SICS 2010 11

I am very proud to welcome you to the 2010/2011 Sheffield International Concert Season at the City Hall. Last year we had a marvellous season, with more and more of you supporting the concerts on offer.

This season, we have orchestras from this country and further afield, joined by conductors and soloists of the highest international standing. Acknowledged masters, Sir Mark Elder, Vassily Sinaisky, Markus Stenz, David Zinman and Nikolai Demidenko are alongside younger talent from this country and abroad – Terje Mikkelsen, Andris Nelsons, Robin Ticciati, Alison Balsom, Roderick Williams and Sofya Gulyak. You will hear masterpieces of the Austrian classical tradition played by the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, and dazzling Russian orchestral fireworks in the hands of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra from Moscow.

The Hallé, again central to the season, has been hailed for its performances of English music, especially those given with its Music Director. This season offers the opportunity to hear Sir Mark Elder conduct two of the greatest of all English symphonies: Vaughan Williams’ ‘London Symphony’ and Elgar’s First Symphony, which the Hallé has been playing since the ink was drying on the score. The Hallé’s English survey includes evocative music by Walton, Bax and Britten, and also takes in two other great Elgar works: the Cello Concerto, and the wonderful oratorio ‘The Dream of Gerontius’. Hearing this sublime dramatic poem with superb English soloists and the full forces of the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus promises be a life-changing experience.

To hear Mahler’s First Symphony, Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony or Richard Strauss’s ‘Ein Heldenleben’ is to experience the full glory of a romantic symphony orchestra; the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra are sure to give Strauss’s spectacular showpiece a run for its money, as their recent acclaimed recording will testify. The Northern Sinfonia and Manchester Camerata perform works by Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart, whilst the outstanding Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment makes its debut in February.

The season wouldn’t be complete without the traditional Christmas Concert, and this year there are two chances to get into the spirit with the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus and Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Enjoy the festivities with refreshments or pre-concert dining before your Christmas Concert.

You will be pleased to know that once again the price of tickets has been frozen at the same affordable price for another year. NUS card holders are also entitled to the student standby tickets which are available on the day at the bargain price of £5.

I hope you will find much to whet your appetite, with music that many of you will know and wish to hear again and some which others will never have had the chance to enjoy. If you see something that you haven’t heard, cross the threshold and be prepared to experience these great performances.

I hope to see you often, and look forward to this very exciting season.

 
Dominic Stokes
General Manager, Sheffield City Hall

 Find out about Subscription packages and single tickets for the 2010 11 concert season.