Watch and Listen

Rising Sun with The Manchester College

March – May 2025

Music students from The Manchester College took part in a series of workshops over three months, organised by the Learning and Participation Department at The Bridgewater Hall.

Inspired by Mahler’s 5^th Symphony, which was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra as part of the Hall’s International Concert Series, the students have developed their creative and compositional skills to write their own piece – Rising Sun.

Freedom with The Manchester College and Laurus Ryecroft School

May 2024

Music students from The Manchester College and Laurus Ryecroft School took part in a series of workshops over three months, organised by the Learning and Participation Department at The Bridgewater Hall.

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Pre-concert Talk

5 February 2023 

Members of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Steven Devine (director & harpsichord) and Leo Durante (oboe), discuss the orchestra’s origins and history of performing in unusual spaces, as well as the concert programme.

Swedish Philharmonia
Pre-concert talk

9 March 2020

Jonathan James discusses Sibelius’ Symphony No.5, what inspired him, how he developed his ideas – in other words how he composed.

Tenebrae
Pre-concert Talk

18 February 2020

David Hoult & Nigel Short discuss Tenebrae, choral ensembles & the groups Bridgewater Hall programme.

The Sixteen
Pre-concert Talk

15 November 2019

Harry Christophers and Eamonn Duggan, from The Sixteen, discuss Monteverdi’s Vespers. With performances from the Genesis 16 Choir.

Moscow Philharmonic
Pre-concert Talk

11 October 2019

Classical music expert, Dr Jonathan James discusses the programme of the Moscow Philharmonic concert, specifically similarities between Tchaikovsky as a Romantic composer and Shostakovich as a Soviet composer, with a special focus on Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture and Shostakovich’s Symphony No.10.

Please note – we experienced some technical difficulties in the first 2-3 minutes but the sound quality is greatly impoved after that time, so please stick with it if you decide to listen.

Paraorchestra
Pre-concert Talk

2 October 2019

Lloyd Coleman (Associate Music Director of the Paraorchestra) and Charlotte Harding (composer) discuss composing and performing with the Paraorchestra.