Raymond Gubbay’s Christmas Festival at The Bridgewater Hall

Chris Horkan

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The Bridgewater Hall Christmas Festival

The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre
14 December 2017-14 January 2018

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Image courtesy of Raymond Gubbay
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Manchester’s most prestigious concert hall hosts an impressive, varied month-long festival of Raymond Gubbay concerts this December and January.

Launched by superstar singer Katherine Jenkins, who celebrates her very own Christmas concert of music and songs on 14 December, the series features a joyous assortment of Christmas carols presented by Alan Titchmarsh on 19 December, plus a ‘Christmas Spectacular’ of music, dance, lights and even indoor fireworks on 20 December.

Jonathan Cohen conducts a spine-tingling Carol Singalong on Christmas Eve, meanwhile, with a rousing Boxing Day staging of the Last Night of the Christmas Proms book-ending the big day.

The series then celebrates the Leading Ladies of musicals including Wicked and Chicago on 27 December, while John Williams’ iconic scores for the likes of Harry Potter, Hook, Indiana Jones and Jaws are the dramatic focus for Manchester Concert Orchestra and conductor Anthony Inglis on 28 December.

The new year sees legendary band leader Ray McVay leading his orchestra through Glenn Miller big band classics on 7 January, before the festival draws to a close with a romantic afternoon of Johann Strauss favourites on 14 January.

All in all, this wide-ranging nine-concert festival offers something for everyone to enjoy over the holiday period.

What's on at The Bridgewater Hall

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The Midland Hotel

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

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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.

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Exhibition hosts three of the city’s most celebrated independent kitchens: Osma, Baratxuri, and Jaan by Another Hand.

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

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