Music
Sonic Geography at The Bridgewater Hall
New music inspired by the climate crisis. Lose yourself in a world premiere by John Luther Adams, played by pianist Ralph Van Raat alongside new commissions by Ailís Ní Ríain and Alissa Firsova, all performed by the BBC Philharmonic and conducted by Vimbayi Kaziboni.
‘The deepest past and the distant future are written in the rocks beneath our feet.’
From mountains that rise out of icefields to rocks that lie deep beneath the earth’s surface, be transported by this concert of three new works inspired by the resolve, resilience and magic of the natural world.
A world premiere from Grammy Award-winning composer John Luther Adams, Prophecies of Stone looks to Arctic landscapes and the sonic geography they conjure up. Journey through mountainous terrain in this atmospheric piece brought to life across four movements by solo pianist Ralph Van Raat and the BBC Philharmonic.
A Spell for Creation by Alissa Firsova explores the interconnectedness of the natural world, with a contralto soloist taking centre stage. Composer and writer Ailís Ní Ríain also considers environmental awareness through a new composition.
Conducted by Vimbayi Kaziboni and performed with the BBC Philharmonic at Manchester’s iconic Bridgewater Hall, expect to soar through soundscapes that remind us of our place in nature.
Encompassing stillness and movement, peaks and depths – these are the sounds of environments that will live on long after humans. Come and get lost in time and music.
Also part of this season
Tino Sehgal presents a playful exchange between different masters of their craft. Premieres at the National Football Museum and the Whitworth.
The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions at HOME brings together theatre, dance and song for the ultimate anarchic bedtime story.
Economics the Blockbuster is a research and exhibition project, developed in collaboration with Alliance Manchester Business School and MIF.
SEEN Magazine and Manchester Museum shine a spotlight on the sounds of the South Asian diaspora for Manchester International Festival.
Weaving personal tragedy with catastrophe at large, All right. Good night. is a meditation on loss and how to deal with uncertainty.
Known for Afro-futurist images that seem to defy gravity, Benji Reid invites us to watch him at play as he creates live photography in this genre-bending show.
Celebrate International Non-Binary People’s Day with 50 Hours of Freedom, a creative lock-in at Contact for MIF23
A movement for youth-led mental health. Balmy Army is art and activism rolled into one show – expect the unexpected.
