BBC Radio 3 Manchester Week
BBC Radio 3’s Manchester Week celebrates music-making in Manchester, with performances by BBC Philharmonic, the Hallé and Sir Mark Elder, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Chloë Hanslip, and Manchester Collective amongst others
Nine live and pre-recorded performances as part of BBC Radio 3 in Concert & BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert
Monday 24 to Friday 28 January 2022
Following the cancellation of the January 2021 Manchester Week due to COVID-19, BBC Radio 3 announces new plans for a week of live and pre-recorded concerts from the English city, featuring performances from some of Manchester’s best-known concert halls and venues: Bridgewater Hall, The Stoller Hall at Chetham’s School of Music, Salford’s The White Hotel and Media City, home of the BBC Philharmonic.
Highlighting BBC Radio 3’s continued commitment to connecting listeners and performers with broadcasts of music-making as it happens all over the UK, the Manchester Week celebrates the city’s ensembles, musicians, and composers, with appearances by established and up-and-coming artists, presenting well-known as well as experimental repertoire, including music based around the theme of sound and nature.
A series of five Radio 3 in Concert programmes showcase the wide variety of the city’s performing groups in all sizes and combinations, alongside four Lunchtime Concerts live from The Stoller Hall, based alongside Chetham’s School of Music. Introduced by Elizabeth Alker, these recitals feature the emerging talents of some of the current and former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists: pianist Pavel Kolesnikov; tenor Alessandro Fisher and pianist Kunal Lahiry; the Consone Quartet; and the Mithras Trio.
The week kicks off on Monday 24 January with a special pre-recorded edition of BBC Radio 3 in Concert, presented by Tom McKinney. Manchester Camerata, who are celebrating their 50th birthday this year, present an all-Mozart programme as recorded at The Stoller Hall, including Piano Concerto No 9 in E-flat major K. 271 “Jeunehomme” directed by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet and Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat major K. 364 with soloists Alexander Sitkovetsky and Timothy Ridout.
Other BBC Radio 3 in Concert episodes as part of the Week feature:
- trailblazing home-grown experimental music group Manchester Collective as captured at a performance in December at Salford’s The White Hotel, presenting music by Bryce Dessner, Dobrinka Tabakova, Michael Gordon, and world premieres by Ben Nobuto and Sebastian Gainsborough;
- soloist Chloë Hanslip and the Northern Chamber Orchestra in music for string orchestra and percussion by Grieg, Finzi, Elgar, and Shostakovich, as recorded at The Stoller Hall;
- Salford-resident BBC Philharmonic live from Media City with conductor Ben Gernon and Chetham’s School of Music’s alumnus cellist Guy Johnston, presenting the Cello Concerto by Manchester-born William Walton;
- Music Director Sir Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra in a pre-recorded performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 at Bridgewater Hall with soloist Alice Coote.
Alan Davey, BBC Radio 3 Controller, says: “Here at BBC Radio 3 we are passionate about reflecting the amazing musical life of this country and bringing it to audiences the world over. This mission matters even more in the current climate, with the ongoing global pandemic and ensuing uncertainties affecting audiences’ opportunities to enjoy the live music they crave, and for musicians to be able to play, connect and make a difference. With the Manchester Week, we take a moment to celebrate inspiring talent in inspiring venues, and to put the spotlight on one of the UK and the world’s most creative and culturally vibrant cities. ”
Fran Healey, General Manager of The Stoller Hall, says: “Manchester’s music scene is legendary, but with so many emerging artists and with incredible venues to host them, classical music in Manchester has never been more vibrant. Here at The Stoller Hall we couldn’t be more excited to welcome BBC Radio 3 into our very special concert hall, sharing the city’s music with the nation and the world.”
