Intermezzo

CBSO 2012 - 2013 season

The CBSO have just announced their 2012-13 season, which opens for booking on 8 May.

Like the London orchestras, they're mostly relying on tried and trusted audience-pullers, the centrepiece being a complete Beethoven symphony cycle conducted by Andris Nelsons.

Operatic treats are minimal, but at least Nelsons is conducting a Flying Dutchman (in English? - hope not). Jennifer Wilson is Senta and James Rutherford is the Dutchman - if the rest of the cast are up to that standard it should be unmissable.

Jonas Kaufmann goes to Brum

CBSO / Andris Nelsons / Jonas Kaufmann - Symphony Hall Birmingham, 7 March 2012

What’s in the middle of Birmingham but surrounded by sea?

Jonas Kaufmann!

The CBSO’s very, very special guest was placed at the centre of Wednesday evening’s programme, and rightfully so. Before him came Britten’s Sea Interludes; after, Debussy’s La Mer.

But let’s not pretend this was a mere guest soloist spot. With ten songs on the programme (eleven if you count the encore) we received a more bountiful helping of Herr Kaufmann than many an orchestrally-grouted recital programme provides.

Tristan und Isolde und the CBSO

Tristan und Isolde - CBSO / Nelsons - Symphony Hall Birmingham, 3 March 2012

Forget staged, semi-staged or even notionally visual. The singers were lined up behind their music stands. The conductor was confined to a chair. This was a static Tristan und Isolde, even by concert version standards. But four enthralling hours proved that sometimes the music really is all that matters.

How to get to Birmingham Symphony Hall

Unlike Carnegie Hall, the answer isn't just "practice". For more than one reader, the promised five minute walk from New Street station to the appallingly under-signposted Symphony Hall has turned into a  twenty minute ramble through interminable shopping arcades and deserted streets.

The CBSO seem unwilling to share the innermost secrets of their dominion on their website, so with Tristan und Isolde and Jonas Kaufmann coming up shortly, here is the secret route that will get you there in a jiffy, plus a dining warning.

25% off Jonas Kaufmann

The CBSO have a one week only sale.

You can get 25% off tickets for most* concerts booked from now to Sunday 22 January, including the one with Jonas Kaufmann on 7 March (a solace for anyone who missed out on the Wigmore Hall date?) The concert includes a generous number of Strauss and Mahler songs (probably as much singing as you'd get in a headlining show). Tickets start at £8 with the offer - and with train fares from London starting at £10 return, it's possible to do the whole trip for less than a single Wigmore Hall seat!

(*The offer excludes: 3 March – Tristan and Isolde; 12 April – The Dream of Gerontius; 30 May – Britten’s War Requiem; 12 & 13 June: Symphony Hall 21st Anniversary Concerts.)

Andris, Jonas and Tristan

I won't bother with an full overview of the CBSO's 2011-12 season as the Birmingham Post has done an excellent job already. As always there's plenty there to justify a trip, and it's worth pointing out a few concerts are likely to sell out soon after booking opens on 6 June.

First up is a concert version of Tristan und Isolde on Saturday 3 March 2012 at 4.00pm. Andris Nelsons conducts, with Torsten Kerl as Tristan, Lioba Braun as Isolde, Christianne Stotijn as Brangäne, Brett Polegato as Kurwenal and Matthew Best as King Marke.

Lucky Birmingham also get a visit from Jonas Kaufmann. After last year's Bayreuth Lohengrin, he again teams up with Andris Nelsons on Wednesday 7 March 2012, this time to sing Strauss and Mahler.

On Wednesday 30 May 2012 there's a special concert in Coventry Cathedral which marks the 50th anniversary of Britten's War Requiem. Busy Andris Nelsons conducts Kristine Opolais, Mark Padmore and Thomas Quasthoff.