CANCELLED – BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Missa solemnis at The Bridgewater Hall

Johnny James, Managing Editor
Matt Squire

CANCELLED - BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Missa solemnis at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre 13 June 2020 Tickets from £12.50 — Book now

Ludwig van Beethoven – Missa solemnis (75’)

For the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s final concert of the season, conductor Mark Wigglesworth will be joined by an all-star quartet of soloists, and the marvelous Hallé Choir at The Bridgewater Hall.

‘From the heart – May it return – To the heart!’ The spidery handwriting that spells out the impassioned dedication on Beethoven’s score to the Missa solemnis reflects the extent to which the composer invested himself in this work. On the one hand, this mass is Beethoven’s largest and grandest piece of music (discounting his opera Fidelio). On the other, it’s one of his most intimate revelations.

Beethoven’s compositional process was, by all accounts, a traumatic one. Originally intended for the installation ceremony of his patron Archduke Nicholas Rudolph, Beethoven missed the deadline and continued working away at the mass for a further three years! In the original score, countless corrections and torn out pages betray his uphill battle with a work whose structure, proportions, scope and aesthetic aims continually expanded.

In the end, the battle was won; in 1823, the world was gifted a mass like no other. Unfolding in the five movements of the Mass Ordinary, starting with the Kyrie and ending with the Agnus Dei, Missa solemnis seamlessly assimilated the spirituality of church music with the power and expression of the symphony. Containing a very personal expression of his religious faith, this was a work that Beethoven cherished, considering it his greatest achievement. Audiences and critics today regard it as one of the greatest masterworks in the realm of music.

This being said, performances of the Missa solemnis are rare. The reason, simply, is that it is an incredibly daunting work to perform! Firstly, the scale of the thing makes it unfeasible for most hopeful interpreters. Secondly, the contrasts of style and gesture within the work mean that enormous demands are placed on its performers. When it does find the concert hall, however, the live experience of the Missa solemnis is exquisite. At The Bridgewater Hall, it will shine ever brightly in the hands of some truly gifted performers, including Lucy Crowe (soprano), Allan Clayton (tenor) and Roderick Williams (baritone).

A work of towering proportions, and yet an intimate statement of religious faith. Beethoven’s Missa solemnis will be extraordinary at The Bridgewater Hall.

BBC Philharmonic
Lucy Crowe – soprano
Allan Clayton – tenor
Roderick Williams – baritone
Hallé Choir – choir
Mark Wigglesworth – conductor

CANCELLED - BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Missa solemnis at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre 13 June 2020 Tickets from £12.50 Book now

What's on at The Bridgewater Hall

Where to go near CANCELLED – BBC Philharmonic: Beethoven – Missa solemnis at The Bridgewater Hall

Manchester
Restaurant
Midland Tea Room

Dating back to 1903, Manchester’s stately Midland Hotel now has its own dedicated tea room. Expect traditional offerings in elegant surroundings.

City Centre
Hotel
The Midland Hotel

With 312 luxurious bedrooms, the Grade II-listed Midland Hotel occupies one of the most beautiful and storied buildings in Manchester.

Society Manchester
City Centre
Society Manchester

Society Manchester is a glorious indoor and outdoor space in the very heart of the city, with five street food vendors to choose from and a range of high-quality drinks.

Manchester
Restaurant
Friska

Latest branch of Friska, the independent healthy fast food chain.

Manchester
Restaurant
Don Giovanni

Traditional Italian restaurant, serving everything from pizza to steak. All this in a large modern venue with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Haunt MCR
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Haunt MCR

Haunt MCR is a speciality coffee shop and wine bar located on Manchester’s bustling Peter Street.

City Centre
Restaurant
ONDA Pasta Bar

ONDA is a treat for the tastebuds. Long dark wood tables are shared by eager diners, as tapas-style plates of fresh pasta and other Italian dishes are ferried around the restaurant.

Manchester
Restaurant
Exhibition

Exhibition is an elegant dining hall on Peter Street, home to Jaan and other high-level independent kitchens.

Manchester
Restaurant
Jaan

Serving up exceptional Persian cuisine, this new food concept from the team behind Another Hand is a must-try.

City Centre
Restaurant
Nudo Sushi Box

Nudo Sushi Box on Manchester’s Oxford Road specialises in freshly-prepared boxes of – you guessed it – sushi.

What's on: Music

A black woman sat down looking to the left.
Until
MusicLeeds
Sound Out Leeds 2024/25

Leeds International Concert Season is on a mission to push boundaries, expand horizons, and ask the question: ‘What haven’t we heard?’ as it presents its city-spanning Sound Out Leeds series.

from £10.00
Two dancers and orchestra on stage
Until
DanceManchester
Dance:Music at the RNCM

Through a treasure trove of concerts, the RNCM’s initiative Dance:Music explores the symbiotic relationship between music and dance.

from £0.00
MusicManchester
Chalk at Band on the Wall

Twisting the sounds of techno and post punk, the much-hyped three-piece Chalk are bringing their high octane live show to Band on the Wall.

from £15.59

Culture Guides

Good Fridaze Family Social at Freight Island
Family things to do in the North

As we edge towards spring we take a look at the best events and activities for families, from theatre to festivals, dinosaur adventures to family raves.

Poet Evan Jones
Literature Events in the North

Some of our favourite leftfield live literature regulars are back with their first events of the year – we’ve picked a weird and wonderful heap we think you’ll love.

NEXT: A Primer on Urban Painting production still
Cinema in the North

Street art, LGBTQ+ History Month, and the first film festivals of the year are amongst our cinema highlights this month.

A painting of a young child being bathed in a sink of a 197s style kitchen. Around the sink are a rubber duck, a bottle of  washing up liquid, a jug, a kettle and a mug.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries are racing to announce new exhibitions so check out our top picks, from art films and nostalgic paintings to Hockney's collages.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Feminist farce, a magical circus show and Oldham Coliseum return with a brand-new off-site show. All in our latest theatre guide.

FKA TWIGS
Music in the North

Masters of minimalism, leftfield electronica and cutting edge pop. We bring you the lot in our latest live music round up.