresa Caudle Leader Christopher Finch Conductor One of the greatest choral works of all time, the St John Passion has been described as a deeply human, intensely dramatic telling of Christ’s betrayal, suffering and death, set to music of heartbreaking beauty. We are delighted to be joined by Canzona, one of this country’s leading baroque ensembles, and Nicholas Mulroy, in the role of Evangelist. Widely known for his performances of Baroque repertoire, tenor Nicholas Mulroy has sung with some of its most noted exponents, including the BBC Philharmonic and Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Marian Consort: Breaking the Rules Sunday 14 April Featured within this brilliant new concert drama are Carlo Gesualdo's Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Week; for full information please see P42 bristolbach.org.uk
April
TOWARDS EASTER
TOWARDS EASTER
Tuesday 16 April | 7pm Tickets: £45, £40, £35, £30, £25, £5 Students*
Saturday 20 April | 8pm Tickets: £22, £18, £15, £5 Students*
Ex Cathedra St Matthew Passion
Bath Camerata
Ex Cathedra Consort & Baroque Orchestra Jeffrey Skidmore Conductor Charles Daniels Evangelist Marcus Farnsworth Jesus Lawrence White Pilate
James MacMillan Data est mihi omnis potestas Lux aeterna Benedicamus Deum caeli JS Bach Der Geist hilft BWV 226 JS Bach Komm Jesu, Komm BWV 229 Friedrich Cerha Vier Hölderlin-Fragmente Schütz Quid commisisti, o dulcissime puer SWV56-60 MacMillan Miserere
Monumental and yet grippingly immediate, Bach’s St Matthew Passion tells the profound drama of Christ’s last days with music of aching beauty. Every musical possibility is used to express and sustain an extraordinary range of feelings: love, sacrifice, betrayal, suffering, remorse, helplessness and shame. This most sublime and emotionally charged piece is particularly powerful in the week before Easter, especially in the hands of acclaimed Bach specialists Ex Cathedra. Sung in German. ‘One of Britain’s very best choirs’ N E W YO R K T I M E S
‘As Baroque interpreters Ex Cathedra are hard to beat... world class’
Bath Camerata, under their musical director Benjamin Goodson, presents a powerful and reflective programme of choral music for Holy Week. Contemplative and compelling, this concert centres on the motets of Bach, MacMillan and Schütz. The programme includes the British premiere of Friedrich's Cerha Vier Hölderlin Fragmente and ends with a modern masterpiece: MacMillan’s setting of the Miserere which, out of nothing, charts an extraordinary arc to its breathtaking conclusion.
CHURCH TIMES
excathedra.co.uk
bathcamerata.co.uk
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Thursday 11 April | 8pm Tickets: £22, £18, £15 £5 Students*
Hauschka
Academy-nominated composer Hauschka turns to nature for inspiration in this sublime, pared back solo piano concert featuring music from his latest Sony Classical album A Different Forest. ‘When I trust my intuition, a lot can be achieved,’ Hauschka says. He’s certainly achieved a lot in his career, collaborating with countless international artists such as the Alma Quartet and Daniel Whol, and writing critically acclaimed scores for film including Garth Davis’s 2016 hit Lion. Simplicity, beauty, space: if you’re a fan of Nils Frahm and the soundscapes of European minimalist piano composers you’ll love this. #ADifferentForest #Hauschkamusic
hauschka-music.com
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April
Friday 12 April | 8pm Tickets: £20, £18, £15 £5 Students*
Dobet Gnahoré
Africa’s distinguished lineage of internationally acclaimed singers can claim another star in Grammy-award winning Dobet Gnahoré. Hailing from the Ivory Coast, Ghahoré has a voice that flutters and soars and a stage presence that radiates style and energy, justifying her reputation as one of Africa’s most dynamic performers. Described as ‘WOMAD’s best act’ by the Guardian, she’ll be performing her new, acclaimed album MIZIKI which is a subtle blend of African sounds and electronic music. It took four years to compose and pays homage to the two principal causes Gnahoré supports: a rich, generous and unified Africa, and the strength of African women.
dobetgnahore.com @Dobet_Gnahore 41
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
TOWARDS EASTER
Saturday 13 April | 7.30pm Tickets: £27.50
Sunday 14 April | 7.30pm Tickets: £20, £15, £5 Students*
Terry Riley
Marian Consort Breaking the Rules: A Concert Drama
It’s possibly hard to do justice in words to the influence of Terry Riley on so much adventurous music that has emerged over the past half century. Take his legendary In C, a simple piece of musical genius that still resonates as loudly in impact today and perhaps achieving more widespread influence than ever currently since its first recorded appearance in 1968. Add in his sublime minimalist keyboard recordings such as Shri Camel and A Rainbow In Curved Air, his early tape work, his collaborations with Pandit Pran Nath, John Cale, La Monte Young – a giant in his field, and Dictionary Pudding Promotions are delighted to bring him to Bristol.
Play by Clare Norburn Directed by Nicholas Renton Lighting Design by Natalie Rowland and Pitch Black Lighting with Gerald Kyd Actor The imagined testimony of Carlo Gesulado (1566 – 1613), composer and murderer. Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa and Count of Conza, composed some of the most intense and glorious music of the Renaissance. He was also a brutal killer. As the obsessive composer relives the past and makes his final confession, the full horror of his crimes stand in stark contrast to his astonishing music. The Marian Consort perform works by Gesualdo to Clare Norburn’s dramatic monologue, creating a spellbinding fusion of drama and music. TOWARDS EASTER
And don't miss... Philosophical Times with Julian Baggini Saturday 20 April | 11am See p7 for details 42
With Gesualdo's Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Week featured within this brilliant new concert drama, why not browse the rest of our Towards Easter events on P38 – 9 marianconsort.co.uk @marianconsort
April
Tubular Bells for Two Tuesday 30 April | 7.30pm Tickets: £25
One Album. Two Men. Too Many Instruments. Two blokes juggle over 20 instruments live on stage in a spellbinding performance. Ask anyone who grew up through the '70s and they will be able to tell you exactly where they were when they first heard Tubular Bells. Composed by Mike Oldfield in 1973, the album was the first release on Richard Branson’s fledgling label, Virgin Records. The album went on to sell over 30 million copies – kick-starting the Virgin empire – and became the soundtrack to the cult-classic film, The Exorcist. Now, more than 40 years on, two Australian multi-instrumentalists are presenting this modern masterpiece in a challenging live event.
So what’s the catch? Oldfield harnessed – what was at the time – the latest in multi-track recording technology, playing a multitude of instruments one-by-one in the studio. However, in Tubular Bells for Two there are only two men on stage needing to perform every part live with only four hands and four feet between them. It is an intricately choreographed, thrilling piece of tightrope theatre, guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.
‘A virtuoso performance from two musicians at the top of their game’ ED I N B U R GH E V EN I N G N E WS
‘This is a musical tour de force. Genuinely entertaining, amusing and mesmerising’ S YD N E Y M O R N I N G H ER A LD
tubularbellsfortwo.com
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Thursday 2 May | 7.30pm Tickets: £30, £25, £20, £5 Students*
I Fagiolini Da Vinci 500 Composers featured include Josquin, Victoria, Tallis, Monteverdi, Bach Robert Hollingworth Director Martin Kemp Art Historian & Presenter This very day – 2 May 2019 – marks the 500th anniversary of the death of ‘Renaissance Man’, polymath Leonardo da Vinci. Known primarily for his art and inventions, Leonardo’s first job away from Florence was as a musician, in his own words ‘shaping the invisible’. I Fagiolini’s celebration of the master features projections of his most famous images, reflected and enhanced by I Fagiolini’s performance. The art world’s
And don't miss... Lunchtime Concert Thursday 2 May | 1pm > Peter Cigleris & Martin Cousin See p9 for details ifagiolini.com
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definitive da Vinci expert Martin Kemp and director Robert Hollingworth introduce the evening, putting the two art forms in context. Recently identified masterwork Salvator Mundi is paired with settings of that text by Tallis and Howells, whilst Victoria’s Tenebrae Responsories highlight The Last Supper. The iconic form and proportion of Vitruvian Man is matched by the universality of a Bach fugue, meanwhile the wonderful Five Grotesques and Heads of Warriors receive lighter treatment in onomatopoeic sketches by Vecchi and Janequin. Leonardo’s famous images of women are seen through the prism of Monteverdi but also a sensual 12-voice aural tapestry by French composer Daniel-Lesur. Finally Leonardo’s enquiring scientific mind is honoured in a thrilling new commission by Adrian Williams and Gillian Clark (former National Poet of Wales).
May
Friday 3 May | 7.30pm Tickets: £35, £25, £17.50, £15, £12.50, £7.50
Sunday 5 May | From 2pm Tickets: £30 (Sunday) or £65/£60 full festival
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Bristol Folk Festival
Johannes Moser Director and cello Marta Gardolińska Conductor
Featuring Cara Dillon & Kris Drever
Grieg Holberg Suite Haydn Cello Concerto in C Leshnoff Suite for Cello, Strings & Timpani Mozart Symphony No 29 Grieg’s music somehow always satisfies the soul. And so it is with one of his greatest works, his homage to Danish author Ludwig Holberg, a contemporary of Bach. The recently rediscovered C Major Concerto consists of sturdy, confident music. Haydn’s music is delightful in detail and masterful in design. Mozart’s Symphony No 29 is a fine specimen of gallant writing: faithful to the Viennese classical balance between grace and energy. Celebrated as ‘the real thing’, Jonathan Leshnoff ’s music is radiantly lyrical. His compositions have earned international acclaim.
Bristol Folk Festival returns to the city for 2019. The best of the UK’s folk scene take to stages across Bristol over the May bank holiday, culminating in Sunday at St George's. Rising stars Lady Maisery, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys and folk troubador Grace Petrie join the folk charge over the weekend as Bristol announces its return to the global folk calendar. Multi BBC folk award winners Cara Dillon and Kris Drever (Lau) headline a special Sunday at St George's. Tickets are available per day or for the whole weekend. For full details and announcements see: bristolfolkfestival.org ‘Simple and stunning’ T H E S U N DAY T I M E S O N C A R A D I L LO N
bsolive.com
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Thursday 9 May | 8pm Tickets: £38, £35, £30, £25
Georgie Fame & BBC Big Band Legendary vocalist Georgie Fame joins forces with one of the world’s great jazz orchestras for an evening of big band classics and pop, soul and rhythm and blues hits from throughout his half-century long career. Yeh Yeh, Getaway and The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde all get the bold and brassy big band treatment alongside echoes of Count Basie and Duke Ellington in this unmissable, very rare date.
And don't miss... Lunchtime Concert Thursday 9 May | 1pm > A4 Brass Quartet See p9 for details georgiefame.co.uk
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May
Friday 10 May | 7.30pm Tickets: £24, £20, £15, £5 Students*
Sunday 12 May | 7.30pm Tickets: £18, £16, £14, £12, £1, £5 students
Steven Osborne and Alban Gerhardt
Bristol Classical Players
Schumann Stücke im Volkston Brahms Sonata in F Op 99 De Falla Siete Canciones populares (arr. M.Marechal) Debussy Estampes for piano solo Ravel Alborada del gracioso (arr. Castelnuovo-Tedesco) Habanera (arr. P.Bazelaire) Tzigane (arr. Laszlo Varga)
Stefan Ciric Piano Tom Gauterin Conductor
Individually, German cellist Alban Gerhardt and Scottish pianist Steven Osborne are two of the most outstanding concerto and recital soloists of their generation. Their long-established duo partnership reveals a beguiling chemistry that creates compelling, instinctively collaborative music-making. After a first-half pairing of Schumann and Brahms, Gerhardt and Osborne turn from Austro-German heft to the brighter colours and zingy flavours of 20th century Spain; first in De Falla’s sparkling take on traditional melodies, then the Hispanic imaginings of France’s great colourists, Debussy and Ravel.
BCP’s Rachmaninov concertos cycle with Serbian pianist Stefan Ciric continues tonight with the mighty 3rd Concerto, loved by audiences all over the world. ‘Rach 3’ has been a calling-card for the world’s greatest pianists ever since its composition. The opulence of Rachmaninov’s glorious concerto, written in 1909, is a striking contrast with the dark austerity of Sibelius’s bleak 4th Symphony written only two years later. Many good judges consider this Sibelius’s greatest work and a fascinating glimpse into the psyche of one of music’s true originals. The 4th marks the turning-point in Sibelius’s work, when he made the transformation from composer of magnificent melodies (like those heard in Finlandia at the start of tonight’s concert) to the visionary whose influence on later composers can still be recognised today. ‘A cracking orchestra’ B AC H T R AC K .CO M
bristolclassicalplayers.org.uk @bristolclass | @thestefanciric 47
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Friday 17 May | 7.30pm Tickets: £25, £20, £15, £10, £5 Students*
Chineke! Orchestra
Mendelssohn String Symphony No 10 in B minor James Wilson New Work Holst St Paul’s Suite Britten’s Simple Symphony
Chineke! is St George’s resident orchestra, and is also Europe’s first professional orchestra comprising a majority of black and minority ethnic musicans, founded by the pioneering double bass player Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE. Chineke! returns to St George’s with a delightful programme of music for string orchestra, plus a brand new work by talented young composer James Wilson. Commissioned by St George’s in collaboration with Chineke! Orchestra, this new piece will celebrate the incredible life and work of one of Bristol’s most iconic civil rights leaders, Dr Paul Stephenson OBE.
And don't miss... chineke.org
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Philosophical Times with Julian Baggini Sunday 19 May | 11am See p7 for details
May
Sunday 19 May | 4pm Tickets: £20, £17, £17.50, £15, £12, £5
Thursday 23 May | 6.45pm (talk) 8pm (concert) Tickets: £18, £15, £10, £5 Students*
Joy Lisney with James Lisney on piano
The Steve Williamson Experience & StringTing
Bach's joyous Sonata in D (originally for viola da gamba) and the monumental Chaconne from the Violin Partita in B minor are here recast for cello. They make for stimulating pairings with Chopin’s lyrical Sonata and Thomas Adès’ evocations of water, mountains, fields – and the decadent city nightlife of the supremely virtuosic Cancan macabre.
The latest project from legendary saxophonist Steve Williamson, The Steve Williamson Experience provides a unique journey around music's sonic potential to change our state and make us feel better. Through his lifelong study of harmonics, Steve creates music that soothes and heals as well as entertains, using primordial tones that speak directly to the essence of who we are, blending classical and jazz to create an entrancing, life-enhancing, soul advancing combination. Alongside his trio, Steve is joined by jazz string quartet StringTing to create a compelling musical experience.
Joy Lisney, at 25, is already a veteran of the European concert platform. She complements her work as a composer with an increasing list of engagements as conductor. Pianist James Lisney is a regular visitor to St George’s having given three chamber music cycles in the hall along with a pair of recital series. ‘Playing with an aplomb and rapport, a definition and vitality, an insight and ardour that many cellists better known and more experienced would do well to honour’ CL ASSICAL SOURCE
StringTing is a flagship ensemble from Tomorrow’s Warriors, the celebrated hothouse for young jazz talent in the UK. Mentored by acclaimed bassist and artistic director, Gary Crosby OBE, StringTing are blazing a wide trail for women and strings in jazz, StringTing’s musicians are core players in the acclaimed Nu Civilisation Orchestra. Produced by Tomorrow’s Warriors
joylisney.com jameslisney.com
#SWExperience #TWStringTing 49
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 26 May | 7.30pm Tickets: £35, £30, £25, £20, £5 Students*
Stephen Hough JS Bach / arr. Busoni Chaconne in D minor BWV 1004 Stephen Hough Piano Sonata IV Chopin Sonata No 2 in B flat minor Op 35 Ferruccio Busoni Sonatina No6 (Carmen Fantasy) BV284; Berceuse elegiaque Op 42 Franz Liszt Funérailles – No 7 from Harmonies poetiques et religieuses S173; Mephisto Waltz ‘Bagatelle without tonality’ S216a; Mephisto Waltz No 1 S514
This is a hugely welcome return to St George’s for one of the world’s undisputed great pianists. People are often reluctant to talk about death, but in the world of the arts – and music – death has always been a central subject resulting in the most exalted and inexhaustible expression. Here, Stephen explores pieces with this theme as part of their identity or inspiration. Chopin’s Funeral March Sonata and Liszt’s Funérailles speak for themselves – and that Liszt wrote the latter in the same month as Chopin's death may or may not have been an accident. Bach’s Chaconne was apparently written in memory of his first wife; Busoni’s Berceuse acquired the subtitle 'The man’s lullaby at his mother’s coffin’ when he orchestrated it; and the same composer's artful reworking of music from Bizet’s opera Carmen depicts the calamity of death by murder. Tucked into this probing and beautifully balanced programme is Stephen Hough’s Fourth Piano Sonata. This sonata takes a more abstract if still melancholy inspiration from such ideas: life’s brevity, a ‘sonata’ which ends sooner than expected. And in Liszt’s two Mephisto Waltzes we face the Devil himself – the cause of death and its terrors in traditional Christian devotion: the final fear for the final hour.
‘A virtuoso who begins where others leave off’ WA S H I N GTO N P O S T
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‘ The most perfect piano playing conceivable’ T H E G UA R D I A N
May
Thursday 30 May | 7pm Tickets: £25, £23, £20, £5 Students*
Aurora Orchestra Mozart Symphony No 41 in C 'Jupiter' Aurora Orchestra is the first orchestra in history to perform whole symphonies entirely from memory. Since 2014 it has applied this electrifying performance style to symphonies by Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven and Shostakovich, including for a series of muchpraised appearances at the BBC Proms. Acclaimed for their intimacy, dynamism and irresistible sense of joy, Aurora's memorised performances have become one of the most talked-about developments in classical music over recent seasons, winning the orchestra a prestigious Classical:NEXT Award, and sparking several other experiments in memorised performance by European orchestras.
For this special hour-long performance at St George’s Bristol, Nicholas Collon and the players of Aurora Orchestra invite you to experience Mozart’s ‘Jupiter’ Symphony as you’ve never heard it before, with players standing and performing without stands or printed sheet music. See and hear for yourself why these memorised performances have attracted such attention internationally, and experience the unique possibilities they create for bringing the audience under the skin of a great work – including a unique opportunity to get inside the orchestra… This concert is one hour long, and without an interval.
‘Marvellous… Playing from memory, Aurora created an organic sense of community, dynamism and inspiration’ TH E N E W YO R K TI M ES
auroraorchestra.com @auroraorchestra 51
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Friday 31 May, Saturday 1 June | 7.30pm Tickets: £18, £16, £14, £12
Wednesday 5 June | 7.30pm Tickets: £50, £36.50, £30
Sing Out Bristol Gay Icons
Sophie Ellis-Bextor The Song Diaries
Following our 10th anniversary concerts in 2018 Sing Out Bristol is back at St George’s Bristol for two nights in 2019, celebrating musical icons that have inspired and shaped our community. Join us as we take you on a musical journey, showcasing artists across genres and decades, from classical Tchaikovsky to pop icon Britney – including Eurovision classics, Kate Bush, Eurythmics and many more.
As one of British music’s most recognised and distinctive vocalists, the only question must be why the mix of Sophie Ellis-Bextor alongside a sumptuous live orchestra hadn’t happened sooner.
Sing Out Bristol is a community choir and is the south west’s largest LGBT+ choir with over 130 members. Image credit: Nathan George Burgess Russ, ©Proper Job Productions
Sing Out Bristol, working in partnership with St George's, hosts a new members' evening on Tuesday 8 January in the Glass Studio – and you are invited! For full details, see our Stop Press on p63 singoutbristol.org.uk
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The renowned singer will perform orchestral versions of her hits as well as songs from the great canon of disco songs. Since the release of her debut album Read My Lips in 2001, which sold over 2 million copies worldwide, Ellis-Bextor has had six Top 10 singles, including Take Me Home, Get Over You, and of course Murder on the Dancefloor. She has incorporated several genres over the course of her career, from her debut through to 2014’s Wanderlust, which fused elements of folk, baroque and orchestral music. The album was certified Gold and spawned the hit single Young Blood, which will be performed.
@SophieEB sophieellisbextor.net
Your money can help make great music
Open a Triodos Bank Current Account, Savings Account or Cash ISA and when your balance reaches £100, we’ll make a Michael Head and The Red Elastic Band (image: John Johnson. 2017)
Triodos Bank are proud to be partners with St George’s, and recently provided part of the finance for its contemporary building. We believe arts and culture are a fundamental part of society which is why we only lend to organisations that make a positive environmental, social and cultural impact.
£40 donation to St George’s Bristol
Visit triodos.co.uk/stgeorges for eligibility, full terms and conditions and to find out more. Tax savings depend on circumstances. This offer is limited to one donation per new customer.
xxx Triodos Bank NV (incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with limited liability, registered in England and @xxx Wales BR3012). Authorised by the Dutch Central Bank and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Friday 7 June | 7.30pm Tickets: £35, £30, £25, £20 £5 Students*
Solomon’s Knot
With Jonathan Rees Baroque cello JS Bach Komm Jesu, komm Jesu, meine Freude Lobet den Herrn interspersed with movements from solo cello Suite No 5 in C minor Fürchte dich nicht Singet dem Herrn interspersed with movements from solo cello Suite No 6 in D major
This is a welcome return for Solomon’s Knot, who impressed so much with their performance of Bach’s Mass in B Minor in May 2018. The rhythm of the dance weaves through this programme of vocal motets and suites for solo cello by JS Bach. The motets, for between four and eight voices plus continuo, marry an astonishing level of complexity to the binding matter of hymn-like chorale melodies, setting texts from the most joyful of psalms (‘Sing to the Lord a new song’) to poetry laden with the Lutheran longing for the release of death (‘Come, Jesus, my body is weary’). Solomon’s Knot sing this music by heart, with one voice per part. Jonathan Rees, their longstanding continuo cellist, offsets the density of the motets with his lone instrumental voice, in turn required to conjure multiple parts and atmospheres, revelling in the virtuosic dance movements of the suites.
‘ A performance of prayerfulness, playfulness and uninhibited, unmediated expressiveness from eight singers and organ… dazzling’ TH E TI M ES O N A B ACH M OTE TS PER FO R M A N CE I N LO N D O N, 2018
@solomonsknot
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June FAMILY EVENT
Saturday 8 June | 7.45pm Tickets: £20, £17, £5
Sunday 9 June | 10.15am, 12pm, 2pm Tickets: £6, family ticket available
Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra
MiniBeats Percussion Pandemonium!
At the heart of this concert is a drama of contrasts, fully embodied in the darkly tragic, yet blissfully lyrical richness of Mozart’s C minor Piano Concerto, brought to life tonight by the astounding Russian pianist Veronika Ilinskaya. Whilst the tender romanticism of the Siegfried Idyll shows an unusually personal, intimate Wagner at work, the extroversion of Beethoven’s pocket-sized Eighth Symphony packs a punch, not least in the finale, where, by sleight of hand, the master symphonist conjures something colossal within a miniature footprint. BHCO, as ever, combining individual brilliance with impeccable ensemble, is delighted to welcome back charismatic maestro, Maxime Tortelier.
Wiggle those fingers and stttttttttttttretch those arms – we hope you are feeling strong, because presenter Laura Tanner and the perfect percussionists from the Bristol Ensemble need your help to bash, crash and SMASH their way into summer! Get ready to be amazed by a selection of wonderful instruments from the biggest musical family of them all. Full of opportunities to listen, learn, be inspired and get involved, don’t be surprised if you need to lock up your pots, pans and wooden spoons after this event! 10:15am For children aged 3 – 5 12pm For children aged 5 – 8 2pm ‘Relaxed Performance’* *Perfect for people of all ages who benefit from a more relaxed performance environment. For further information on relaxed performances, please visit stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/venue-info/ accessibility Ages are guidelines only. Running time 45 minutes without interval.
bhco.co.uk
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 9 June | 7.30pm Tickets: £16, £15, £14, £11
Sunday 16 June | 7pm Tickets: £10-£5
Vocal Works Gospel Choir Broadway Soul
Bristol City Voices
Broadway Soul is an uplifting and, highenergy show from the inspirational Vocal Works Gospel Choir. Celebrating the soulful and gospel side of musical theatre the programme includes hits from shows such as The Lion King, The Greatest Showman, Dreamgirls, Hairspray and Hamilton, and promises to raise the roof! VWGC, with musical director Tim King, have established themselves as one of the top gospel and soul choirs in the UK. Performance and recording credits include work with Brian May, Kerry Ellis, Reef, The Heavy, Susan Boyle, Peter Gabriel and Mary Wilson. Recently featured online promoting the FIFA 2018 Football World Cup, their unique crossover repertoire incorporates gospel, soul and pop – which can be heard on their latest album Fourteen.
City Voices Bristol invite you to share an evening of uplifting summer music. This community choir bring a range of musical styles from pop to gospel to choral, to make your summer an even more joyful experience. They aim to have something for everyone in our programme – give them a try! Led by Ben Pinnow and with accompianist Sandie Middleton.
‘Vocal Works Gospel Choir provided the magic that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up’ BBC
vwgc.co.uk
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And don't miss... Philosophical Times with Julian Baggini Sunday 16 June | 11am See p7 for details cityvoicesbristol.org
June
Friday 21 June | 7.30pm Tickets: £35, £30, £25, £20, £5 Students*
Rachel Podger
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment The Four Seasons
Rachel Podger Violin / Director Corelli Concerto Grosso in C minor Op 6 No 3 Manfredini Concerto Grosso in G Op 3 No 7 Geminiani Concerto in G minor Op 3 No 2 Vivaldi Concerto for Lute in D Vivaldi The Four Seasons
oae.co.uk @theoae
Not all orchestras are the same… and not all orchestras can match the exuberant and electrifying performance style of the OAE. Their visits are always highlights of our season and this concert, and this concert, with a special focus on Vivaldi, is no exception. A host of Vivaldi’s contemporaries, all Italian Baroque violinist-composers, step into the spotlight with their own colourful concerti before we meet Vivaldi's celebration of the softly spoken but ever fleet-of-string lute that ends breathlessly with a tarantella like finale. They may be familiar, but Vivaldi’s Four Seasons are miracles of invention, wit and excitement and with Rachel Podger, ‘Britain’s finest period violinist’ (BBC Music Magazine), leading from front of stage, the music is sure to leapfrog the centuries and sound utterly thrilling.
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Friday 28 June | 7.30pm Tickets: £30, £25, £15, £5 Students* Jess Gillam
Tuesday 25 June | 7.30pm Tickets: £10, £5
Bristol Plays Music Youth Choir
The Bristol Youth Senior Choir Seniors present their annual summer concert featuring the ever popular and stirring classic Mozart’s Requiem. The programme also includes solos, duets and choir pieces in many different styles from classical to jazz. Come and experience this exceptional choir of 50 talented singers from all over Bristol.
Martin James Bartlett
Chloe Hanslip
Bartosz Glowacki
bristolplaysmusic.org
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June
Classical Mixtape Live 2 Summer Gala Jess Gillam Saxophone Martin James Bartlett Piano Chloe Hanslip Violin Bartosz Glowacki Accordion Andrey Lebedev Guitar Our second Classical Mixtape Live event brings together a tantalising array of brilliant young musicians, performing a wide range of hugely appealing music in solo, duo and ensemble combinations. The programme includes JS Bach, Debussy, Michael Nyman, Piazzolla, Ravel and Villa-Lobos – and please check online nearer the time for programme updates. The concert climaxes with a specially commissioned arrangement of Astor Piazzolla's Libertango featuring all five performers. Jess Gilliam needs little introduction, after her performances at the 2018 Last Night of the Proms (Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park) and after being such a compelling finalist in the 2016 BBC Young Musician competition. Pianist Martin James Bartlett was outright winner of BBC Young Musician in 2014, and Chloe Hanslip has been a major presence in the classical music world since her early teens – recording her debut album, with the London Symphony Orchestra, when she was only 13. Remarkable Polish accordion virtuoso Bartosz Glowacki really has to be seen and heard to be believed, and Australian guitarist Andrej Lebedev equally captivates audiences with his elegant performances and range of repertoire.
#ClassicalMixtapeLive
Saturday 29 June | 7.30pm Tickets: £15, £13, £12, £10, £8, £6, £1
Bristol Concert Orchestra
Barber Adagio for Strings John Adams The Chairman Dances Barber Knoxville: Summer of 1915 Gershwin An American in Paris John Williams Star Wars Suite Susanne Holmes Mezzo-soprano Stefan Hofkes Conductor Like an extra strong Americano, this concert is filled to the brim with some of the best music from across the pond. Two offerings from Samuel Barber with his famous and poignant Adagio for Strings, and the lesser-known, but gloriously lush, rhapsody for voice and orchestra Knoxville: Summer of 1915 (set to words of James Agee), mix with the mesmerizing rhythmic drive of The Chairman Dances (Foxtrot for orchestra) by John Adams in the first half. To follow, Gershwin’s irrepressibly jazzy An American in Paris and – for an out of this world finish – the epic music from Star Wars penned by John Williams. bristolconcertorchestra.org.uk
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 30 June | 6pm Tickets: £10, £5
Thursday 4 July | 7.30pm Tickets: £30, £25, £20, £15, £5
Bristol Plays Music Junior Choir
Bath Philharmonia Peter Donohoe and Sacha Rattle
Bristol Junior Choir is made up of 80 singers aged from seven to 12. The choir aims to foster a love of singing in its members by helping to read music and sing parts in a fun and relaxed way, whilst always aiming for the highest standards. In 2014 the Junior Choir sang for the BBC Food and Farming Awards on BBC Radio 4 and live on the Clare Balding Show on BBC Radio 2. They have given concerts for Open Doors Day, The Rotary Club, Southmead Hospital and this year will be performing with young singers from South Africa as part of Project Zulu.
Shostakovich Jazz Suite No1 arr. Iain Farrington Stravinsky Ebony Concert Bernstein Preludes, Fugues & Riffs Gershwin An American in Paris arr. Iain Farrington Gershwin Variations on ‘I Got Rhythm’ arr. Iain Farrington Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Starter Strings and String Group provide a complete progression route for starter and early stage musicians and act as a precursor to the Junior String Orchestra which is for Grade 2+.
Internationally-renowned pianist Peter Donohoe and clarinetist Sacha Rattle join Bath Philharmonia to revisit Simon Rattle’s Jazz Album of 1988. Featuring many of Gershwin’s jazz inspired classics, Bath Philharmonia will take you on a tour of the textures and rich harmonies of the nightlife of 1930s Paris and New York under the direction of conductor Jason Thornton.
bristolplaysmusic.org
bathphil.co.uk
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July
Friday 5 July | 7pm Tickets: £40, £35, £30, £25 £5 Students*
Opera à la Carte presents Madama Butterfly
Nicholas Heath Director Francesca Matta Cho-Cho San Quentin Hayes Sharpless Chamber ensemble East meets West with tragic consequences in this most heart-rending of operas. Puccini’s poignant and gloriously romantic score illuminates the devastating tale of the young Japanese Geisha Cho-Cho-San who falls in love with dashing American naval officer Pinkerton. Unrequited love, abandonment and betrayal lead to a climactic and agonising final sacrifice. We’re delighted to welcome Opera à la Carte, sister company of Regents Opera, to St George’s for this evening of summer opera. One of the UK’s most original chamber opera companies, it draws established talents and rising stars, including from Covent Garden and ENO.
Timings 5pm Café Bar opens 7pm Act I 8.15pm Hour-long interval 9.15pm Act II 10.20pm Opera ends Please call our Box Office for details of menu options
Please note: this production features costumes, some stage furniture and the music is performed by a small chamber ensemble. An hour-long picnic interval between Acts I and II allows time for you to reserve a place for our special opera supper menu in our new Café Bar – or you may prefer to eat immediately before the opera. 61
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Sunday 14 July | 3pm & 7.30pm Tickets: £12, £9, £5
Sunday 21 July | 7.30pm Tickets: £10, £8, £5
Riff Raff Choir
Bristol Show Choir
Feel the power of their collective voices as Riff Raff raise the roof! With a combination of energetic and more gentle pop and rock songs, Bristol’s most colourful a cappella choir, Riff Raff, are back with a brand new repertoire plus a few old favourites to entertain you.
Bristol Show Choir take to the stage for their big summer spectacular!
Riff Raff Choir sings original arrangements, in four or five part harmony, which span the decades.
Singing songs from smash hit West End and Broadway shows, as well as lesser known off-Broadway gems, all in amazing a capella and complete with fantastic choreography, what better way to see in your summer than with Bristol’s Number 1 Musical Theatre Choir?!
Supporting Riff Raff will be Footlights Performance Academy, adding some of their special pizzazz to both concerts. Footlights nurtures potential in children and young adults in dance, singing, drama and performance skills across a variety of classes.
Led by professional singers and seasoned conductors, Douglas V. Watts and Jessica Broderick, Bristol Show Choir burst onto the scene in February 2017 and has gone from strength to strength, with the hugely popular Southville group rehearsing every Tuesday evening and the Clifton group on Thursdays.
There will be a retiring collection for St Mungo's, a charity which works to prevent homelessness and supports people at every step of their recovery from homelessness.
Both groups come together on Sunday 21 July for a spectacular summer concert, with support from a very special local act. Don’t miss out!
bristolchoir.co.uk
bristolshowchoir.com
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Stop Press
For latest announcements please go to the website, follow us on social media, and sign up for our e-newsletter Tuesday 8 January | 7pm Come and sing with Sing Out Bristol | Free Sing Out Bristol, working in partnership with St George's Bristol, hosts a new members' evening in the Glass Studio – and you are invited! Hear more about Sing Out Bristol, South West’s largest LGBT+ choir and community group, and sing a little on this first new members' evening of the year. Sing Out don't hold auditions – anyone is able to join this LGBT+ choir regardless of experience or ability. Sing Out Bristol sings a variety of genres from classical to pop and modern pieces, and right now are rehearsing songs written and/or performed by our big icons. New members joining in January can rehearse and learn these songs, and perform them in concerts at St George’s, on 31 May and 1 June. Sign up here: singoutbristol.org.uk/ membership Saturday 26 January | 8pm Glass Studio Brona McVittie £15 | £13 early bird Decorated with an array of four star reviews singer, writer and musician Brona McVittie is deftly steering traditional folk into the 21st century with her recently launched debut solo album We Are the Wildlife, a deep reflection on the interconnectedness of things natural and manmade. ‘Beautifully embroidered folk with sweetness and bite’ (Guardian). In a pre-concert talk, Brona discusses her creative preoccupations and how her background as a biologist has influenced her music.
Olivia Chaney
Stop Press
Friday 15 March | 8pm Olivia Chaney | £18 / £16 Everyone is raving about Grammy-nominated Olivia Chaney, and rightly so – acclaimed collaborations include Kronos Quartet and Zero 7. Her voice is ‘a thing of sublime beauty’ (The Telegraph). Her 2018 album Shelter is described as ‘A big, beautiful new record’ (Mojo), a ‘finely wrought piece of work’ (Observer), and ‘a transcendent refuge from the storm’ (Uncut). Friday 19 April | 7.30pm Gretchen Peters & her Band with the Southern Fried String Quartet The Spring Strings Tour 2019 £29.50, £26.50 Gretchen Peters performs unique interpretations of her finest tunes, including tracks from her award-winning 2016 album Blackbird and from her 2018 release Dancin' with the Beast – backed, for the first time, by both a string section and her superb band. Saturday 8 June | 1.30pm Glass Studio Tori Freestone Trio £7.50 Tori Freestone has been winning prestigious awards and receiving rave reviews in recent years and 2019 sees her trio back in action with an exciting new release on 'Whirlwind Recordings'. Showcasing her unique writing style which takes inspiration from the chordless trios of the moment, infused with sounds from her roots in folk, the new release also has Latin and Brazilian elements influenced by her youth in the Canary Islands. 63
Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Give the gift of music Treat a friend or loved one this season with the gift of music!
‘Exceptional gig. Brilliant band. Attentive and helpful staff’ AU D I EN C E M EM B ER (O C T 2 018)
Select from our wide-ranging classical, jazz, folk and world concerts, ask our Box Office team about our special packages with dining and drinks options, or simply buy a gift voucher.
Lankum
Popular options include the Lunchtime Concert Series, Philosophical Times, and our Classical Mix Tape Live 1 & 2 – a light-touch fun introduction to the genre. Please book online at stgeorgesbristol.co.uk or call us on 0845 40 24 001.
‘Dark, raucous poetry from Irish folk miscreants’ * * * * * T H E G UA R D I A N
‘Outstanding concert with amazing musicians. A wonderful venue’ AU D I EN C E M EM B ER ( S EP T 2 018)
Season Opener with Nicola Benedetti, Laura Van Der Heijden, Alpesh Chauhan and The Bristol Ensemble
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Our Story
Our Story For the first time in our history, we are sharing the story of St George’s in a permanent display located in the crypt. Open daily, and free to enter, the visitor centre features key moments from our Grade II* listed building’s past, from its inception in 1820 as a Chapel of Ease to its rebirth in the 1970s as a space for the performance and recording of music. Through colourful interactive displays, music and specially-commissioned film footage, you’ll learn how we came to be, what has changed over the decades and experience what we’re most famous for.
The Grand Reform Dinner, 1832, by Thomas Leeson Rowbotham © Bristol Museum, Galleries & Archives
Opening times The visitor centre is open daily from 10am, staying open into the evening on concert days, otherwise closing at 6pm.
St George’s Church © Bristol Museum, Galleries & Archives
Tours / School Groups Look out for details of public tours and group packages, coming soon. If you are interested in bringing a school group, or would like to receive information about our curriculum-friendly learning programme, please contact education@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk.
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Learning & Participation at St George’s Bristol Our award-winning programme for children and families includes the MiniBeats series, introducing young children to classical music and instruments in an exciting and accessible way, and the Wild Words series, intertwining music with magical storytelling.
Young people are involved in our public programme as performers too, with showcase events regularly staged in collaboration with schools, colleges and music hubs. Out in the community we run a long-term singing project for children in the Knowle West area of South Bristol and often devise interactive performances and workshops for a diverse range of schools and communities. We regularly offer music projects for young composers, instrumentalists and singers, and encourage students to come to concerts through special ticket schemes. We’re also a Children’s University Learning Destination and Arts Award Centre and Supporter. As part of our new heritage education programme, we are now offering curriculumlinked schools’ workshops: A Bristol Suffragette, World War I Lives and Sickness & Health. The best way to stay up to date with our education offer, whether your interest is as a parent, a student, a school or other interested party, is by signing up to our e-newsletter. Alternatively, and for details of how to participate in aspects of our education programme, please contact the education team on 0117 929 4929 or email education@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 66
Learning & Participation
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Venue Hire
Regency Elegance and Modern Sophistication Our elegant grand hall and sophisticated, new multi-purpose spaces are available to hire for weddings, parties, gala dinners, award ceremonies and conferences. Not only this, but our exciting smaller spaces are perfect for meetings, workshops, talks, networking and corporate hospitality. St George’s Bristol offers both modern sophistication and regency elegance, so whatever your needs, and whatever inspires you, get in touch to discuss your event. Our talented team will work closely with you to ensure delivery of top-class service and a truly memorable occasion. Please contact the events team on 0117 929 4929 or email events@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk for further details. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/venue-hire
‘The beautiful historic setting was amazing, and it was matched by every aspect of your operation’ D EB O R A H WA D D ELL – D I R EC TO R , S O U TH W ES T CB I
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Venue Hire Glass Studio
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Thank you to Our Supporters We remain grateful for the generous support of:
We would like to thank our Donors, Patrons, Benefactors, Friends, Volunteers and the following organisations that support our artistic and education programmes:
Spielman Charitable Trust
Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation
LIF DC FE
FO
UST TR
Gibbs Charitable Trust
THE RA
Paragon Music Trust
UN
7 DE D IN 1
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Artistic Partners:
Season Supporters:
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St George¹s would like to extend sincere thanks to Bristol Choral Society for their generous donation of an upright piano for our Glass Studio
Thank you
Building a Sound Future We owe a sincere debt of gratitude to the many individuals and organisations that have supported ‘Building a Sound Future’, St George’s Capital Campaign:
The Society of Merchant Venturers
Denman Charitable Trust
Harry Crook Foundation
The Nisbet Family Charitable Trust
The Carr-Gregory Trust
The JM Britton Charitable Trust
Brian Maguire Charitable Trust
The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust
Sir Siegmund Warburg’s Voluntary Settlement
The Batchworth Trust
The Martin Smith Foundation
There are a number of individuals who have made significant donations to this endeavour, without whom, we would have been unable to realise our vision: Russ & Linda Carr
John & Heather Frenkel
Margaret Maguire
Chris & Heather Virgin
Charles & Joanne Wyld
And those who wish to remain anonymous
William & Felicity Mather
Andrew & Anne Nisbet
And the following 'Apollo Club' Corporate Members:
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Café Bar 10am – 6pm, with the bar open later for concerts and events Join us for a morning coffee, a light bite at lunch, or your favourite pre or post concert drinks – just off Park Street. Our Café Bar, on the ground floor of the pavilion extension, is open all day and late into the evening. The architecture, with views onto the garden and seating outside on warm days, is beautiful. 72
The menu also comes with music and other events on the side, including Philosopher in Residence Julian Baggini. Check the website for timings! And whilst you’re here, explore the ‘Our Story’ exhibition alongside the Box Office, where you can book tickets for classical and contemporary concerts and events.
Information
General Information Amplification Some events at St George’s are amplified. If this causes any concern, please check with the Box Office when booking. Facilities for those with additional needs St George’s welcomes visitors with additional needs. The venue is fully accessible from Charlotte Street. Please mention your particular needs to the Box Office when booking and all assistance will be given. Limited parking is available, but must be reserved in advance. Toilet facilities (accessible by lift) are located in the crypt, near the Box Office, in the Cafe Bar, and between the Hall and Glass Studio. St George’s Bristol is equipped with a hearing system. Please call 0117 929 4929 ext 208 during office hours, and before leaving home.
Guide dogs Guide dogs are admitted to all parts of St George’s Bristol. Family-friendly St George’s welcomes children and we programme a variety of family-friendly concerts, including Relaxed Performances. Some concerts may not be suitable. Please check the event pages on our website for recommended age guidance. Our acoustic is extremely sensitive and sound carries so regretfully babies and young children cannot be admitted to the auditorium for ticketed events unless otherwise stated. All children must be issued with a ticket. The information given in this brochure is correct at the time of going to print.
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Book now: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk | 0845 40 24 001
Booking Information Priority booking (from 10am) Are you passionate about music and the arts? Do you want to be the first to know about events at St George’s and book the best seats? New season priority booking for supporters starts one week before we go on general sale. Please call the Box Office for more details about our supporter packages.
How to book Online Book online 24 hours a day at stgeorgesbristol.co.uk. Telephone 0845 40 24 001 during Box Office opening hours. All major credit cards (except American Express), Maestro and Delta cards are accepted. Charges for calling this number vary and are at the ‘access charge rate’ set by your phone company (the ‘service charge’ set by St George’s is 0p per minute). In person During Box Office opening hours.
Opening hours Box Office Monday – Saturday, 10am to 6pm* Sunday, Midday – 4pm* Café Bar Monday – Saturday, 10am – 6pm* Sunday, Midday – 6pm* *Both the Box Office and Café Bar will be open later on concert/event nights. Please check the website.
disabled people, senior citizens, under-18s and full-time students (unless otherwise stated). Proof of eligibility is required. Carers Free carer tickets are available for each full-paying ticket holder who requires someone to assist them with their visit. Students A limited number of £5 student tickets are available for certain concerts. CAVATINA Free tickets for 8 – 25 year olds for certain chamber concerts. Look out for the and quote CAVATINA when booking tickets. Visit cavatina.net for details. Group offer One ticket free in every group of ten for all events programmed by St George’s Bristol. Please sign up for our e-newsletter via our website for more information on seasonal offers. Family ticket One child goes free in a family party of four or more. Refunds Tickets are non-transferable and refunds can only be offered on events which are sold out (and where there is demand) up to 48 hours before an event. Physical tickets must be returned or destroyed. Latecomers and readmission Admission will be offered at the first suitable break but admission and readmission cannot be guaranteed. The management reserves the right to refuse admission.
Postage fee £1 Tickets can be posted if requested; the cost covers postage and materials. We do not charge any other fees.
Data protection When you book a ticket your details are securely stored on the St George’s database, and used in compliance with GDPR and PECR regulations. Please see our Privacy Policy at stgeorgesbristol.co.uk.
Concessions (where applicable) Prices are indicated in brackets. These apply to those in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance or benefits,
E-newsletter Go to the website to sign up for our e-newsletter for latest concert and event announcements, news and offers.
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Thank you for your support.
How to find us | Credits
How to find us
Bristol City Museum RD
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Hippodrome
BALDW I N S T M ARSH ST
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ST G EO R
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Brandon Hill
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Colston Hall
College Green Y RD
By bike Racks are by the Great George Street entrance.
DEA
By bus See firstgroup.com for bus routes.
RD ANCHOR
Bristol Old Vic
KI N G S T
Watershed We The Curious
Queen Square
P RIN CE S T
E TT LO R A H C
RK T
AD
ST
PA R K R O W
Bristol Guild
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CO LSTON ST
NS
PA R
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AU
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On foot St George’s is just off Park Street (accessible via Great George Street and Charlotte Street).
Q
NA R ROW QU AY
On-street parking is strictly controlled with the nearest car parks on Trenchard Street, Jacobs Wells Road/ Berkeley Place (West End), and College Street. See travelwest.info for travel updates.
THE G RO VE Arnolfini
Credits
Image credits
Design Charles Watkins
Cover Evan Dawson (Laura Van Der Heijden) Thomas Skiffington (Dobet Gnahoré) Chris Christodoulou (Aurora Orchestra) p2 With Photography (Café Bar) p3 Evan Dawson (St George’s Bristol) & Esme Jones (Suzanne Rolt) p4-5 Simon Camper (Malkit Singh 2017) p5 SWNS (Learning & Participation) p6 Paul Blakemore (The Spindle Ensemble) p7 Evan Dawson (Julian Baggini) p26 Laura Tanner (MiniBeats) p38-39 Kazuend on Unsplash (Easter) p51 Chris Christodoulou (Aurora Orchestra) p55 Laura Tanner (MiniBeats) p64 Evan Dawson (Lankum & Nicola Benedetti 2018) p65-67 Barbara Evripidou (Learning & Participation) p68-69 CBI (Conference) & With Photography (Glass Studio) p72 With Photography (Bar) & Esme Jones (Café Bar)
Print Zenith Media Registered Office Great George St, Bristol BS1 5RR Administration 0117 929 4929 Email administration@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk Chief Executive Suzanne Rolt St George’s Bristol No 2053843 Registered Charity No 295178 VAT No 821968115
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At a Glance JANUARY
APR IL
Tue 8 | 7pm Sing Out Bristol Sun 13 | 4pm IMS Prussia Cove Sándor Végh Memorial Concert Thu 17 | 7pm Charles Esten Fri 18 | 7.30pm Richard Goode Sat 19 | 11am Julian Baggini Philosopher in Residence Sat 19 | 11am & 3.15pm Raise the Roof Sun 20 | 7pm Neil and Liam Finn Thu 24 | 1pm Mela Guitar Quartet Thu 24 | 8pm Band of Burns Fri 25 | 7.30pm Florilegium The Complete Brandenburg Concertos Sat 26 | 8pm Chris Smither & special guest The Suitcase Junket Sat 26 | 6.30pm & 8pm Brona McVittie Tue 29 | 7pm Welcome To Night Vale Thu 31 | 1pm Cadran Trio Thu 31 | 7.30pm Bokanté
Tue 2 | 7pm Wed 3 | 8pm Thu 4 | 8pm Sat 6 | 1.30pm Sat 6 | 7.30pm Thu 11 | 8pm Fri 12 | 8pm Sat 13 | 7.30pm Sun 14 | 7.30pm Tue 16 | 7pm Fri 19 | 7.30pm Sat 20 | 11am Sat 20 | 7.30pm Tue 30 | 7.30pm
FEB RUARY Fri 1 | 7.30pm Classical Mixtape Live 1 Sat 2 | 7.30pm Eduardo Niebla Tue 5 | 7pm Young Artists Showcase Tom Eveson Gala Concert Thu 7 | 1pm Emma Abbate / Julian Perkins Thu 7 | 8pm Claire Martin & Ray Gelato Let There Be Love Fri 8 | 7.30pm Paul Lewis Haydn, Brahms & Beethoven IV Sun 10 | 7.30pm Barokksolistene's The Alehouse Sessions Tue 12 | 7pm Tracey Thorn Thu 14 | 1pm Duo Dorado Thu 14 | 8pm Silje Nergaard Fri 15 | 7.30pm Piers Lane & The Goldner Quartet Sat 16 | 11am Julian Baggini Philosopher in Residence Sun 17 | 3 & 6pm Sound of Sci-ence Tue 19 | 7pm Lamont Dozier Wed 20 | 11.45am Wild Words Sindbad The Sailor! (10.45am Playshop) Thu 21 | 1pm Maria Gilicel & Thomas Kelly Thu 21 | 8pm Lau Sat 23 | 7.30pm Brothas With Attitude Sun 24 | 7.30pm BBC National Orchestra of Wales Thu 28 | 7.30pm Fantasy Orchestra
MARCH Fri 1 | 7.30pm Haffner Wind Ensemble Sat 2 | 7.45pm Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra Sun 3 | 10.15am, 12 & 2pm MiniBeats Brilliant Brass! Wed 6 | 8pm Coven Thu 7 | 1pm Reiko Fujisawa Thu 7 | 8pm Laura Jurd + guests Fri 8 | 7.30pm Sean Shibe Sat 9 | 7.30pm Bristol Concert Orchestra Sun 10 | 7pm Bristol Metropolitan Orchestra Tue 12 | 7pm Going Beyond Wed 13 | 7.30pm Bristol Ensemble Thu 14 | 1pm Evva & Emma Duo Thu 14 | 6pm Cosmos & Friends Fri 15 | 8pm Olivia Chaney Sat 16 | 1.30pm Kate Stapley Tue 19 | 7pm QEH Wed 20 | 7.30pm BUMS Chamber Choir Thu 21—Sun 24 Bristol Jazz & Blues Festival Sat 23 | 11am Julian Baggini Philosopher in Residence Tue 26 | 7.30pm Seth Lakeman Wed 27 | 7.30pm Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham Thu 28 | 8pm Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali Fri 29 | 7.30pm Bex Burch (Vula Viel) In Conversation Fri 29 | 7.30pm Ten Thing Ensemble Sat 30 | 7.30pm Exultate Singers Sun 31 | 4pm Vibe Pop Rock Choir & Amplify Show Choir
Clifton High School Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening Andy Sheppard + VEIN The Spindle Ensemble Bristol Bach Choir St John Passion Hauschka Dobet Gnahoré Terry Riley Marian Consort Breaking the Rules Ex Cathedra St Matthew Passion Gretchen Peters Julian Baggini Philosopher in Residence Bath Camerata Tubular Bells for Two
MAY Thu 2 | 1pm Thu 2 | 7.30pm Fri 3 | 7.30pm Sun 5 | From 2pm Thu 9 | 1pm Thu 9 | 8pm Fri 10 | 7.30pm Sun 12 | 7.30pm Fri 17 | 7.30pm Sun 19 | 11am Sun 19 | 4pm Thu 23 | 6.45pm Thu 23 | 8pm Sun 26 | 7.30pm Thu 30 | 7.30pm Fri 31 | 7.30pm
Peter Cigleris & Martin Cousin I Fagiolini Da Vinci 500 Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Bristol Folk Festival A4 Brass Quartet Georgie Fame & BBC Big Band Steven Osborne and Alban Gerhardt Bristol Classical Players Chineke! Orchestra Julian Baggini Philosopher in Residence Joy Lisney with James Lisney on Piano Steve Williamson In Conversation The Steve Williamson Experience & StringTing Stephen Hough Aurora Orchestra Sing Out Bristol
JUNE Sat 1 | 7.30pm Wed 5 | 7.30pm Fri 7 | 7.30pm Sat 8 | 1.30pm Sat 8 | 7.45pm Sun 9 | 10.15am, 12 & 2pm Sun 9 | 7.30pm Sun 16 | 11am Sun 16 | 7pm Fri 21 | 7.30pm Tue 25 | 7.30pm Fri 28 | 7.30pm Sat 29 | 7.30pm Sun 30 | 6pm
Sing Out Bristol Sophie Ellis-Bextor The Song Diaries Solomon’s Knot Tori Freestone Trio Brandon Hill Chamber Orchestra MiniBeats Percussion Pandemonium! Vocal Works Gospel Choir Julian Baggini Philosopher in Residence Bristol City Voices OAE & Rachel Podger Bristol Plays Music Youth Choir Classical Mixtape Live 2 Bristol Concert Orchestra Bristol Plays Music Junior Choir
JULY Thu 4 | 7.30pm Fri 5 | 7pm Sun 14 | 3 & 7.30pm Sun 21 | 7.30pm
Bath Philharmonia Opera à la Carte presents Madama Butterfly Riff Raff Choir Bristol Show Choir
Book now stgeorgesbristol.co.uk 0845 40 24 001* Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RR * During box office opening hours @stgeorgesbris