Hallé: Thomas Adès

The evening opens with the restless, ticking energy of Thomas Adès's short work, These Premises Are Alarmed, setting a pace of high-tension precision. You will then hear the first-ever performance of Gabriella Smith’s violin concerto, How To Be A Bird. This world premiere explores the textures and freedom of the avian world through the solo instrument. Following this, the programme returns to Adès with Asyla, a modern staple known for its intense, driving third movement which evokes the heavy rhythms of a nightclub. We find a contrast in the final work, Stravinsky’s 1919 suite from The Firebird. This piece moves from the shadowy, murmuring depths of the forest to a finale of radiant brass and shimmering strings. Throughout the concert, you should listen for the varying ways these composers use percussion and woodwinds to create distinct atmospheres, moving from the mechanical and urban to the organic and folkloric.

The Hallé Orchestra is Manchester’s resident symphonic ensemble, based at The Bridgewater Hall. They are joined by Thomas Adès, who takes the podium to conduct his own works alongside a cornerstone of twentieth-century repertoire. Adès is widely recognised for his intricate textures and rhythmic complexity. The soloist for the evening is Pekka Kuusisto, a violinist celebrated for his adventurous spirit and technical agility, particularly in new and challenging compositions. The ensemble is known for its versatility, balancing the traditional orchestral canon with significant new commissions and contemporary collaborations.

This performance takes place at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester and has an approximate running time of 90 minutes. With a blend of a world premiere and a well-known classic like The Firebird, the programme is well-suited if you are interested in the evolution of modern orchestral sound. There is no specific dress code for this venue, so you may wear what feels comfortable for a concert setting. As this is a symphonic performance rather than an opera, there are no surtitles or translated texts to follow.