Dances and Arias

Sunday 17 May 2009 at 19:30 | All Saints' Parish Church, Broseley

Bartók: Rumanian Folk Dances

Puccini: Quando m'en vo' soletta (La Bohème)

Gounod: Jewel Song (Faust)

Puccini: Un bel dì (Madama Butterfly)

Beethoven: 12 Contredanses WoO14

Bellini: Casta Diva (Norma)

Gounod: Je veux vivre dans ce rêve (Romeo et Juliette)

Beethoven: Symphony no.7 in A, op.92

A programme of dance and song: Bartók's delightful Rumanian Dances; the witty and pithy Contredanses by Beethoven; and his glorious and dithyrambic Seventh Symphony. Outstanding soprano Caroline Lester joins the Birmingham Chamber Orchestra for arias by Bellini, Puccini, and Gounod.

Caroline Lester, soprano | Martin Leigh, conductor

Rachmaninov Second

Sunday 5 July 2009 at 19:30 | David Street Hall, Dodderhill School

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Rachmaninov: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra no.2

Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre

Bartók: Dance Suite

Brahms: Hungarian Dances nos.1, 3, and 10

Rachmaninov's best-known concerto and Vaughan-Williams's ever-popular Fantasia, coupled with very different dances by Bartók, Brahms, and Saint-Saëns. Rising pianist Simon Callaghan makes his first appearance with the Orchestra.

Simon Callaghan, piano | Martin Leigh, conductor

Romantic Masterpieces

Saturday 19 September 2009 at 19:30 | Albrighton Parish Church

Schumann: Overture to 'Genoveva', op.81

Mendelssohn: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra

Bartók: Divertimento, Sz.113

Schumann: Overture, Scherzo and Finale, op.52

Three Romantic masterpieces: Sara Trickey returns to perform Mendelssohn's beloved concerto, Joachim's 'inward... heart's jewel'; Schumann's delightful, Mendelssohn-inspired symphonic torso; and his Overture to Genoveva, a story of Mediaeval love and redemption. Bartók's wonderful Divertimento, infused with folk dance and melody, continues Birmingham Chamber Orchestra's season-long engagement with the composer.

Sara Trickey, violin | Martin Leigh, conductor

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