The Liverpool Philharmonic has announced its Christmas Programme, bringing a celebration of the festive season for all ages to enjoy.
Ian Prowse & Amsterdam 14-piece band Christmas knees up starts off the festivities! 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chief Conductor Designate Domingo Hindoyan returns to the city to conduct the orchestra in a programme of works by Debussy, Ravel and Prokofiev.
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.
Safety measures
In order to make sure visits to Liverpool Philharmonic Hall are as safe as possible the venue has 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).
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic On Demand
Concerts can continue to be enjoyed from home in December.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic On Demand concerts featuring Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘Emperor’ (released 11 November), Vaughan William’s The Lark Ascending and Ravel’s Tzigane for Violin and Orchestra (released 18 November) and Vasily Petrenko conducting Haydn’s Surprise Symphony (released 25 Nov) are available to purchase for £10 and can be viewed for 30 days after the broadcast date.
Tickets include a pre-concert Zoom talk from Stephen Johnson and post-concert analysis with musicians and conductors. Further details available at www.liverpoolphil.com/ondemand
Tickets for live concerts from £19 are available and on sale now – Visit www.liverpoolphil.com or telephone: 0151 709 3789.
Concerts
Saturday 12 December 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.
Wednesday 16, Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December 7:30pm
Domingo Hindoyan conductor
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Debussy (arr. Caplet) Children’s Corner Suite
Ravel Mother Goose (Ma Mère l’Oye) Suite
Prokofiev Symphony No.1 ‘Classical’
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  Â
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.
