Concerts in Birmingham...

WHAT TO EXPECT

BE MOVED

We’re giving you ALL the feels in this concert... sadness, joy, drama... in short, things are about to get emotional.

BE WOWED

For the thrill-seekers – expect epic, mind-blowing music – boom!

PERFECT FOR YOUR FIRST TIME

Not sure where to start? Think of this as your road map.

PERFECT FOR DATE NIGHT

Let us provide the soundtrack to your romantic evening – love is most definitely in the air!

PERFECT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

A concert filled with music that everyone can enjoy, whether you’re two or ninety-two.

PERFECT FOR CHILDREN

Concerts specially designed for your little ones – grown-ups are welcome too!

We invite you to lose yourself in music –to try something new, to hear something familiar, to be amazed, to be moved, to be challenged – to hear a huge orchestra performing great music with joy and passion in the heart of Birmingham. Look out for the following symbols to find out which performances are perfect for you: Look out for our handy guide next to each concert, to highlight where you might have heard this piece before – you’ll be surprised just how much you might know! We’ve also added in links to listen to some of the music online. Listen to our full playlist on Spotify by scanning the QR code.

Photo: Andrew Fox

MEET THE ORCHESTRA

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is made up of 90 passionate musicians, all based in the West Midlands. We perform regularly at Symphony Hall in Centenary Square with concerts ranging from emotional symphonies to rock concerts, and everything in between.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We want you to have a completely brilliant experience at every CBSO concert. To make your visit as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, we’ve pulled together some of the questions people have about coming along.

DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC IN ADVANCE?

Not at all! Just come along with open ears and an open mind and let the music do the rest... but if you would like to find out more, free digital programmes are available on our website a couple of days before the concert.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

There’s no dress code for CBSO concerts, so please wear whatever you feel most comfortable in.

CAN I GET A DRINK?

Drinks can be purchased from the bars before the concert and at the interval and can be taken into the concert hall.

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO CLAP?

There are no set rules, though many audience members do wait until the end of a piece before clapping. Certain pieces are separated into movements – with a short pause in the music – during which some audience members choose not to applaud.

CAN I TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS?

We are happy for you to take photos during performances, and we’d love for you to tag us on social media @TheCBSO – but please do be discreet to avoid disturbing other audience members. Please note that filming and flash photography are not allowed.

HOW LONG DOES A PERFORMANCE LAST?

Most of our concerts last approximately 2 hours, including a 20-minute interval, unless otherwise stated.

ARE THE CONCERTS EXPENSIVE?

The cost of concerts depends on where you choose to sit, with full-price tickets starting at £26. However, we do have lots of amazing ways to save including £10 tickets for new attenders and those aged 18-30, and £5 tickets for students, under 18s, and benefit recipients (full details can be found on p.27).

If you have any other questions about coming to see the CBSO, please feel free to get in touch with us – we promise there’s no such thing as a daft question!

You can find us @thecbso on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter.

Photo: Andrew Fox

Photo: Andrew Fox

THE PLANETS

Enjoy the sounds of a galaxy not so far away! Inspired by Holst’s fascination with astrology, his famous Planets Suite is an exhilarating musical journey around our solar system, from warlike Mars to mystical Neptune. Plus, a rare chance to hear Tchaikovsky’s brilliant Piano Concerto No. 2 – expect glittering fireworks from the keyboard.

WHEN: Wednesday 1 February 2023, 7.30pm & Thursday 2 February 2023, 2.15pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Kazuki Yamada - Conductor

Alexandre Kantorow - Piano CBSO Youth Chorus

MUSIC

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, 40mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL Holst The Planets, 55mins

The ‘Mars’ movement of The Planets inspired several ominous themes in the original Star Wars and the Rugby World Cup borrows the main tune of ‘Jupiter’ for its ‘World in Union’ theme. You might also have spotted Wallace’s dog Gromit listening to “The Plant Suite” in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit!

LICENCE

TO THRILL: THE VERY BEST OF BOND

Brush off your tuxedo and let us pour you a martini as the CBSO brings all the glitz and glamour of 007 to Symphony Hall. We’re celebrating Britain’s bestloved secret agent and the soundtracks that have accompanied his heroic swagger for six decades. Bringing together the finest Bond themes and songs, from Goldfinger and A View to a Kill to Skyfall and Spectre, this concert is guaranteed to leave you shaken... and stirred!

WHEN: Friday 10 February 2023, 7.30pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Michael Seal - Conductor

Lance Ellington and Anna-Jane Casey - Vocalists

Kazuki Yamada Photo: Benjamin Ealovega

BARTÓK’S CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA

This dazzling concert is a celebration of the rich sounds of the orchestra, beginning with an invitation from Ravel to five magical worlds in Mother Goose. Saint-Saëns shows us what the cello can do in his First Cello Concerto, considered to be one of the most challenging to play, while Bartók shines a spotlight on every instrument in his Concerto for Orchestra.

WHEN: Thursday 16 February 2023, 2.15pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Roderick

MUSIC

Ravel Mother Goose: Suite, 18mins Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1, 20mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL Bartók Concerto for Orchestra, 40mins

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE? Listen Here

Mother Goose is having its moment at the movies: the ‘Fairy Garden’ movement is in Call Me By your Name (in its original piano version), while the ‘Conversation between Beauty and the Beast’ is the soundtrack to a dreamlike encounter in last year’s The Worst Person in the World.

PROKOFIEV & SIBELIUS

Hearing swans take flight, Sibelius conjured up the final tune in his Symphony No. 5. In the Oceanides, Mediterranean water-spirits call out from Greek mythology, and Prokofiev let loose in his shimmering Piano Concerto No. 3 whilst on holiday up the coast in Brittany. This is a programme full of inspiration. Over a century later, the creative force is going strong in Freya Waley-Cohen’s brand-new work, Demon.

WHEN: Wednesday 22 February 2023, 7.30pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Ilan Volkov - Conductor Isata Kanneh-Mason - Piano

MUSIC

Sibelius The Oceanides, 10mins Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3, 28mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL Waley-Cohen Demon, 10mins Sibelius Symphony No. 5, 30mins

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE? Listen Here

The memorable ‘swan’ theme from the third movement of Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5 can be heard in the bass line in Sinitta’s 1988 song ‘I don’t believe in Miracles’!

Isata Kannah-Mason Photo: Susie Knoll

Cox - Conductor Alban Gerhardt - Cello

Roderick Cox Photo: Mark Allan

FAMILY CONCERT: FILM FAVOURITES

Music and the Movies: the perfect combination. Come and hear amazing music from some of the best film composers of all time, beginning with the famous Fox fanfare. Then travel through cinema history from Chaplin to Harry Potter, via Star Wars, The Jungle Book, Slumdog Millionaire, The Sound of Music and many more. Expect to be swept – and possibly even sing – along!

All CBSO Family Concerts are BSL Interpreted. This concert will last approximately 1 hour with no interval.

WHEN: Sunday 12 March 2023, 2.30pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham

TICKETS: £12. Group of 4 for £38 Recommended for children aged 6+. Babies under 9 months do not require a ticket.

PERFORMERS

Delyana

Join us in the foyer spaces from 1.30pm for FREE craft activities.

ROMEO AND JULIET

Romance is in the air at this concert. Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet play out their doomed love affair in his sublime ballet suite, while the melodies in Schumann’s gorgeously lush Piano Concerto will make even the stoniest heart melt. Weinberg’s vibrant Sinfonietta No. 1 is full of fantastic folk-tunes, and has a rip-roaring klezmer (traditional eastern European Jewish music) finale.

WHEN: Wednesday 15 March 2023, 7.30pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla - Conductor Kirill Gerstein - Piano

MUSIC

Weinberg Sinfonietta No. 1, 22mins Schumann Piano Concerto, 31mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL

Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet: highlights, 45mins

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE? Listen Here

If you’ve seen The Apprentice, you’ve heard the ‘Dance of the Knights’ from Romeo and Juliet, which has been the show’s theme tune from the very first series!

Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla Photo: Andrew Fox

Film Favourites Photo: Hannah Fathers

Lazarova - Conductor Tom Redmond - Presenter Sarah Butt - BSL Interpreter

Photo: Astrid Ackermann

NOTELETS: CONCERTS FOR UNDER SIXES

Music-making shouldn’t have an age limit –join us at our concerts for children aged 6 and under! Each hour-long concert has a different theme and features a beautiful book set to music, to delight and engage your little ones. Dancing, singing and getting involved is most definitely encouraged!

All Notelets performances are BSL Interpreted.

AROUND THE WORLD

WHEN: Friday 24 March 2023, 11am & 1.30pm and Saturday 25 March 2023, 11am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm

THE WIZARD OF OZ

WHEN: Friday 14 July 2023, 11am & 1.30pm and Saturday 15 July 2023, 11am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm

WHERE: CBSO Centre TICKETS: £10. Group of 4 for £35 Recommended for toddlers and young children. Babies under 9 months do not require a ticket.

Join us in the foyer spaces an hour before each performance for FREE craft activities.

RACHMANINOFF’S SECOND PIANO CONCERTO

An irresistible piano concerto is at the centre of this orchestral concert. Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 is sheer romantic drama – from its opening chords to its glorious melodies. Alongside is Brahms in celebratory mood, in the joyously tuneful Serenade and Academic Festival Overture.

WHEN: Thursday 13 April 2023, 7.30pm WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

François Leleux - Conductor Behzod Abduraimov - Piano MUSIC

Brahms Academic Festival Overture, 10mins Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, 32mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL Brahms Serenade No. 1, 40mins

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE? Listen Here

Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto is most famously used in the soundtrack to the 1945 romantic film Brief Encounter as well as in The Seven Year Itch, starring Marilyn Monroe. Eric Carmen’s song ‘All by myself’ (which features in Bridget Jones’s Diary) is based on the second movement!

Behzod Abduraimov Photo: Evgeny Eutykhov

FINAL SYMPHONY: MUSIC FROM FINAL FANTASY

The award-winning concert tour, featuring stunning orchestral suites based on the music from video games FINAL FANTASY VI, VII and X, will make its first visit to Birmingham in 2023 and the CBSO musicians are definitely game! With sell out performances and rave reviews across the globe, Final Symphony offers a new kind of orchestral concert experience, not just for game fans, but for anyone who simply loves beautiful music interpreted in a unique artistic manner.

WHEN: Sunday 16 April, 3pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham

TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Ben Parry - Conductor

Mischa Cheung - Piano

MUSIC

Uematsu Opening Fanfare, 4mins

Uematsu FINAL FANTASY VI – Symphonic Poem (Born with the Gift of Magic), 18mins

Uematsu / Hamauzu FINAL FANTASY X - Piano Concerto, 20mins

20-MINUTE INTERVAL

Uematsu FINAL FANTASY VII - Symphony in Three Movements, 42mins

BEETHOVEN’S PASTORAL SYMPHONY

Take a trip into the countryside with Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony: a brilliant portrait of babbling brooks and beautiful scenery – and with an amazing musical thunderstorm for added drama.

Rossini’s mischievous Thieving Magpie gets the concert off to a playful start, while Mozart shines a spotlight on the violin and viola in his gorgeous Sinfonia Concertante.

WHEN: Wednesday 19 April 2023, 2.15pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham

TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Julian Rachlin - Violin/Director Sarah McElravy - Viola

MUSIC

Rossini The Thieving Magpie: Overture, 10mins Mozart Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, 30mins

20-MINUTE INTERVAL

Beethoven Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral), 40mins

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE? Listen Here

The Pastoral Symphony appears in Walt Disney’s animation Fantasia, in the section featuring centaurs and centaurettes along with other characters from classical mythology.

Julian Rachlin Photo: Vasilka Balevska

FOUR SEASONS

All human life (and death) is here, with composers shaking hands across the centuries. Mahler looks back 100 years to turn Schubert’s Death and the Maiden into a powerful piece for string orchestra. And Vivaldi’s Four Seasons from the 1700s travels two hundred years into the future to dance a tango with Piazolla’s version.

WHEN: Saturday 22 April 2023, 7pm

WHERE: Town Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

MUSIC

CARMINA BURANA

The words for Carl Orff’s glorious choral work were found in a Benedictine Abbey. But there’s nothing monkish about them: the verses are full of booze, unbridled lust, and roasted swans. It’s a full-blooded romp from start to finish – for a huge orchestra and as many singers as you can get on the stage!

WHEN: Thursday 27 April 2023, 7.30pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Kazuki Yamada - Conductor Mari Eriksmoen - Soprano Mathias Rexroth - Tenor Thomas E. Bauer - Baritone

CBSO Chorus University of Birmingham Voices

CBSO Youth Chorus

CBSO Children’s Chorus

MUSIC Panufnik Sinfonia Sacra, 22mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL Orff Carmina Burana, 65mins

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE? Listen Here

Schubert (arr. Mahler) Death and the Maiden, 40mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL Vivaldi The Four Seasons, 40mins Movements of the Vivaldi will be interspersed with: Piazzola (arr. Desyatnikov) The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, 25mins Movements from the Four Seasons can be heard in many films and television programmes – most recently ‘Summer’ from the end of the romantic drama Portrait of a Lady on Fire and (by contrast!) ‘Winter’ is played during the final fight scene in John Wick 3.

Listen Here

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE?

If you’re of a certain age, you will remember the ‘O Fortuna’ movement from a TV commercial for Old Spice aftershave. More recently, it has been used as tension-building music in the X-Factor!

Photo: Andrew Fox

Eugene Tzikindelean - Violin/Director

Eugene Tzikindelean

Photo: Andrew Fox

SCHEHERAZADE

A concert to enchant! In 1001 Arabian Nights the Sultana Scheherazade saved her life by weaving fabulous tales for her husband night after night – Rimsky-Korsakov tells equally magical stories in this brilliant suite. Brahms’ exquisite Violin Concerto was a beautiful gift to the composer’s violinist friend, Joseph Joaquim.

WHEN: Wednesday 3 May 2023, 2.15pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham

TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Kazuki Yamada - Conductor

Daishin Kashimoto - Violin

MUSIC

Brahms Violin Concerto, 40mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL

Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, 45mins

Listen Here

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE?

At the violent end of the film There Will be Blood you can hear the opening of the Violin Concerto’s third movement. For fans of winter sports, Scheherazade is an incredibly popular choice to accompany figure-skating!

MOVIE MAGIC

Lights, Camera, Action – Soundtrack!

Some of the most outstanding orchestral music is written for the big screen. Sit back and enjoy this fabulous selection of movie music from the classics (The Great Escape, The Godfather) to fantasy (Harry Potter, Back to the Future) to modern actionpacked superhero films (Marvel).

WHEN: Saturday 13 May 2023, 7pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham

TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Paul Bateman - Conductor

Tommy Pearson - Presenter

Daishin Kashimoto Photo: Benjamin Ealovega

QUEEN SYMPHONIC: A ROCK ORCHESTRA EXPERIENCE

The CBSO gets a rock-star makeover as they join forces with incredible vocalists from the West End hit musical We Will Rock You and a full rock band for a night of Queen’s greatest hits. You’ll find all the best-loved songs, including Don’t Stop Me Now, Bohemian Rhapsody, I Want to Break Free, Under Pressure and more! This performance will be BSL Interpreted.

WHEN: Friday 26 May 2023, 7.30pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Richard Sidwell - Conductor

John Boydon, Jenna Lee James, Peter Eldridge & Rachael Wooding - Vocalists

Andy G Jones and Adam Martin - Guitars Martin ‘Frosty’ Beedle - Drums Greg Hagger - Bass Guitar

John G Smith - Keyboards

Paul Whittaker - BSL Interpreter

BENJAMIN GROSVENOR PLAYS CHOPIN

You want romance? We’ve got romance: Chopin’s Piano Concerto was written for the love of his young life and will make you swoon and who doesn’t love a swoon? You want epic? We’ve got epic! Mozart’s Symphony no. 41 (the ‘Jupiter’) is, literally, out of this world. You want a sparkling Overture put together almost overnight by a 20-year-old? Just ask Schubert.

WHEN: Thursday 1 June 2023, 2.15pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Riccardo Minasi - Conductor Benjamin Grosvenor - Piano

MUSIC

Schubert Overture in the Italian Style in C major, 7mins Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2, 33mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL Mozart Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter), 36mins

Benjamin Grosvenor Photo: Andrej Grilc

Photo: Andrew Fox

FAMILY CONCERT: PETER AND THE WOLF

The bird is a flute, the duck an oboe, and the wolf is a group of French horns – yes, we’re in the land of Peter and the Wolf where instruments become animals! This evergreen musical tale by Prokofiev is paired with another story about a sinister wolf: Paul Patterson’s Little Red Riding Hood.

All CBSO Family Concerts are BSL Interpreted. This concert will last approximately 1 hour with no interval.

WHEN: Sunday 4 June 2023, 2.30pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £12. Group of 4 for £38 Recommended for children aged 6+. Babies under 9 months do not require a ticket.

PERFORMERS

Julian Wilkins - Conductor

Jane Wright - Presenter

CBSO Youth Chorus

CBSO Children’s Chorus

Sarah Butt - BSL Interpreter

MUSIC

Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf, 25mins Patterson Little Red Riding Hood, 27mins

Join us in the foyer spaces from 1.30pm for FREE craft activities.

Listen Here

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE?

There have been countless performances and films made of Peter and the Wolf, often narrated by a famous person – most recently by Viola Davis, Miriam Margolyes and David Tennant.

OF THE WEST END

This unmissable collection of showstoppers from some of the world’s favourite musicals, old and new, is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, have you tapping your toes and singing along in no time. So, take your seats for a magical, musical tour including songs from Chicago, Guys & Dolls, Cabaret, Wicked, Jersey Boys, Dear Evan Hansen, Mamma Mia and more!

This concert will be BSL Interpreted.

WHEN: Friday 9 June 2023, 7.30pm

WHERE: Symphony Hall, Birmingham TICKETS: £26, £36, £46, £56 (find ways to save on p.27)

PERFORMERS

Michael England - Conductor

Sophie Evans, Louise Dearman, Scott Davies and Jon Robyns - Vocalists

Paul Whittaker - BSL Interpreter

25 | Book online at cbso.co.uk or call the B:Music

0121 780

ELGAR’S FIRST SYMPHONY

What a fantastic way to end the Season: a celebration of British music across over 100 years. Elgar’s Symphony No. 1 is bursting with energy and an endless supply of tunes. Britten’s Serenade is a group of brilliant songs: by turn beautiful, haunting, and downright terrifying, and British music is alive and well in the form of a brand-new piece by Dani Howard.

WHEN: Wednesday 14 June 2023, 7.30pm

PERFORMERS

Kazuki Yamada - Conductor

Ian Bostridge - Tenor

Elspeth Dutch - Horn

MUSIC

Howard New work, 10mins Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and strings, 26mins 20-MINUTE INTERVAL

Elgar Symphony No. 1, 50mins

WAYS TO SAVE

We’ve got plenty of ways to save - and our discounted tickets can be booked for any seat in the concert hall.

STARTER FOR £10

New to the CBSO? Then this is the ticket offer for you. We’re offering a limited number of seats at just £10 to first-timer attendees for every CBSO concert. These can be booked online or over phone and are limited to two tickets per booking.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS

Get a £5 ticket for all main Season performances if you are:

• Aged 17 or under

• A student

• A benefit recipient

• A school or youth music group (plus get 2 free tickets for organisers of groups 20+)

Get a £10 ticket for all main Season performances if you are:

• Aged 18-30

• A first-time attender

discounts

26 Kazuki Yamada Photo: Beki

Smith

Listen

WHERE HAVE I HEARD THIS BEFORE?

TAKE YOUR SEATS

There’s no such thing as a bad seat in Symphony Hall – you’ll get a fabulous view and listening experience wherever you choose. We also offer a range of ticket prices in each area of the hall. Details about what to expect from a CBSO concert can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions on p.6.

Almost all CBSO concerts take place in central Birmingham - at Symphony Hall, Town Hall or the CBSO Centre. All of these venues are easy to find and fully accessible.

YOUR VISIT & ACCESSIBILITY

ACCESSIBILITY

ACCESSIBILITY

Symphony Hall and CBSO Centre are all fully accessible for people with additional needs.

The THSH Access Scheme offers free tickets for disabled patrons who need the assistance of a companion.

TO BOOK

Circle

Grand Tier UpperCircle Stalls

Tickets can be booked online at cbso.co.uk or by calling the B:Music Box Office on 0121 780 3333 (Monday-Saturday, 10am-2pm).

Full details of how to book, alongside ticket terms and conditions can be found on the CBSO website.

Please note, all prices shown in this brochure above £15 are inclusive of the £3.50 per ticket commission which is charged by the B:Music Box Office.

Refunds and exchanges: Tickets are non-refundable or exchangeable. Refunds will only be given if a performance is cancelled or rescheduled. All tickets purchased are subject to full terms and conditions which can be found online at cbso.co.uk/terms Your data: When you book your ticket for a CBSO concert via B:Music’s Box Office your data is passed to us. The CBSO processes audience data for certain legitimate business purposes, in order to provide you with the best experiences and most relevant information about our activities as an arts charity. To learn more about how we use your data, visit cbso.co.uk/privacy

The transformation of Symphony Hall’s public spaces has continued throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic and the brand-new spaces at

Hall,

For further information on the Access Scheme, and details of the ballot for parking spaces for disabled people contact:

Town Hall and Symphony Hall: https://bmusic.co.uk/your-visit 0121 289 6333 boxoffice@bmusic.co.uk Mini com: 0121 644 6140 For Centre Stage concerts, contact: CBSO Centre: 0121 616 6532 cbso.co.uk/centre Call 0121 616 6500 for a free large-print brochure, or an audio CD version.

ABOUT THE VENUES

SYMPHONY HALL & TOWN HALL

Located in Birmingham’s Centenary Square, Symphony Hall is widely considered one of the finest concert halls in the world. It has a bar on each level, as well as a café which serves food before performances. Just a few minutes walk from Symphony Hall, you’ll find Town Hall - a beautiful Grade I listed building in the heart of Birmingham. For full information about both venues, visit bmusic.co.uk.

CBSO CENTRE

CBSO Centre is a friendly and adaptable performance space, home to our Centre Stage and Notelets concerts, it also doubles as the rehearsal and office space for the Orchestra and Choruses.

Full details about attending a CBSO Concert, including getting there and parking, can be found online at cbso.co.uk/your-visit.

| Book online at cbso.co.uk or call the B:Music

HANDY TERMS

We’ve tried to keep the technical jargon to a minimum, but just in case, here are some handy terms...

“ORCHESTRA”

a group of musicians playing a variety of instruments, including string, wind, brass, and percussion.

“CONDUCTOR”

the person who directs the orchestra or choir in its performances and rehearsals.

“SYMPHONY”

A large and dramatic piece of music for a full orchestra, usually made up of three or four separate movements.

“CONCERTO”

a piece of music for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra.

“COMPOSER”

a person who writes music.

“MOVEMENT”

a self-contained section of a larger piece of music. There is often a short pause between movements in a performance of a symphony or concerto.

ALL CONCERTS AT A GLANCE

Wednesday 1 February, 7.30pm

Thursday 2 February, 2.15pm KAZUKI CONDUCTS THE PLANETS

Wednesday 8 February, 6pm

RUSH HOUR CONCERT: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA

Friday 10 February, 7.30pm LICENSE TO THRILL: THE VERY BEST OF BOND

Thursday 16 February, 2.15pm

BARTOK’S CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA

Wednesday 22 February, 7.30pm PROKOFIEV & SIBELIUS

Sunday 26 February, 3pm

CBSO YOUTH ORCHESTRA PLAY BERLIOZ

Thursday 2 March, 8pm THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS

Wednesday 8 March, 7.30pm MIRGA CONDUCTS ELGAR & SCHUMANN

Sunday 12 March, 2.30pm

FAMILY CONCERT: FILM FAVOURITES

Wednesday 15 March, 7.30pm ROMEO AND JULIET

Thursday 13 April, 7.30pm

RACHMANINOFF’S SECOND PIANO CONCERTO

Sunday 16 April, 3pm

FINAL SYMPHONY: MUSIC FROM FINAL FANTASY

Wednesday 19 April, 2.15pm BEETHOVEN’S PASTORAL SYMPHONY

Saturday 22 April, 7pm FOUR SEASONS

Thursday 27 April, 7.30pm

KAZUKI CONDUCTS CARMINA BURANA

Sunday 30 April, 3pm

CBSO BENEVOLENT FUND CONCERT

Wednesday 3 May, 2.15pm KAZUKI CONDUCTS SCHEHERAZADE

Wednesday 10 May, 7.30pm

BEETHOVEN’S SEVENTH SYMPHONY

Saturday 13 May, 7pm MOVIE MAGIC

Thursday 18 May, 7.30pm

MIRGA CONDUCTS MAHLER’S TENTH SYMPHONY

Friday 26 May, 7.30pm

QUEEN SYMPHONIC: A ROCK ORCHESTRA EXPERIENCE

Sunday 28 May, 7pm

CBSO SING-ALONG: MOZART’S REQUIEM

Thursday 1 June, 2.15pm

BENJAMIN GROSVENOR PLAYS CHOPIN

Sunday 4 June, 2.30pm

FAMILY CONCERT: PETER AND THE WOLF

Wednesday 7 June, 7.30pm

KAZUKI CONDUCTS RACHMANINOFF’S SECOND SYMPHONY

Friday 9 June, 7.30pm BEST OF THE WEST END

Wednesday 14 June, 7.30pm

SEASON FINALE: KAZUKI CONDUCTS ELGAR’S FIRST SYMPHONY

31 | Book online at cbso.co.uk or call the B:Music Box Office on 0121 780