With the festive season already on the horizon, Stoller Hall is preparing another glittering programme of winter concerts spanning vintage swing, the next generation of classical musicians and a big-band tribute to one of Christmas music’s most enduring voices.
From shorter performances designed for younger listeners to full-scale seasonal spectaculars, here are the highlights from Stoller Hall’s hugely popular month of merriment, staged a stone’s throw from the Cathedral Gardens Christmas markets.
Bringing together the remarkable young musicians of Chetham’s School of Music, Chets’mas is set to deck the Stoller Hall on Fri 11 Dec for an evening of yuletide classics, choral delights and spirited orchestral performance.
Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra and Chorus take on an all-embracing programme that moves from excerpts of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus to the irrepressible pop of Slade’s Merry Xmas Everyone, alongside traditional carols and musical surprises, with singing, dancing and storytelling woven into the performance.
For families keen to introduce younger listeners to orchestral music, Christmas Crackers! offers a shorter, accessible alternative the following day.
Presented by Sean Chandler and performed by musicians from Chetham’s School of Music, the hour-long concert features familiar favourites and playful musical twists, from another sparkling rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite to Prokofievs’ Sleigh Ride and a rollicking arrangement of Jingle Bells.
Further storytelling and introductions to the instruments help bring the orchestra to life, while British Sign Language support from Chandler ensures full accessibility.
Recommended for ages 7+.
Rounding off the seasonal schedule on Fri 18 Dec, The Best of Bublé: Home for Christmas brings the familiar swing, polished baritone and big-band sound of Michael Bublé to Stoller Hall in a full-scale festive production.
Fronted by Josh Hindle, known for his appearance on ITV’s Starstruck and performances alongside Jane McDonald, the show features a sumptuous assortment of Bublé’s best-known hits, including Home, Feeling Good and Haven’t Met You Yet, before turning to seasonal staples such as Winter Wonderland, White Christmas and Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).
Set to a backdrop of atmospheric lighting, theatrical staging and a live band as the musical backbone, this is an unmissable evening for fans of classic crooner style and the grand heritage of Christmas entertainment.
The Stoller Hall, Hunts Bank, Manchester M3 1DA
stollerhall.com
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Fri 30 Oct 2020
On Sat 5 Dec, the 30-piece Down for the Count Swing Orchestra returns to Stoller Hall for its much-loved annual Christmas concert, transporting audiences to the golden age of big-band music with a lavish serving of seasonal standards and timeless classics.
Led by conductor and compère Mike Paul-Smith, the acclaimed ensemble recreates the sounds of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, with a line-up of leading vocalists and instrumentalists bringing fresh festive life to songs including Let It Snow, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and New York, New York.