Sep - Oct
2026
Full programme details at www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/whats-on
Autumn What’s On 2026
30th Anniversary Special Edition
The Bridgewater Hall
Autumn 2026 Welcome
As the crisp air of autumn settles in and the evenings become that little bit shorter, we are thrilled to celebrate our 30th anniversary with a vibrant and eclectic programme of events, listed in this special edition of our Autumn What's On Brochure. Led by Untold Orchestra and guest soloists each representing a different strand of Manchester’s contemporary music culture, our 30th Anniversary Concert boldly looks ahead to the artists shaping what comes next. The Bridgewater Hall's very own International Concert Series also arrives at the three-decade mark. Launching our season is The Sixteen, presenting ‘Angel of Peace’, threading together over 800 years of music. We follow this with NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover featuring sensational pianist Ingrid Fliter, which also commences our not to be missed Beethoven 200 series. Also not to be missed are The Hallé and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra which open their seasons with an exhilarating array of concerts. Joining our special season are one of the audience’s favourites, Sir Karl Jenkins, one of the UK's most impressive vocal talents, Freya Ridings, and the biggest-selling classical artist of this century, Katherine Jenkins OBE. With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rumer, and Ed Harcourt performing The Burt Bacharach Songbook, and Music Beyond Mainstream presenting African Soul Rebels, Les Amazones d’Afrique, Gasper Nali, and N’famady Kouyaté, we know there will be something for everyone to enjoy this autumn at The Bridgewater Hall. Andrew Bolt Chief Executive Officer The Bridgewater Hall
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Individual
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music, savings, and special experiences! Box Office: 0161 907 9000 www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk Booking Fees Please note all prices featured in this brochure include a booking fee of either £3.25 or £4.75. Sold Out Shows To be added to the waiting list contact the Box Office at supervisors@bridgewater-hall.co.uk or call 0161 907 9000.
! s t e B h e t l y p m Si Friday 31 December 2026 8.00 pm The Bridgewater Hall
featuring a full live band and West End vocalists performing 80s and 90s hits Book Tickets 3
Sunday 20 September 2026 4.00pm For 30 years, The Bridgewater Hall has played a crucial role in Manchester's musical life. People and communities from across Greater Manchester all have their own memories of special nights of music, whether that's seeing the Hallé Orchestra perform, taking part in a local youth ensemble, or watching internationally renowned guest artists from the worlds of pop, jazz and classical music. At Untold Orchestra, we were privileged to be asked by The Bridgewater Hall team to curate a performance for its 30th birthday. The programme we've put together remembers artists that have performed in the venue, alongside artists making their mark in Manchester today. It's about celebrating the past 30 years while looking ahead to the next 30, and beyond. We're thrilled to be working with an incredible line-up of guest artists, including Rowetta, Banksie, Roberto, Matt Wilde and Vulva Voce. 4
It's a rare occasion to have such different artists sharing the same stage, and that's exactly what makes this concert so special. It's a celebration of the many different sounds that make Manchester what it is today. And who better to host it than one of the city's most dedicated music ambassadors, Karen Gabay? Karen has spent years championing Manchester's music scene, creating opportunities for wider audiences to connect with up and coming local artists. We couldn't think of a better person to guide us through the musical journey we'll be embarking on together. As exciting as it is to be sharing the stage with these incredible artists, what excites us most is that the orchestra and choir will be made up of the city's next generation of musicians. We've worked closely with the Greater Manchester Music Hubs and Olympias Music Foundation to bring together a youth orchestra
and choir from across the region, with more than 100 young people taking to the stage to perform alongside our guest artists. In just six rehearsals, they'll have put together a programme you won't forget. This performance has been designed for everyone. At Untold Orchestra, we believe everybody should have the opportunity to experience live music regularly and to access free music-making opportunities in their local area. Venues like The Bridgewater Hall are fundamental to making that possible for more people across Greater Manchester, and we're proud to play a part in celebrating its first 30 years while looking ahead to everything the next 30 could bring.
Sam Davies Founder and Artistic Director The Untold Orchestra
Past, Present and Future, All in One Night
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Join us for an unforgettable celebration. Book your tickets now!
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The Charles Hallé Restaurant The Charles Hallé Restaurant is open for evening shows and some afternoon shows, offering seasonal 2- and 3-course menus that change regularly. Booking is essential and can be done through the Box Office on 0161 907 9000 , or added to your tickets online at the time of booking (subject to availability). Please note a £5 per person deposit is required for reservations; this is non-refundable in the event of cancellation with less than 3 days’ notice.
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Premium Experience Enjoy the very best seats in our Premium location, with access to The Lounge before the concert and during the interval*
With your Premium Experience, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of The Lounge: • • • • • •
Access for 60 minutes before the concert and during the interval Two drinks from our house menu (wine, spirits, Prosecco, beer, soft drinks, tea or coffee) A selection of snacks Interval ice cream Welcome Host service Cloakroom facilities
Prefer to sit elsewhere? You can still make your evening extra special by adding The Lounge to your booking at checkout, or choose one of our dining upgrades: The Lounge from £41 per person The Lounge + 2 course dinner: from £69.50 per person The Lounge + 3 course dinner: from £74.50 per person More information
* See individual concert pages for Premium Experience pricing. Interval access does not apply where the concert does not include an interval. 7
September
Adam Garcia's Emerald Storm
Live at Lunchtime – Francisco Bernier (Instituto Cervantes) Friday 4 September 12.45pm
The Instituto Cervantes Manchester is pleased to present a special solo recital by guitarist Francisco Bernier, marking the 150th anniversary of Manuel de Falla, one of the defining figures of twentieth-century Spanish music. This is a free, unticketed event in the Stalls Foyer
Adam Garcia's Emerald Storm Friday 4 September 7.30pm
Direct from the West End, Emerald Storm is the electrifying new dance phenomenon from Adam Garcia, the acclaimed stage and screen star behind some of theatre’s biggest hits. Fusing the fire of Irish dance with the grit of urban tap, this high-octane production explodes with rhythm, passion and pure spectacle. From the first beat to the last, Emerald Storm is an immersive, unforgettable celebration of rhythm, energy and sheer talent – a dance experience that will leave audiences on their feet. Tickets £30.75 to £40.75
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Maze
Saturday 5 September 7.00pm One of the most acclaimed and influential bands of their era, MAZE, renowned for their unique & timeless sound, and decades of unforgettable live performances return to Manchester, where they have not performed for over 30 years. Tickets £35.45 to £70.45 Book Tickets VIP M&G package – £120.45 Includes: Priority seating | Early entry into venue for Meet & Greet with band members | Limited edition signed poster Limited edition Maze T-shirt (custom to your size) Lanyard VIP show pass | Maze drawstring bag
Manchester Midday Music – Lumas Winds Monday 7 September 1.00pm
Lumas Winds evolved through friendships formed at the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, with the ensemble being established in 2018. The group presents diverse and varied programmes, framing lesser-known works alongside classics of the canon, and their concerts embrace verbal introductions which illuminate the thinking behind their fresh and eclectic approach. Tickets £15.25 Book Tickets Concessions £13.25 | Students £8.25
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Jonathan Scott – Organ Anniversary
Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey
Associate Artist Jonathan Scott presents a special organ concert to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Bridgewater Hall’s magnificent Marcussen Concert Organ, with a programme of great orchestral and organ masterpieces, including Jongen’s Toccata from Symphonie Concertante, Robert Burns’ A Red, Red Rose and Verdi’s Force of Destiny Overture.
Tom Bailey, the band’s lead vocalist and instrumentalist, now performs under the name Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey. His shows celebrate the band’s greatest hits, including classics like 'Hold Me Now', 'Doctor Doctor', 'In the Name of Love', 'Love On Your Side', 'If You Were Here', 'Lies', 'Lay Your Hands On Me', and 'King for a Day'. In addition to revisiting these iconic tracks, Tom also showcases songs from his debut solo album, Science Fiction.
Tuesday 8 September 1.10pm
Tickets £15.75 Book Tickets Concessions £14.25 | Students £11.75
Live at Lunchtime – Neeve Zahra Friday 11 September 12.45pm
Manchester born singer/songwriter Neeve Zahra is captivating audiences with her unique voice and beautiful lyrics which are far beyond her years. Championed by the likes of Bob Harris on BBC Radio 2 and CountryLine Radio’s Tim Prottey-Jones, Neeve Zahra is already taking the UK country music scene by storm.
With Special Guests Blancmange Sunday 13 September 7.00pm
Tickets £34.75 to £69.75 Book Tickets VIP Package £144.75 Ticket to the show | Q&A prior to show Signed poster and VIP souvenir laminate Meet and Greet | Up to three items autographed
Michael Ball
Monday 14 September 7.30pm Michael Ball announces a new solo album of original material for 2026! Glow will be Michael’s 23th solo album, due for release early next year. Tickets £64.75 to £99.75
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This is a free, unticketed event in the Stalls Foyer
Marillion
Thursday 17 September 7.30pm Marillion are thrilled to return to The Bridgewater Hall with their immersive live show, featuring material from across the band’s extensive career and, hopefully, new music from their forthcoming album, currently expected next year. Tickets £59.75 to £79.75
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Live at Lunchtime – Heard Storytelling: 'It Happened Here' Friday 18 September 12.45pm
A live true storytelling event to celebrate the start of The Bridgewater Hall’s 30th season. Enjoy a curated line up of people sharing their lived experience of the transformative impact of the Hall’s history, accompanied by live music. Heard Storytelling specialise in creating safe, fun and empowering opportunities to tell true stories out loud. This is a free, unticketed event in the Stalls Foyer
BBC Philharmonic – Sibelius Symphony No. 5
The beauty, terror, and joy of nature John Storgårds conductor James McVinnie organ Saturday 19 September 7.30pm Richard Wagner Lohengrin: Prelude to Act I Gabriella Smith Breathing Forests, Concerto for Organ and Orchestra Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5 The music of American composer Gabriella Smith is indelibly linked to nature, marvelling at its beauty, terror and joy.
Lost In Music
Friday 18 September 7.30pm Step back into the era of glitter balls and groove – Lost in Music is back with a brand-new, high-energy show that’s bigger, bolder, and more dazzling than ever! Join us for a spectacular night of non-stop disco anthems as our sensational live band, powerhouse vocalists, and vibrant production bring the magic of the 70s back to life. Feel the rush as we reignite the dancefloor with iconic hits from Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chic, Sister Sledge and many more. Tickets £36.75 to £43.75
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In Breathing Forests, her exquisite new organ concerto, Smith draws on those same feelings of awe and angst to describe the life of a forest in music. A Californian who grew up among the constant threat of wildfires, Smith understands this particularly volatile natural resource. This is music that breathes, grows, and burns. Surrounding Smith’s forest are two pieces linked by a single animal. In Wagner’s opera Lohengrin, the title character is sent in a swan-drawn boat to rescue a maiden. Sibelius too found inspiration in swans, writing in his diary about a skein of swans in flight inspiring the climax of his Fifth Symphony. Both composers find a majestic tone, especially in Sibelius’s final movement, containing one of the greatest moments in all symphonic music. Tickets £12 to £42 Concessions and discounts available
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Sir Stephen Hough
Sunday 20 September 2026 4.00pm A 30th Anniversary Celebration Like No Other Celebrate 30 years of The Bridgewater Hall with a landmark concert bringing together Manchester’s musical past, present and future. Hosted by broadcaster Karen Gabay, the evening features Rowetta, Matt Wilde, Banksie, Roberto and Vulva Voce, reflecting the city’s extraordinary creativity and diversity. At its heart is the debut of a new Greater Manchester Youth Orchestra, led by Untold Orchestra, a Manchester-based collective known for innovative, genre-crossing orchestral work. With new arrangements, uplifting performances and the stars of tomorrow, this one-time-only celebration is proudly made in Manchester, for Manchester – and for the world. Tickets £18.25 to £33.25 Under 19s/Students £10.25 Book Tickets
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Hallé Orchestra – Opening Night Kahchun Wong conductor Sir Stephen Hough piano
Thursday 24 September 7.30pm Liszt Les préludes Sir James MacMillan Symphony No.6 Hallé Commission – World Premiere Beethoven Piano Concerto No.5, ‘Emperor’ Principal Conductor & Artistic Advisor Kahchun Wong and the Hallé’s opening night is an unmissable occasion. It begins with Liszt’s Les préludes which, after a tentative opening, erupts into a sumptuous melody. A deeply personal new symphony from our Featured Composer, James MacMillan, follows. Four close family members are remembered in musical portraits, each one featuring a different section of the orchestra. A fifth, final movement brings the whole orchestra back together. For many Beethoven fans, his ‘Emperor’ Concerto is the best – its second movement pure, dreamy perfection. Stephen Hough sets it aglow before carrying us into its joyful finale. Tickets £18.50 to £52 Concessions and discounts available Pre-concert event at 6.30pm Sponsored by Siemens
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Live at Lunchtime – So Many Beauties Friday 25 September 12.45pm
Bridgewater Hall regulars So Many Beauties present a performance of new music shaped through creative collaboration across Greater Manchester. This is a free, unticketed event in the Stalls Foyer
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BBC Philharmonic – Brahms Requiem
Fearing death, reaffirming life Anja Bihlmaier conductor Julia Grüter soprano Joshua Hopkins baritone Audi Young Persons’ Choral Academy Friday 25 September 7.30pm Lili Boulanger Psalm 24 Johannes Brahms A German Requiem Brahms and Boulanger contemplate death and the divine, reaching contrary conclusions. Lili Boulanger’s short life was filled with musical colour and critical acclaim, becoming the first woman to win Paris’s storied Prix de Rome prize. Her choral setting of Psalm 24 – written in France and Rome during the height of World War II – is a thunderous exultation of the Holy Word. This performance is a rare opportunity to hear the loudest, noblest music Boulanger ever wrote. Boulanger was a fervent, if open-minded, Catholic. Johannes Brahms, while raised a Protestant, used his German Requiem to explore humanist thoughts around mourning. His requiem is a monument to the living who mourn the dead, with themes that echo through the ages: the fragility of life; the flitting between moments of anxiety and acceptance; and the relief of consolation when mourning. Through moments of sorrow, Brahms finds serenity. Tickets £12 to £42 Concessions and discounts available
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Karl Jenkins conducts The Armed Man
Manchester Midday Music: Tom Borrow piano
Sir Karl Jenkins conducts his iconic composition The Armed Man and a selection of his most loved works including excerpts from Palladio and Adiemus.
In January 2019, Tom Borrow was called on to replace renowned pianist Khatia Buniatishvili in a series of 12 concerts with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. At only 36 hours’ notice, he performed Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G to sensational public and critical acclaim. Tom was further presented by the IPO in gala concerts in London and Mexico City, and they reinvited him for a second subscription series.
Saturday 26 September 3.00pm
Tickets £30.25 to £53.25
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The Phantoms
Sunday 27 September 7.30pm
Tuesday 29 September 1.00pm
Tickets £15.25 Book Tickets Concessions £13.25 | Students £8.25 Supported by The Terence Judd Trust
In this spellbinding night of music celebrating the most beloved musicals of all time, The Phantoms take us on a magical journey through iconic shows such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph, and of course, The Phantom of the Opera. Tickets £40.75 Book Tickets VIP package £74.75 (Includes Meet & Greet with Lee Mead, glass of fizz and a signed poster)
Captain Fantastic
And the Rocket Man Band Monday 28 September 7.30pm Celebrating more than five decades of amazing music and showmanship from legendary British singer, pianist and composer, Sir Elton John. Featuring the spellbinding voice and magnetic stage presence of pianist Richard Reeves as the Captain. Richard met Elton John backstage at a show when he was only 12 years old. Elton sent Richard an encouraging note wishing him luck after he sang and played piano for him. The rest was history. Tickets £42.25 to £47.25
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Captain Fantastic 13
International Concert Series
The Sixteen: Angel of Peace Tuesday 29 September 7.30pm Harry Christophers conductor Sarah Sexton violin Hildegard of Bingen O viridissima virga Arvo Pärt Tribute to Caesar Will Todd I shall be an angel of peace John Taverner Gaude plurimum Hildegard of Bingen Ave, generosa Arvo Pärt Da pacem Domine Anna Clyne Orbits Arvo Pärt Magnificat John Taverner O splendor gloriae Harry Christophers and his world-class choir make a welcome return to the International Concert Series with one of their best-loved programmes, a muchneeded evening of musical beauty, purity and tranquillity. ‘Angel of Peace’ threads together music from more than 800 years into a seamless whole – from the enraptured songs of medieval abbess Hildegard of Bingen to the magical realms of a new work from leading contemporary composer Anna Clyne. We’ll also hear three haunting pieces by the great Arvo Pärt and two soaring 16thcentury antiphons by John Taverner – while the concert takes its title from Will Todd’s sumptuous setting of words by Cardinal Newman. Together, these nine pieces of music from across the centuries speak of peace and acceptance – and of the ecstatic joy their reassurance can bring. Book Tickets Tickets £20 to £43 Concessions and discounts available Student Tickets £8 (subject to availability)
Harry Christophers © Johnny Millar 14
Freya Ridings
Wednesday 30 September 7.00pm
Tickets £37.25 to £52.25
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Freya Ridings
Since breaking through with Top 10 single ‘Lost Without You’ back in 2017, Ridings has cemented herself as one of the UK’s most impressive vocal talents, with the ability to turn her hand to tender balladry and powerful air punch moments alike. That break out single has, to date, been streamed almost half a billion times on Spotify alone, while 2019’s self-titled debut album and 2023 follow-up Blood Orange both landed in the Top 10 of the UK Album Charts, sending Ridings around the world and landing her a BRIT nomination for Best Female Solo Artist.
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Katherine Jenkins
October Katherine Jenkins
Be Like Blippi Tour
The biggest selling classical artist of this century, Katherine Jenkins OBE, has announced a brand new UK tour for 2026, to celebrate her incredible 25 Years in music. The 25 Year Anniversary Tour is the first tour for Katherine in five years and is set to feature all her biggest hits including ‘Time To Say Goodbye’, the emotional ‘Jealous of the Angels’, ‘I Will Always Love You’ and more.
Join Blippi and Meekah live on stage for a one-of-a-kind interactive adventure that inspires kids to move like, play like, and explore just like Blippi!
Friday 2 October 7.00pm
Tickets £37.25 to £59.75 Book Tickets VIP Packages from £104.75
Saturday 3 October 1.00pm & 4.00pm
This brand-new show is packed with high-energy music and surprises, featuring fan-favorite songs like ‘The Excavator Song’, ‘Monster Truck’, ‘Dino Dance’, and ‘Curious Like Me’. With Blippi’s signature mix of play, learning, and exploration, families can get curious together while singing, laughing, and dancing along during this unforgettable adventure full of fun and discovery. For the Be Like Blippi Tour, the characters Blippi and Meekah will be played by professional stage performers selected specifically for the tour. Tickets £29.75 to £34.75
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The Hallé and Opera Rara: Offenbach's Barkouf ENO Chorus Students from the RNCM Paul Daniel conductor Alistair McGowan narrator Yann Beuron Bababeck Mathias Vidal Saëb François Piolino Kaliboul Philippe Talbot Xaïloum Anne-Catherine Gillet Maïma Valerie Eickhoff Balkis Katia Ledoux Périzade Thibault de Damas Le grand Mogol Sunday 4 October 4.00pm Offenbach Barkouf What happens when man’s best friend becomes headof-state? Opera Rara and the Hallé team up once again, here with the English National Opera Chorus, and present Offenbach’s tail-wagging triumph, Barkouf. In this absurd political world, corruption runs wild and flattery is an art form. The only thing more dangerous than power itself is the incompetent politicians desperate to win it! Filled with dazzling melodies and biting satire, this opera is a riotous romp through pomp and politics. It is as relevant today as it was when it was first performed in 1860. Opera in three acts. Sung in French with English narration and surtitles.
Avatar: The Last Airbender In Concert Monday 5 October 7.30pm
Celebrate 20 years of elemental storytelling, unforgettable characters, and the epic journey that defined a generation. Avatar: The Last Airbender In Concert–20th Anniversary Tour presents a stunning live orchestral performance of the series’ beloved soundtrack, now elevated with a once-in-a-lifetime cinematic experience. Tickets £37.25 to £77.25
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What The World Needs Now: The Burt Bacharach Songbook
Led by longtime Bacharach music director Rob Shirakbari Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Rumer & Ed Harcourt special guests Tuesday 6 October 7.30pm This evening honours one of the most influential songwriters of the past century and features performances by beloved UK artist Rumer and the Mercury nominated singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt, both of whom worked directly with Burt Bacharach – plus additional guests to be announced. The show will be brought to life with the WTWNN Band accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the musical direction of Rob Shirakbari – Bacharach’s long time arranger and music director. Tickets £49.75 to £64.75
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Age guidance: 8+ Tickets £18 to £51 Book Tickets Concessions and discounts available
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Hallé Orchestra - Prokofiev’s Symphony No.5
BBC Philharmonic - Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique
Thursday 8 October 7.30pm Sunday 11 October 4.00pm
Saturday 10 October 7.30pm
Nodoka Okisawa conductor Pavel Kolesnikov piano
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.3 Prokofiev Symphony No.5 A crowd-pleasing symphony and a majestic piano concerto guaranteed to bring the house down. Prokofiev’s defiant and triumphant Fifth Symphony was written in a time of war, and described by the composer as celebrating ‘the greatness of the human soul’. One of the 20th-century’s great masterpieces, tonight we’ll enjoy this under the baton of conductor Nodoka Okisawa, who is known for her penetrating insights into Prokofiev. Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto, beloved for its eloquence and legendary in its technical demands, has its own electrifying ending. When Pavel Kolesnikov joins us to play Rachmaninov, the results will always be unforgettable. Tickets £18.50 to £52 Concessions and discounts available
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Hue & Cry + Roachford Friday 9 October 7.30pm
80s icons Hue & Cry and Roachford have announced a co-headline UK tour for 2026, bringing a special show featuring full sets and full bands to Manchester this October. Tickets £39.75 to £49.75 Book Tickets VIP Package £114.75 Top price ticket to watch the show | A unique opportunity to watch each band perform a short soundcheck performance | Opportunity to meet both artists, and have your photo taken with them using your own device (mobile/camera) | Souvenir tour laminate and lanyard.
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Raw nerves and restless hearts Yoel Gamzou conductor Elena Urioste violin
Leonard Bernstein Overture to Candide Erich Korngold Violin Concerto Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6, ‘Pathétique’ Tchaikovsky declared multiple times that his Sixth Symphony was ‘the best thing I ever composed or shall compose.’ It’s a piece about the journey towards death: of an expiring life-force that’s forced to confront the end in a way that his fateful Fourth and Fifth never quite manage. On this terrifically exciting journey, passion and pathos overflow. Erich Wolfgang Korngold, a prodigy described as ‘truly astonishing’ by Richard Strauss, later bloomed into one of Hollywood’s most celebrated film composers. Material from four of his film scores was arranged into this 1945 concerto, which the composer ‘contemplated for a Caruso rather than a Paganini.’ Elena Urioste returns to sing out Korngold’s honey-sweet phrases. To begin, it’s all the fun of the fair in Bernstein’s dashing Candide overture, a spirited mix of off-kilter rhythms, helter-skelter orchestration and sophisticated hat-tips to the overture masters. Tickets £12 to £42 Concessions and discounts available
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International Concert Series
Monday 12 October 7.30pm
Stanislav Kochanovsky conductor Ingrid Fliter piano Beethoven Egmont – overture Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 Brahms Symphony No.4
Ingrid Fliter © Anton Dressler
NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover We welcome one of the most distinguished German radio orchestras for a concert of classics by two of their compatriots: Beethoven and Brahms. Beethoven completed his Fourth Piano Concerto at a pivotal moment in his turbulent life. His hearing rapidly failing, its premiere was the last time he performed in public with an orchestra – in a legendary concert that also saw the premieres of his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies. Acclaimed Argentine pianist Ingrid Fliter steps into his shoes tonight following a performance of the composer’s triumphant Egmont overture. Beethoven’s influence can be heard in Brahms’ final symphony, as can that of Bach. However, this is Brahms’ own work through and through – and it’s a towering achievement that stands comparison with the greatest symphonies in the canon. Book Tickets Tickets £25 to £48 Concessions and discounts available Student Tickets £8 (subject to availability)
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Music Beyond Mainstream presents
African Soul Rebels featuring Les Amazones d’Afrique, Gasper Nali and N’famady Kouyaté Tuesday 13 October 7.00pm
Leading the charge are the electrifying L’Amazones d’Afrique — the powerhouse collective of West African artists whose music fuses ancient roots with urgent, future-facing sounds and a message of strength, unity and change. Joining them is the phenomenal Gasper Nali, a notso-traditional babatoni player from the shores of Lake Malawi. With his 3-metre-long, one-stringed homemade bass guitar, a stick and an empty beer bottle, plus a cow-skin kick drum and collaborators on percussion and guitar, he creates impossibly danceable Afro beats with playful, joyful hooks. Tickets £34
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Book Tickets
Les Amazones d’Afrique © Karen Paulina Biswell
African Soul Rebels, Music Beyond Mainstream’s trailblazing live series, is reborn for a new era — celebrating fearless artists who reshape tradition, challenge borders, and put rhythm at the centre of resistance and joy.
Hallé Orchestra - Classical Extravaganza
Starsailor
Saturday 17 October 7.30pm
Starsailor will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their critically-acclaimed, multi-platinum debut album Love is Here with a special tour featuring a string ensemble arranged and conducted by Joe Duddell.
Stephen Bell conductor Matilda Lloyd trumpet
Programme includes: Shostakovich Festive Overture Barber Adagio for Strings Mozart The Magic Flute: Overture Haydn Trumpet Concerto Dvořák Slavonic Dances Nos.2 and 5 Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet: Montagues and Capulets Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending Showstopping hits and magical musicianship – enjoy some of the world’s favourite classical pieces. A rousing fanfare – Shostakovich’s flashy and exciting Festive Overture, alongside Haydn’s landmark Trumpet Concerto, performed by Royal Philharmonic Society Award winner Matilda Lloyd. There are vibrant folk melodies in Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, menacing ballet music in Prokofiev’s ‘Montagues and Capulets’ from Romeo and Juliet and a joyous rhapsody for orchestra and violin in The Lark Ascending, where the sound of the soloist rises like a bird in flight. Join Stephen Bell and the Hallé Orchestra for a selection of music that has moved and entertained audiences for centuries. Tickets £21.50 to £55.50 Concessions and discounts available Sponsored by OCU Group
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Performing Love is Here (in full) with string ensemble Sunday 18 October 7.00pm
Tickets £32.25 to £52.25
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Steve Hackett - Best of Genesis and Solo Gems Tuesday 20 October 7.45pm
Steve is bringing you the very best of the GENESIS songs from throughout his career with this awe-inspiring band, along with a selection of classic material from his many solo albums. Accompanying Steve for these dates with be longstanding musicians, Jonas Reingold (bass, guitar, backing vocals), Rob Townsend (saxophone, flutes, additional keyboards, backing vocals), Nad Sylvan (vocals), and more recently Lalle Larsson (keyboards), and Felix Lehrmann on drums. Tickets £54.25 to £69.75
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Manchester Midday Music – Joanna Harries mezzo-soprano & Aleksandra Myslek piano Thursday 22 October 1.00pm
Strange creatures and things fantastical lurk amongst the trees in this programme of English, French, German & Scandinavian song – from sleepy elves and dangerous sprites to quarrelling birds and tap-dancing mice. Tickets £15.25 Book Tickets Concessions £13.25 | Students £8.25 Sponsored by an anonymous donor
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The Hallé – Rachmaninov’s Symphony No.3 Nicholas Collon conductor Emily Davis violin
Friday 23 October 7.30pm The roaring, rousing atmosphere of traditional Irish pubs will be brought to stages across the country as Emmy Award-winning group The Shamrocks embark on their debut UK tour.
Thursday 22 October 7.30pm Ravel orch. Colin Matthews Three Songs Without Words (World Premiere) Szymanowski Violin Concerto No.2 Rachmaninov Symphony No.3′ Dream of far-off lands with sensuous, nostalgic music by Szymanowski and Rachmaninov. Conductor Nicholas Collon brings us a fantastic evening of early 20th-century works, from Rachmaninov’s brilliantly brooding symphony to Ravel’s enchanting miniature worlds. Written whilst in Switzerland, the lovely melodies of Rachmaninov’s Third Symphony yearn for the Russian composer’s lost homeland. In Szymanowski’s lyrical Second Violin Concerto, the composer pays homage to folk music from the Tatra mountains of his native Poland, brought to life by one of the Hallé’s incredible Leaders, Emily Davis. Fleeting and fantastical, Ravel’s songs have been arranged by composer Colin Matthews. Glimpse a wintry city ravaged by the winds of change, a shimmering dreamscape and a sparkling Christmas scene. Tickets £18.50 to £52 Concessions and discounts available Pre-concert event at 6.30pm Sponsored by PZ Cussons
The Shamrocks
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Tickets £24.75 to £39.75
Book Tickets
BBC Philharmonic Mahler Symphony No. 4
On dreams, dreaming, and nightmares John Storgårds conductor Alina Ibragimova violin Sheva Tehoval soprano Saturday 24 October 7.30pm Cassandra Miller Swim Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor Mahler Symphony No. 4 If Mahler’s first three world-encapsulating symphonies come from an adult’s point of view, his fourth wonders how a child’s perspective might be different. But the childhood dreams Mahler weaves are not all naïve. Though we eventually arrive at Mahler’s childlike vision of heaven – In Das himmlische Leben, the part he composed first – menace and terror are present too. To create Swim, Cassandra Miller took two chords by Robert Schumann, repeated them until they blurred, and then took them through a series of variations as suggested in an essay on swimming by the poet Anne Carson. Miller’s abiding image – of Robert Schumann, swimming in Carson’s Canadian lake – could only come from the mind of a committed dreamer. In 1838, Felix Mendelssohn wrote to violinist Ferdinand David, describing ‘an E-minor theme that keeps running through my head, preventing me from thinking about anything else.’ From Mendelssohn’s dream came one of the great violin concertos. Tickets £12 to £42 Concessions and discounts available
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Book Tickets
Manchester Midday Music – Scott Brothers Duo
The Hallé – Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5
Monday 26 October 1.00pm
Thursday 29 October 7.30pm
Brothers Jonathan and Tom perform in instrumental combinations which cover the entire keyboard spectrum with a busy international concert schedule of performances across the UK, as well as at major festivals and concert halls in Spain, France, Germany, Norway, Finland, Romania, Sweden, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea.
Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 Tchaikovsky Symphony No.5′
Jonathan Scott organ Tom Scott piano
Tickets £15.25 Book Tickets Concessions £13.25 | Students £8.25 Please note, allocated seating will apply to this concert.
Kahchun Wong conductor Tianyao Lyu piano
Fall in love with Chopin’s poetic reverie and the passion and joy of Tchaikovsky. Kahchun Wong and the Hallé present a performance that tugs at your heartstrings. Written when Chopin was just 20, his First Piano Concerto makes the instrument as ardently expressive as the human voice. The composer described the ravishing second movement as ‘a kind of reverie in the moonlight on a beautiful spring evening.’ Teenage pianist Tianyao Lyu, who is known for her natural command of the keyboard and strong stage presence, debuts with us as soloist after making a splash at the most recent International Chopin Piano Competition. Tchaikovsky’s emotionally direct Fifth Symphony captivates listeners all the way to its joyful ending. The passionate second movement introduces an unforgettable horn melody and the waltzing third movement reminds us of the beauty of the composer’s ballet music. Book Tickets Tickets £18.50 to £52 Concessions and discounts available Sponsored by Manchester Airport Group
The Amy Winehouse Band Friday 30 October 7.30pm
The Amy Winehouse Band – Amy’s original band who were with her from the very start throughout her meteoric rise – have announced a major UK tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of her defining album, Back to Black. Tickets £34.25 to £39.75
Book Tickets
Emily Davis © Drew Forsyth 23
Hallé Orchestra – Stravinsky’s The Firebird Thursday 19 November 2026 7.30pm Thomas Adès conductor Pekka Kuusisto violin Thomas Adès These Premises Are Alarmed Gabriella Smith How To Be A Bird (Halle co-commission – world premiere) Thomas Adès Asyla Igor Stravinsky Firebird Suite (1919) 30 years after it was premiered by the Hallé in 1996 to celebrate the opening of The Bridgewater Hall, the orchestra once again perform Thomas Adès’ These Premises Are Alarmed, before exploring Gabriella Smith’s How To Be A Bird, a vivid reflection on nature performed by the one of today’s most compelling artists Pekka Kuusisto. The stage is then packed for Thomas Adès’ Asyla, which takes us into a chaotic 1990s nightclub. The Hallé round off the evening by returning to Stravinsky, whose breakthrough ballet The Firebird introduced 1910s Paris to his homeland’s snow-fresh fairy stories.
Support The Bridgewater Hall Professional Packages available
Since opening in 1996, The Bridgewater Hall has become a key part of Manchester’s music scene, offering a diverse programme from rock and pop to jazz, classical, and spoken word. With over 300 performances annually and a purpose-built auditorium known for its exceptional acoustics, the Hall is dedicated to delivering artistic excellence. Our new membership packages provide a unique opportunity to support the venue, enjoy a range of concerts, entertain clients, and access branding and marketing benefits. For more details, contact Philip Murphy, Sponsorship, Corporate & Premium Experience Sales Manager, at philip.murphy@bridgewater-hall.co.uk, call 0161 950 0000, or visit www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/membership
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Conferences and Events
Celebrating 30 years of bringing people together Looking for something different? For three decades, The Bridgewater Hall has been at the heart of Manchester, hosting memorable conferences, exhibitions, dinners, receptions and events in one of the city's most iconic venues. Combining striking architecture, exceptional acoustics and versatile event spaces, we provide a unique setting for every occasion. With expert in-house technical and catering teams, together with dedicated event professionals, we'll support you from your initial enquiry through to the final guest departure, ensuring your vision becomes a seamless and unforgettable experience.
Find out more
Contact the team at conferences@bridgewater-hall.co.uk 25
Booking Information Booking Online
Visit www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk where you have the option to select your own seat or choose the best available. You can also add dining and Lounge access to your order where available.
Booking By Phone 0161 907 9000
Booking In Person
Box Office, The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3WS
Booking By Post
To the Box Office at the address above.
Box Office Opening Hours
Prices shown in this brochure include booking fees. A booking fee of £3.25 or £4.75 per ticket applies to telephone and online transactions. No fee applies to tickets bought in person or purchased as part of a fixed or flexible subscription. For details of ticket exchange, group discounts, concessionary and standby tickets, please visit www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk or call the Box Office.
Flexible Booking
Save 15% on the full ticket price when you book 5 or more concerts featuring Please note you cannot apply more than one discount to a booking.
Monday to Friday 10.00am—5.00pm Saturday & Sunday (concert nights only) 2.00—5.00pm Counter service until 8.00pm on concert nights. Please call the Box Office or visit www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk to check for changes in opening times.
Accessibility
Mobile Tickets
Tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled or rescheduled. Customers who have purchased Booking Protect alongside their ticket purchase may be eligible for a refund under the terms of their protection. If you have added Booking Protect and would like to apply for a refund, please contact Booking Protect directly. The Bridgewater Hall cannot process or discuss refunds for tickets covered by Booking Protect.
You can also view your tickets in your online account and add them to your Apple or Google Wallet from two months before the concert date.
Forms of Payment Accepted
Payment can be made by cash, cheque, Mastercard, Visa or debit card. If paying by cheque, please make your cheque payable to ‘The Bridgewater Hall’.
Standing and Dancing at Concerts
At some concerts, audience members may stand and dance. If you would prefer to remain seated, please check the recommended seating areas when booking. Availability is limited, and we cannot guarantee that standing audience members will not affect your view.
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Booking Fees
The Bridgewater Hall is fully accessible for disabled patrons. For information on facilities please visit www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk or call the Box Office on 0161 907 9000.
Booking Protect
Concert Timings
Timings will be updated on our website closer to the concert date. Please check on the day of the performance for the most up-to-date information. All timings are approximate and are subject to change.
Getting Here The Bridgewater Hall is in the centre of Manchester, easily accessible by public transport and by road.
You can plan your journey by using our Travel Assistant at travel.yousmartthing.com/the_bridgewater_hall
Metrolink tram passengers should alight at St Peter’s Square or Deansgate-Castlefield.
The nearest car parks are Q-Park First Street, NCP Manchester Central, NCP Great Northern or NCP Oxford Street. If travelling by car, please allow plenty of time for your journey.
The nearest bus stops for major routes into the city centre are St Peter’s Square/Portland Street or Deansgate. Coaches can drop off and pick up outside the main entrance on Lower Mosley Street. The nearest rail stations are Deansgate and Oxford Road.
The Bridgewater Hall Lower Mosley Street Manchester M2 3WS
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Thank you The Bridgewater Hall Members Diamond Edmundson Electrical Ltd
Ruby Mr & Mrs A.B. Coxon Leonardo Hotel Manchester Central Chase International Ltd Green Contract Services E.V.T.S. Hyatt Hotels Manchester Urban Zone Ltd
E-News Keep up-to-date with what’s on at The Bridgewater Hall by registering online to receive our monthly e-newsletter
The Bridgewater Hall Lower Mosley Street Manchester M2 3WS Box Office: 0161 907 9000 www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk