May Playback 2025
Welcome to the March edition of our Bridgewater For All Playback, where we look back at the highlights of the Learning and Participation programme at The Bridgewater Hall for this month. From family concerts featuring magic dressing up boxes to community workshops celebrating Zulu battle chants, no two days have been the same!
We hope you enjoy reading what we’ve been up to in May.
The L&P Department
Live at Lunchtime – 2, 9, 16 & 30 May
Summer must be well and truly on the way, because our much-loved Live at Lunchtime has returned! Kicking off the series with a bang was the amazing Robin Koob of Run Remedy. Originally from New Jersey, Robin is a queer, alt-indie artist. She treated us to a selection of her original songs from her new album ‘Kerosene’, many of which featured her stunning violin playing skills. Up next on the 9 May, we welcomed back students from Chetham’s School of Music. These talented young musicians played a range of beautiful classics on a range of instruments including piano, French horn, clarinet and voice. On the 16 May, we welcomed Martin and Ian from The Apple Sellers. This contemporary Lancashire folk duo was very popular with our LAL audience – and rightly so! They played a whole range of traditional music, including one song which had a murder and ghost story all wrapped in one! Rounding up the month we had the wonderful talents of Dimitra Ananiadou (violin) & Richard Whalley (piano). From lively Spanish rhythms to Beethoven’s powerful Violin Sonata Op. 23, this was a performance full of skill and passion.
To find out more about Live at Lunchtime click here.
Intergenerational England: Access All Ages – 12 May
One of the most joyful events we’ve hosted this month at the Hall was Intergenerational England: Access All Areas. In this celebratory concert, five generations were connected through the power of music. There was a lovely moment where participants performed ‘Moment of Song’, a piece of music co-created by individuals of all ages from across the UK. There were lots of opportunities for audience participation too, with people singing from all areas of the auditorium. The day also marked the official launch of Intergenerational England’s coalition of partners – so all the reason to celebrate!
To find out more about Intergenerational England click here.
International Concert Series Education Project – 19 May
Over the past few months, students from The Manchester College took part in our annual International Concert Series Education Project to create their own piece of original music. Organised by the L&P Department, and led by multi-instrumentalist Aine Mallon and composer Jonathan James, the students developed their creative and compositional skills in workshops to produce their piece, ‘Rising Sun’, inspired by Mahler’s 5th Symphony and performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Hall’s International Concert Series. The students did an amazing job of mirroring the flow and musical techniques of Mahler and performed their piece ahead of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performance at the Hall on the 19 May.
To find out more about previous projects, click here.
Community Members Day – 28 May
Towards the end of the month, we welcomed over a hundred of our Community Members to the Hall for our annual Community Members Day. It was a day jam packed with activity, which included an insightful talk on the history of the Halle Orchestra through its conductors, from archivist, Eleanor Roberts, followed by a building tour and storytelling percussion workshop with AfroCats. A particular highlight was learning all about the origins of Zulu battle chanting from AfroCats workshop leader, Godfrey. It was such fun to see everyone get stuck in and hear the group chanting together as a collective whilst Godfrey accompanied us on the djembe. After the workshops, our Community Members connected over lunch, before attending the Manchester Middays Concert in the auditorium. This concert featured the talents of Sofiia Matviienko (flautist) and was the perfect way to wind down after the morning’s activities. After the concert, our Community Members could relax over a hot drink, before we said our goodbyes. It was great to see so many new and old faces, and really joyous to see local people come together over a shared love of community and music.
To find out more about the Community Members Scheme click here.
Toot! A Magical Musical Adventure – 29 May
This half-term, MishMash productions burst into the Barbirolli Room where they led two performances of their amazing family concert, ‘Toot! A Magical Musical Adventure!’. Using a little bit of make believe and help from a magical dressing up box, five talented musicians took our audience on an adventure through forests, up mountains and into out of space. The audience were treated to some beautiful pieces featuring the French horn, flute, clarinet, oboe and bassoon. After the concert, there was also an opportunity to have a play on the instruments as well! Big thank you to all the families that attended.