This spring, the Manchester Mid-day Concerts Society return to the Bridgewater Hall with a delightfully diverse programme of lunchtime shows, offering a merciful and enchanting reprieve from the urban frenzy with a series of short, affordable concerts starring some of the world’s foremost musical talent.
On Thu 15 May, pre-eminent saxophonist Jess Gilliam leads Sam Becker and Zeynep Özsuca in a spellbinding programme celebrating the versatility and vitality of Adolphe Sax’s world-changing woodwind invention.
Praised for her ‘effortless virtuosity and limitless expressiveness’ (Arts Desk) in her performance as the youngest ever soloist at the Last Night of the Proms, Gilliam exhibits an electrifying stage presence and magnetic persona which have seen her deliver memorable concerts on the world’s largest stages, while shattering glass ceilings as the youngest ever presenter for BBC Radio 3 with This Classical Life.
In their Manchester Mid-Day Concert Series debut, the trio will explore the magic of the saxophone across centuries with a programme including works by Britten, Telemann, Gershwin, Barbara Thompson, Poulenc and others.
Rounding off the Mid-day Concerts Series in style, acclaimed Ukrainian flautist Sofiia Matviienko brings a trademark showcase of her passion, virtuosity and remarkable musical journey to the Bridgewater Hall on Wed 28 May.
Born in the idyllic central Ukraine town of Pereshschepino, Matviienko’s unique path to stardom began as a child when a doctor discovered her speech problems and recommended playing the recorder therapeutically. At 14, after moving on to classical flute, she instantly captured the hearts of audiences with her first solo concert in Italy, igniting a career in which she has won several competitions and performed at international festivals around the world.
The final Mid-day Concert programme includes Michael Daugherty’s Trail of Tears, Valerie Colemann’s Wish and Yevhen Stankovytch’s Ukrainian Poema.
The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley St, Manchester, M2 3WS
www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/series/mmcs2324
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Mon 7 Apr 2025
Making their long-awaited Bridgewater Hall debut on Wed 23 Apr, Kantos Chamber Choir invites audiences on an immersive musical odyssey across the endlessly intricate tapestry of nature, from beauty to destruction, culminating in a celebration of its defiance in the face of catastrophe.
Hailed as a pioneering vocal ensemble at the cutting edge of sonic innovation, with a performance oeuvre ranging from 11th century saints to genre-bending rock stars, the choir explores voice as a uniquely powerful portal that connects time, emotion, identity and experiences while offering seasoned concert-goers and classical newbies alike the chance to experience a new, captivating and accessible dimension of music.