PHOENIX SINGERS

Rising from the ashes of Chorus 2000 - a large choir created in 1996 in the lead-up to the millennium - the Birmingham-based Phoenix Singers here present ‘a Choral Serenade for Holy Week’ to mark the centenary of St Francis of Assisi Church.

St Francis of Assisi Church, Bournville, Saturday 12 April

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SPIRES PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA & CHORUS

“We are acoustic adventurers,” explain Spires Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus, a community of ambitious musicmakers from Coventry. “We seek out unheard gems and then programme them alongside classics we know and love, crafting concerts that are not only outstanding to listen to but that we love to perform, too.”

The choir and pro/am orchestra’s latest outing sees them presenting ‘an emotional and thought-provoking performance of Bach’s St John Passion, with its ever-important message of compassion, hope and ultimate salvation’.

Burgess Hall, King Henry VIII School, Coventry, Saturday 12 April

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​ARMONICO CONCORT: HANDEL - ISRAEL IN EGYPT

Founded in 2001 by organist & conductor Christopher Monks, and using authentic period instruments, Warwick-based baroque consort Armonico turn their talents to the task of performing Handel’s most spectacular choral showpiece: Israel In Egypt. 
A biblically epic composition, the work includes graphic musical renderings of flies, frogs, hailstones, the river Nile turning to blood, and the parting of the Red Sea.

Malvern Theatres, Sunday 13 April

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THE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCSHSTRA

Some of the country’s finest young musicians performing an imaginative programme of high-energy music: what’s not to like about this mid-month concert at Birmingham’s Town Hall!  
Featured works include Stravinsky’s Petrushka, Jennifer Higdon’s Percussion Concerto (with BBC Young Musician of the Year 2022, Jordan Ashman) and Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

Birmingham Town Hall, Monday 14 April

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CBSO: KAZUKI CONDUCTS RAVEL & POULENC

Music Director Kazuki Yamada once again takes the helm for a City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra concert, this time leading them in a programme of work that features pieces by two of France’s greatest 20th-century composers. 
The concert opens with Suite No1 from the largest work ever written by Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé. 
Suite No2 also features, presented on the other side of Fazıl Say’s performance of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major. 
The evening comes to a close in the company of soprano Eleanor Lyons (pictured), who takes on the challenge of Francis Poulenc’s Stabat Mater. Based on a medieval text, the work was written by the French composer in response to the untimely death of artist and friend Christian Bérard.    

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Wednesday 16 April

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EX CATHEDRA - BACH: ST MATTHEW PASSION

A favourite at Easter, Bach’s dramatic telling of the Passion of Christ continues to be one of classical music’s most profound experiences. Sung in German with English surtitles, St Matthew Passion is here performed by Ex Cathedra’s choir & baroque orchestra and Academy of Vocal Music, coming together under the direction of conductor Jeffrey Skidmore.
“Education and participation are central to our work,” explains Jeffrey, in talking about the concert. “The traditional Good Friday Bach Passion in Symphony Hall has evolved into a powerful and poignant opportunity for ‘historical’ participation. 
“This brings all the elements of our work together through a liturgical reconstruction similar to that which might have been heard in the St Thomas Church in Leipzig in the 18th century [where the earliest verified performance of the work took place, on Good Friday in 1727].”  

Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Friday 18 April

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WOOD: ST MARK PASSION

Hailed a little-known musical gem, Charles Wood’s St Mark Passion is here presented by Coventry Cathedral Chorus, directed by Luke Fitzgerald with a contribution from tenor Joseph Banerjee. The work includes the chorus singing much of the Passion narrative alongside the Evangelist and solo characters. The one-hour concert will conclude with a performance of Gerald Finzi’s Welcome, Sweet And Sacred Feast.

Coventry Cathedral, Friday 18 April

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SITKOVETSKY TRIO

Since being formed by students at the Yehudi Menuhin School in 2007, the Sitkovetsky Piano Trio have accumulated an impressive haul of coveted silverware. 
Comprising violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, pianist Wu Qian and cellist Isang Enders, the uber-talented ensemble visit Malvern to present a concert featuring works by Beethoven (Trio in D Op70 No1 Ghost), Ravel (Trio in A minor), and a new piece by Lena Sierova (Piano Trio). 

Malvern Theatres, Sunday 27 April

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JAMES MCVINNIE ORGAN RECITAL

James McVinnie’s impressive CV includes organ-playing positions at St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. 
Hailed for his innovative programming and captivating musicianship, the talented 42-year-old here presents a lunchtime-concert programme that features compositions by, among others, Ralph Vaughan Williams and JS Bach.  

Birmingham Town Hall, Monday 28 April