PRESS RELEASE
March 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Summer 2012 at the RNCM brings:





Leading talents from the music world: Kyle Eastwood Band, Ute
Lemper, Angelique Kidjo, Andy Sheppard’s Trio Libero, Matthew Herbert
and Trio Mediaeval
The Tashi Lhunpo Monks
Accordion Wrestling
Exceptional music from RNCM students
The very best of jazz and world music
This summer the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) continues to deliver some of
the most exciting music in the UK, including the cream of classical talent, a host of festivals
and the very best of jazz and world music.
Next month’s highlights include a performance by Tim Garland’s Lighthouse + Ignite II
(April 26); a much-anticipated appearance by The Magnetic Fields (April 27); and a
fantastic RNCM Shakespeare Day of Song (April 29), which this year brings together the
genius of Shakesearean texts and some great English composers in a feast of concerts
throughout the RNCM’s various venues.
On Thursday May 3, we are delighted to welcome German chanteuse Ute Lemper who will
perform Last Tango in Berlin, a show celebrating the tango and the music of Astor Piazzolla.
During the same month, the Kyle Eastwood Band makes a welcome return to the city (May
4); Grammy Award-winning singer Angelique Kidjo performs with the Manchester World
Voices Choir (May 16); Matthew Herbert brings his controversial One Pig to the College in
association with the FutureEverything festival (May 18); Trio Mediaeval take to
Manchester’s stunning Victoria Baths with trumpeter Arve Henriksen (May 22); Trio Libero
present the latest project from saxophonist Andy Sheppard (May 26); and we celebrate
FatCat’s ‘post-classical imprint, 130701 Records: Transcendentalists Tour 2012, with music
from Hauschka + Dustin O’Halloran + Jóhann Jóhannsson (May 21).
Moving on a month, Finnish musical adventurist Kimmo Pohjonen combines music, film
and live wrestling to great effect in the extraordinary Accordion Wrestling show on June 6,
while international pianist and RNCM alumnus Steven Osborne returns on June 14 to
present Part 2 of Maurice Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Music. And for something
extra special, the Tashi Lhunpo Monks present an evening of scared dances, music and
prayers, with colourful traditional costumes and ceremonial masks on June 15, ahead of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Manchester.
The RNCM also offers a host of student-based events both at the College and in the city. On
June 22, the RNCM Chamber Orchestra is joined by the Hallé’s Music Director Sir Mark
Elder CBE for a special fundrasing concert featuring Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s
Dream; and on July 5, the RNCM Symphony Orchestra performs Holst’s iconic
composition The Planets at The Bridgewater Hall under the baton of Yan Pascal Tortelier.
Other student highlights include the prestigious RNCM Gold Medal Weekend, which offers
11 recitals by the College’s finest performers (June 15 to 17); the annual RNCM Keyboard
Weekend, which this year is entitled Angels of the North: The Keyboard Music of
Scandinavia, The Baltics and St Petersburg (June 23 and 24); and a fantastic concert
with our very own Big Band and sax supremo Bob Mintzer (July 7).
Finally, the RNCM unites with Manchester Jazz Festival in July for three exhilarating gigs.
The first (July 17) features the Stan Sulzmann Big Band; the second (July 18) sees John
Surman display his talent on saxophones and electronics; and the third (July 19) introduces
the world première of George King: Songs of the Caged Bird (world première).
For further information or to request interviews please contact Liz Rowley on 0161
907 5369 or email liz.rowley@rncm.ac.uk To learn more about the RNCM visit
www.rncm.ac.uk
A full version of the summer brochure can be downloaded at www.rncm.ac.uk
-
Ends -
Notes to Editors:




In addition to being one of the UK’s top conservatoires, the RNCM is recognised as
one of the North West’s leading performing venues offering a large Concert Hall,
Theatre, a smaller Studio Theatre and the Carole Nash Recital Room.
Throughout the year the College is host to over 400 concerts and events ranging
from classical music to world music and jazz.
It is both a platform for RNCM students to develop their incredible talent, and a stage
for world-class performers to showcase their work.
To date, some of the biggest names in music have also appeared at the RNCM,
including Adele, Jarvis Cocker, Supergrass, James Blake and the late Amy
Winehouse.