The Hallé
Euan Shields conductor
Ruth Rosales presenter

 Our famous Drivetime Concert is back! The world renowned Hallé Orchestra takes to the stage from six o’clock with an hour of spectacular music exploring planetary power – both here on earth and in far off galaxies.

It’s launched with a blaze of glory as the sun rises on the opening of 2001: A Space Odyssey, whilst Respighi gives us a radiant Roman sunset reflected in glittering fountains. Two blockbusters from Gustav Holst’s epic orchestral suite, The Planets, take us into the solar system, and we go interstellar with the Voyager spacecraft, which carried a recording of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony on its mission. Nearer to home, Debussy’s Claire de Lune will bathe the Royal Concert Hall in serene moonlight whilst the mood couldn’t be more different in Benjamin Britten’s ferocious Storm from Four Sea Interludes.  And no musical planetary journey is complete without some heroic space travellers: join two of the greatest with trips on the TARDIS with Doctor Who and Hans Solo’s Millennium Falcon in Star Wars.

There’s something for everyone and if you’ve never heard a live orchestra before it’s a great place to start. There’s a friendly, fun atmosphere and the pieces are introduced from the stage by our presenter, Ruth Rosales, so it’s ideal for families too. The concert starts at 6pm so you’ll miss the rush hour and there’s plenty of time afterwards to grab a meal in town or get the kids to bed.

JOIN THE DRIVETIME CHOIR AND SING WITH THE HALLÉ!

There’s more! This concert offers the unique opportunity to sing in our spectacular Concert Hall backed by the Hallé’s eighty brilliant musicians in our Drivetime Choir. This year the choir will perform Hubert Parry’s magnificent choral classic, Blest Pair of Sirens. With hundreds of singers taking part, you’ll make a breathtaking sound!

The Drivetime Choir is open to all, from beginners to seasoned singers, and you’ll receive expert coaching from Angela Kay MBE, former Director of Music for Everyone. Her rehearsal sessions are always informal and fun and you’ll be amazed how far you take your singing in just a couple of hours.

“I haven’t sung as part of a choir since I left school and I absolutely loved it! It was spine-tinglingly good.”

“Last night was such a thrill. I can now boast to my friends that I’ve sung with the Hallé!”

Joining the choir is easy and we won’t take up much of your time
Simply head over to our Drivetime Choir web page, sign-up and book your concert ticket – which you’ll get at the reduced choir member rate of £8.00.

You just need to attend at least one of the main rehearsals on 30 May or 11 June (7pm – 9pm). There’s a dress rehearsal with the Hallé on Friday 13 June at 5.15pm. It’s not compulsory but you’ll certainly find it helpful.

Drivetime Concert Programme:
R Strauss                            Sunrise from Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001: A Space Odyssey)
Holst                                    Mars, the Bringer of War from The Planets
Respighi                             The Villa Medici Fountain at Sunset from the Fountains of Rome
Beethoven                         5th Symphony, 1^st Movement
Parry                                   Blest Pair of Sirens (with the Drivetime Choir)
Copland                             Fanfare For The Common Man
Delia Derbyshire              Doctor Who Theme, orch. Murray Gold
Holst                                    Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity from The Planets
Debussy                             Clair de Lune
Britten                                Storm from Four Sea Interludes
John Williams                   Star Wars – Main titles