Hallé Chamber Concert

The evening opens with the delicate textures of Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro. You will hear how the composer places the harp at the centre of the ensemble, surrounding it with the fluid colours of the flute, clarinet, and a string quartet. It is a work defined by its grace and flowing transitions, offering a contrast to the second half of the hour. We then turn to Sir James MacMillan’s Raising Sparks, a work for soprano and chamber ensemble that demands a different kind of focus. The piece explores complex themes of creation and spiritual light through a sequence of vivid musical images. Listen for how the vocal line interacts with the instrumentalists, moving between moments of quiet intensity and more visceral, urgent passages. The intimate setting allows you to experience these intricate instrumental details and the clarity of the vocal text at close range, as the music shifts from the impressionistic light of Ravel to the more modern, striking landscapes of MacMillan.

Musicians from the Hallé bring their technical precision and collective sensitivity to this chamber setting. While these players are often heard in the large-scale symphonic surroundings of Manchester’s major concert halls, this smaller grouping allows for a more personal style of music-making. They are joined by soprano Mary Bevan, who is widely recognised for her versatility across the Baroque and contemporary repertoires. Bevan is particularly known for her ability to convey complex narratives and her clarity of tone, making her a natural fit for the demands of the modern British works featured in this programme.

This performance takes place at Hallé St Peter’s in Manchester, a restored church that provides a resonant and focused acoustic for chamber music. The concert lasts approximately sixty minutes, making it a suitable choice if you prefer a shorter evening or are attending a classical performance for the first time. There is no formal dress code, though the venue is indoors and seated. Please note that the duration is relatively brief and the performance is presented without a long interval, allowing the thematic links between the two works to remain clear throughout the hour.