Kazuki conducts a Night at the Opera

We are treated to a sequence of highlights that showcase the sheer breadth of the operatic world, moving from the delicate to the monumental. The evening opens with the spirited Overture to The Marriage of Figaro before navigating through high-drama choruses and intimate duets. You will hear the orchestral colour of Wagner’s Lohengrin and the rhythmic energy of Tchaikovsky’s Polonaise, contrasted against the reflective Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana. Vocal highlights include some of the most famous tenor and soprano melodies ever written, such as the soaring Nessun dorma and the tender Che gelida manina. Listen for how the orchestra shifts its texture to support the soloists in these private moments, particularly during the romantic exchanges from Romeo and Juliette and L’elisir d’amore. The scale expands significantly for the inclusion of O Fortuna from Carmina Burana and the Grand March from Aida, providing a powerful sonic experience. We end with the celebratory Brindisi, concluding a programme designed to highlight the melodic richness of the nineteenth-century stage.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra performs under the direction of conductor Kazuki Yamada. The ensemble is based at Symphony Hall and is celebrated for its versatility across symphonic and theatrical repertoires. They are joined by soprano Katharina Konradi and tenor Robert Lewis, who bring the individual characters of these diverse operas to life. The evening is hosted by presenter Aled Jones, who provides context for each work. Together, these performers represent the high calibre of music-making standard to Birmingham’s resident orchestra and their invited guests, focusing on clarity and emotional resonance in this vocal-led programme.

This performance takes place at Symphony Hall in Birmingham and has a running time of approximately 120 minutes. Because the programme consists of well-known individual excerpts rather than a single continuous work, it is a suitable choice if you are a first-time visitor to the concert hall or are new to opera. The presentation is in a gala format, so while the music spans several languages including Italian, German, and French, the atmosphere is informal. There is no specific dress code for this venue, though many patrons choose smart-casual attire for evening events.