Manchester Camerata is delighted to announce the details of its upcoming autumn 2021 season of live and digital classical concerts. After a testing 18 months and an exciting new home at the previously derelict Monastery in Gorton, ‘Britains most adventurous orchestra’ (The Times) is back with a diverse programme of live and digital concerts, featuring some of the world’s top soloists – all in time for its 50th anniversary next year.
Manchester Camerata’s Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy says ‘I’m delighted to be returning to Manchester to perform with my orchestra again this autumn. Our Mozart series with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet has been a particular highlight over the past five years, so it brings me great pleasure to be able to continue this collaboration and record the next installment in the cycle.’
In partnership with its visionary Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy, Manchester Camerata brings back its critically acclaimed, Gramophone Award-nominated ‘Mozart, Made in Manchester’ series with star pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. The five-year collaborative project with Chetham’s School of Music has been hailed as a ‘serious front-runner in a cycle of works that has never wanted for fine recordings’ (Gramophone). Together, Bavouzet and Manchester Camerata will take to the stage at The Stoller Hall [8 October], the ensemble’s very first live show back at the intimate venue since 2019. The overture to Mozart’s comedic Der Schauspieldirektor will open the concert, before Bavouzet tackles two of Mozart’s most characterful concertos, Nos 22 and 23. Manchester Camerata will then bring proceedings to a close with the composer’s iconic Symphony No. 40.
For those wanting to stay at home, there’s more Mozart on offer from Manchester Camerata and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet on Virtual Circle, the live-streaming and digital content platform from HarrisonParrott. This time, though, Bavouzet will be bringing a few friends with him: violinist Alexander Sitkovetksy and violist Timothy Ridout. Bavouzet will direct from the piano for a performance of Mozart’s youthful Piano Concerto No. 9, which will provide the centrepiece for the evening [28 October]. The concert, titled ‘Mozart in Motion’, will also feature two other substantial works by the composer: Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major and Symphony No. 41 ‘Jupiter’.
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, leading international violinist and ‘one-woman firework display’ (The Times), joins Manchester Camerata for the first time in concerts at Manchester’s Stoller Hall [3 December] and Leeds College of Music’s International Concert Season [4 December]. Included in the programme for both performances will be a work written by Kopatchinskaja. These premiere performances will be accompanied by a wide-ranging programme spanning more than three centuries, with works by Biber, Ligeti and Hartmann. Rounding off both concerts is Haydn’s lively ‘Farewell’ Symphony.
Known for turning its hand to a diverse range of repertoire, Manchester Camerata delivers avant-garde, contemporary repertoire with equal panache to traditional, ancient works. Away from the more core classical repertoire, Manchester Camerata is bringing back its much-loved Hacienda Classical project, which brings to life anthems played at Manchester’s legendary Haçienda Nightclub – now performed with a classical spin. This wildly successful show, created in collaboration with Haçienda DJ and house music legend Graeme Park, has seem landmark performances at Glastonbury, Isle of Wight Festival and the Royal Albert Hall. A raft of Hacienda Classical concerts have been scheduled for the autumn season at a hugely broad range of venues, from Blackpool Cricket Ground to London’s Printworks nightclub, which, despite starting life as the largest printing factory in western Europe, is now one of the continent’s top electronic music venues.
Manchester Camerata recently moved into its new home, The Monastery in Gorton, a building which became derelict in the 1970s before being repaired by a group of volunteers over 20 years. Like many places in the UK, Gorton suffers from deep inequalities – for young people, families (48% family poverty) and the community. Manchester Camerata will become part of the Gorton community, listening and responding to the needs of the community. The Orchestra has just launched its new Music Café offering free support for people living with dementia and their at-home carers, which takes place every Wednesday at The Monastery.