A contemporary of Mozart is to be celebrated with a concert by the Hope Metropolitan Orchestra in Liverpool as part of Black History Month
Mozart was knighted (made a Chevalier) by the Pope when he was only 14; as a child he was famous throughout Europe and has, for two centuries, been recognised as one of the greatest musical geniuses.
His contemporary, the Black composer Joseph Bologne, was also very well known at the time, especially in France where he was a favourite of Queen Marie Antoinette. The Queen adored his music and sang in several of his pieces. Curiously, when she and Mozart were children he is supposed to have shocked Viennese high society by reportedly giving her a big, though innocent, kiss.
As Mozart’s star rose, Bologne’s dimmed. Although ennobled, he was very closely associated with the French Court and when that was swept away by the Revolution, his title was not an advantage. He was then largely forgotten until the 21st century.
In recent years however, a film was made about him and his music is currently being much performed and recorded.
Neil Campbell from The Capstone Theatre, said: “There is only one Mozart but it is exciting that Bologne is being re-discovered and acknowledged as a significant talent. That both composers are featured side-by-side makes this a particularly revealing evening.”
Hope Metropolitan Orchestra: The Two Chevaliers will be performed on 26th October 2024 in The Great Hall at Liverpool Hope Creative Campus. The show is also a memorial tribute to Liverpool Hope University’s Mark Julius.
Tickets are available now via Ticket Quarter.
St Faith’s Crosby Music & Crosby Symphony Orchestra are delighted to present Sir Eugene Goossens’ monumental orchestration of Messiah, memorably recorded by Sir Thomas Beecham, on Sunday 27th Oct 2024.
Held: St Faith’s Church, Crosby, 27 October, starts 6.30pm.
Thelma Handy was appointed joint leader of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007 and has appeared as a soloist with them on many occasions. She is one of Crosby Symphony Orchestra’s favourite artists, and this will be her fifth violin concerto with the orchestra.
The concert starts with Shostakovich’s famous Festival Overture. Astonishingly written in just three days, it is a veritable tour de force of frenetic optimism. By contrast, Prokofiev’s second Violin Concerto presents almost the entire scope of human emotion, from expansive sensual tunes to wildly unsettling passages of raw terror. There is no let-up in Rachmaninov’s second symphony either. Richly orchestrated with some of the most unforgettable tunes in the orchestral repertoire, it is surely one of the most popular classical pieces of all time
A performance of Bach’s Cantata 146 Wir mussen durch viel Trubsal (We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God) as part of choral evensong.
The gospel of the day, reflected in the cantata, is a reminder of the ten commandments and man’s difficulty in achieving heaven. The ensemble includes flute, oboes and strings with a prominent part for the organ in the opening sinfonia.
Internationally renowned singer and pianist Jeremy Sassoon presents his latest show: from Gershwin to Winehouse, Bacharach to Dylan.
Held: Princes Road Synagogue, Liverpool, starts 7.30pm.
The Tiger Lillies are one of the foremost avant-garde bands in the world. Double Olivier award winners, their shows are dark, peculiar and varied, with moments of black humour and immense beauty.
This unique, Brechtian Street opera trio tour the world playing concerts and theatre shows such as The Tiger Lillies Christmas Carol, The Ancient Mariner and the West End hit Shockheaded Peter.
The music is an electrifying mix of genres, seamlessly blending electronic beats with rock, funk, and pop elements.
The setlist is unpredictable, filled with both original tracks and surprising covers, each performed with a unique twist. The crowd is diverse and energetic, dancing along to the infectious rhythms.
At certain points during the show, Dr. Orange engages directly with the audience, encouraging sing-alongs or initiating call-and-response chants.
Scruff of the Neck presents Tom Vek at Future Yard on Saturday 5th October.
A long-time staple of the British alternative scene, the self-professed ‘cryptic funk-rock’ multi-instrumentalist returns in 2024 with brand-new EP ‘Confirm Yourself’.
Funk and soul party starters The Allergies return to Future Yard on Thursday 12th September for a hell of a good time.
The duo of DJ Moneyshot and Rackabeat have been delighting dance floors and lighting up radio airwaves since forming The Allergies and releasing their debut album in 2016. Their brand of feel-good funk and hyped-up hip-hop has seen them clock up A List status and numerous ‘Album of The Day’ gongs at BBC 6 Music, and soundtrack a whole host of international ad campaigns.
Year in, year out they’ve sharpened their skills in the studio, dropping one dynamite LP after another.
Scratch DJ collective 2 Nice Crew support.
Booking fees apply. Tickets cost more on the door. Future Yard is a cashless venue.
Future Yard host the return of folk troubadour Charlie Parr on Sunday 15th September.
The bluesman poet comes to Birkenhead once again with a 19-album-strong back catalogue that pulls closely from the sights and sounds around him, his lyrical craftsmanship built by his influences. The sounds from his working-class upbringing—including Folkways legends such as Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie—imbue Parr’s music with stylistic echoes of blues and folk icons of decades past.
Seafoam Green + Mike West support.
Booking fees apply. This event is part of Folk On The Coast festival and is included in the weekend pass.
