In line with government guidance, Liverpool Philharmonic is delighted to announce it will be reopening on Thursday 3 December with a Christmas and New Year programme for all ages. Highlights include:

 

• A programme of seasonal favourite from Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir 3 – 31 December
• Family concerts including The Snowman with Live Orchestra and Nutcracker - Reimagined with pianist Alexandra Dariescu and the Orchestra's brass ensemble.
• Connie Lush’s legendary Christmas Concert, Ian Prowse & Amsterdam and Perfectly Frank on New Year’s Eve complete the festivities.
• John Lennon – A Life in Music concerts commemorating 40 years’ since The Beatles’ death (9, 10 and 11 December).

Vasily Petrenko leads Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and mezzo-soprano and Artist in Residence, Jennifer Johnston back to the stage on Thursday 3 December. They perform Ginastera’s Variaciones concertantes, Respighi’s Il Tramonto and Bizet’s Carmen for percussion and strings. Later in the month, conductor Stephanie Childress leads the Orchestra on 16 and 19 December as they perform repertoire including Mozart’s joyful and lively Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.

Ian Prowse & Amsterdam 14-piece band Christmas knees up will get audiences in the festive spirit! Ian and the band are determined to keep the end of year show tradition going and say goodbye to what has been a very difficult year with a defiant bang (12 December).

With ‘A voice like 3am whiskey’ (The Times), singer Connie Lush brings her legendary Christmas concert with her full band – Terry Harris on bass, Steve Wright on guitar and Roy Martin on drums (13 December).

Members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir sing popular Christmas carols a cappella this year, under conductor Ian Tracey: ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’, ‘The Little Drummer Boy’, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, ‘Carol of the Bells’, ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, ‘Silent Night’, ‘Deck the Hall’ to name a few (17, 21 and 23 December).

The Snowman with Live Orchestra returns to the Hall. The classic film features a little boy building a new friend in a snowy garden. Also included are other seasonal treats, including music from the film Frozen (19 and 20 December).

The Nutcracker – Reimagined features Pianist Alexandra Dariescu and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble each performing different parts of Tchaikovsky’s wonderful music. Joined by a narrator and two ballet dancers, all come together to retell this seasonal classic like it’s never been told before (30 and 31 December).

And on New Year’s Eve, bringing the swing of Sinatra alive, Perfectly Frank by David Knopov, is a tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra and is without a doubt one of the most successful Frank Sinatra tributes around (31 December).

 

Safety measures

In order to make sure visits to Liverpool Philharmonic Hall are as safe as possible we have introduced extra measures to help both audiences, musicians and staff. These include social distancing between households seated in the auditorium, additional entrances, one way systems, enhanced our cleaning regimes (including regular fogging of the building and extra cleaning of touch points), have hand sanitizer available and ask all staff and audiences to wear a face covering (unless exempt) whilst they are in the building.

Each concert will last approximately one hour with no interval. Seating will be limited. The Orchestra will also be socially distanced on stage which means the works they will perform are for smaller orchestral forces (up to 30 players).

 

Concerts for January to March will be announced soon. Tickets for December concerts at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall cost from £19 per person. Visit https://www.liverpoolphil.com/ or call the box office on 0151 709 3789 to book.

 

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

• For interviews, further information or to unsubscribe contact Rachel Gaston, Head of Communications and External Affairs, rachel.gaston@liverpoolphil.com/ 07926077376
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• Liverpool Philharmonic would like to thank all our corporate sponsors for standing with us during these challenging times including Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University, Hills Dickinson Lawyers, David M Robinson, Investec Wealth & Investment, the Rushworth Foundation, Maestro Tour Management and the LSCA.

 

The full programme of concerts are as follows:

Thursday 3 December 7.30pm and Sunday 6 December 2.30pm

Vasily Petrenko conductor

Jennifer Johnston mezzo-soprano

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Ginastera Variaciones concertantes

Respighi Il Tramonto

Bizet (arr. Shchedrin) Carmen for percussion and strings

 

Saturday 5 December 7.30pm

Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata

Martin Harris actor

Mihkel Kerem violin/director

Concettina Del Vecchio violin

Alex Mitchell viola

Jonathan Aasgaard cello

 

Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 December 7.30pm

John Lennon – A Life in Music

Richard Balcombe conductor

Adam Hastings singer and presenter

Louise Dearman singer

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

 

Saturday 12 December 3pm and 8pm

Ian Prowse & Amsterdam
The legendary Ian Prowse & Amsterdam 14-piece band Christmas knees up comes to Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. Formed in 1999 by frontman Ian Prowse, Amsterdam struck up a friendship with Elvis Costello, which saw them playing as his band on the Jonathan Ross Show, supporting his live shows and eventually recording a duet of ‘Don’t Throw Your Love Away’, originally a hit by The Searchers. Amsterdam saw some success with their first single ‘The Journey’ in early 2005, but it was their song ‘Does This Train Stop on Merseyside?’ later that year that cemented Ian’s place in the hearts of DJs, songwriters and music fans alike.

 

 

Sunday 13 December  8pm
Connie Lush
Connie Lush brings her legendary Christmas concert with her full band; Terry Harris on bass, Steve Wright on guitar and Roy Martin on drums.

 

Thursday 15 December 7.30pm

Katona Twins

Vivaldi (arr. Katona Twins) Trio Sonata

Peter Katona Alhambra Inspiration (Tarrega for Two)

J.S.Bach (arr. Katona Twins) Sinfonia from Cantata BWV29

Agustín Barrios Mangoré Vals

Peter Katona The Scandal (from the Karamazov Suite)

Handel (arr. Katona) Chaconne

Agustín Barrios Mangoré Julia Florida

de Falla (arr. Katona) El amor brujo (Excerpts)

 

 

 

Wednesday 16 and Saturday 19 December 7:30pm

Stephanie Childress conductor
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

Fauré Masques et Bergamasques

Britten Nocturne

Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

 

 

Thursday 17, Monday 21 and Wednesday 23 December 2020 7:30pm

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir: Christmas Carols
Ian Tracey conductor
Enjoy listening to Christmas carols and other seasonal favourites as our Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir shines in this a cappella concert with around 30 of our choir members. The programme will include ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’, ‘The Little Drummer Boy’, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, ‘Carol of the Bells’, ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, ‘Silent Night’, ‘Deck the Hall’ and more...

 

 

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December  11.30am and 2.30pm
The Snowman with Live Orchestra: Family Concert         
Alasdair Malloy presenter
Ben Palmer conductor
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

We’re walking in the air... it isn’t Christmas until a little boy has built a new friend in a snowy garden, the Northern Lights are flickering in the sky, and The Snowman has whisked us off into the frosty night. If you didn’t think the classic film could get any more enchanting, you’re in for a wonderful surprise – because this seasonal screening is accompanied live by the Orchestra, who’ll also be sharing a whole stocking full of musical treats, including music from the film Frozen.

 

 

Wednesday 30 (2pm and 7.30pm) and  Thursday 31 December (2pm)
The Nutcracker – Reimagined

Alexandra Dariescu piano and producer
Lucy Drever narrator
Jenna Lee choreographer
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble

A Christmas party, an unexpected gift and a kingdom full of sweets... everyone knows the story of The Nutcracker. Pianist Alexandra Dariescu and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Ensemble each perform different parts of Tchaikovsky’s wonderful music.

 

 

Thursday 31 December 8pm
Perfectly Frank on New Year’s Eve
Bringing the swing of Sinatra alive, Perfectly Frank by David Knopov, as seen on BBC’s The One and Only, is a tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra and is without a doubt one of the most successful Frank Sinatra tributes around.

 

ENDS