A bumper Beethoven weekend, E.T. screened with a live orchestra, violin sensation Nicola Benedetti and children’s favorite Peter and the Wolf are just some of the highlights of Sage Gateshead’s new 2019/20 classical season.
As the current 60th anniversary season of Royal Northern Sinfonia draws to a close, the orchestra is already gearing up for another nine months of concerts that appeal to all ages and interests; from piano greats to visiting orchestras and choirs; popular music and film scores to ‘Classics 4 Kids’.
Thorben Dittes, Director of Royal Northern Sinfonia and Classical Music Programme at Sage Gateshead, said: “During our 60th birthday celebrations the spotlight was firmly on our marvellous chamber orchestra. This forthcoming season we will be shining a spotlight on some of the artistic collaborations and partnerships we have built over the last few years.”
The season kicks off on September 14 with RNS Music Director Lars Vogt at the helm and taking to the keyboard to perform and direct Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.2. The concert also features Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony.
2020 marks 250 years since the birth of Beethoven, so Sage Gateshead has joined forces with London’s Barbican Centre to present its first Big Beethoven Weekend. This project will see Royal Northern Sinfonia joined by friends the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hallé, BBC Scottish Symphony and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra to perform all nine symphonies over two days in February, hosted by much-loved radio and TV presenter John Suchet. A complete Beethoven immersion for novices and seasoned concert-goes alike!
In May, the second Big Beethoven Weekend: Dancing Beethoven will see the innovative Andersson Dance Company and Scottish Ensemble interpret some of Beethoven’s musical masterpieces in two fully-staged, thought-provoking collaborative performances, featuring music and contemporary dance as equal partners.
Also embracing the change of decade will be ‘Welcome to the Roaring Twenties’, RNS chamber concerts exploring the wonderful music of the 1920s, featuring Walton’s Façade (January 10) and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (January 17).
For a fun night out RNS presents a Star Wars Spectacular (November 2 and 3) and The music of Elton John (March 28), hot off the back of epic new biographical movie ‘Rocketman’ and celebrating 50 years of Sir Elton in the music business. And for the first time at Sage Gateshead, the magical music of E.T. (December 1) will be performed live by Royal Northern Sinfonia while the iconic film plays on the big screen.
The popular Classics 4 Kids series continues, with Lars Vogt showing young RNS fans all there is to know about the piano (October 12), and fairy-tale family favourite Peter and the Wolf (February 2).
For those who might not be able to get to Sage Gateshead or would like to experience music in a different setting there are opportunities to see and hear Royal Northern Sinfonia perform in the region’s beautiful churches, in Middlesbrough and Carlisle and at Wylam Brewery.
In the ‘RNS Presents’ series there will be the first Sage Gateshead performance of Mahler’s Third Symphony by Prague Symphony Orchestra (November 14) and chart-topping violinist Nicola Benedetti will play Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (April 26).
Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero and distinguished French conductor Laurence Equilbey will join RNS for the first time. Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia and RNS will be joined by pioneering conductor Trevor Pinnock on his first visit to Sage Gateshead (May 29) for a unique concert of his personal favourites, including the spine-tingling Zadok the Priest.
And for something completely different Philharmonix (made up of virtuoso players from Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic) will fill the intimate Sage Two space on December 17 with a no-holds barred musical cocktail of classical, jazz, klezmer, Latin, improve and pop.
Anyone wishing to buy tickets for five or more concerts from the ‘RNS at Home’ and ‘RNS Presents’ series (and unlock discounts and other benefits) can book from Friday May 10. General on sale tickets are available from Saturday June 15.
For more information visit sagegateshead.com/classical