Bach Cantatas - Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir with Anthony Robson

King's Hall, Newcastle University, 7.30pm

Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir with Anthony Robson, baroque oboe, perform Bach Cantatas 78, 97, 135.

Concerto for violin & oboe BWV 1060

Katharine Fuge
James Laing
James Gilchrist
Adrian Powter

Newcastle Baroque

Anthony Robson, baroque oboe
Simon Jones, violin

Conductor: Eric Cross

Tickets £15, concessions available, from Newcastle Tourist Information Centre (0191 277 8003).

A star-studded line up of vocal soloists, and arguably the best baroque oboist in the world - who happens to come from Middlesbrough!

Simon Jones has lead all the leading baroque ensembles.

Further info: www.newcastlebachchoir.org.uk

Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir with Newcastle University: Mahler - Symphony No. 8 in E flat major

The Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm

Newcastle Bach Choir
Newcastle University Orchestra & Choir
augmented in association with the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Soloists from the Royal Northern College of Music & the Royal College of Music

Conducted by Eric Cross

A CHORAL PREMIERE FOR THE NORTH EAST!

Mahler's massive Eighth Symphony is one of the iconic works of the symphonic and choral repertoires. Written almost exactly 100 years ago (it was completed in 1907), it was dubbed the 'Symphony of a Thousand' by the promoter at its premiere in 1910, where the composer conducted a choir of 850 and an orchestra of 171. Although this performance will have more modest forces to allow for some audience in the hall, the massive orchestra, which includes harps, piano, harmonium, celesta and mandolin, is joined by several choirs, including a children's choir, a separate brass band, and eight soloists.

The first movement sets the Latin hymn 'Veni, creator spiritus', while the atmospheric second movement, based on the closing text from Goethe's Faust, ends with the vision of the Eternal Feminine. The effect was summed up by Mahler as: 'Try to imagine the whole universe beginning to ring and resound.'

This performance will be given by the Newcastle Bach Choir and Newcastle University's Choir and Orchestra, augmented by students from other regional universities through the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and other choristers from the region who have joined the 'Mahler Extra Choir'. The children's choir is from the King's School, Tynemouth.

The soloists include several of the leading young singers at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal College of Music.

As far as we know this will be the symphony's first ever performance in NewcastleGateshead.

There is also a free pre-concert talk.

Tickets: £22/17/12/8 from The Sage Gateshead (0191 443 4661)

Newcastle Bach Choir perform Handel's Messiah at The Sage Gateshead

The Sage Gateshead, 7.30 pm

Handel's Messiah

Newcastle Bach Choir with Dame Emma Kirkby, Catherine King, Charles Daniels, Peter Harvey and Newcastle Baroque

Conducted by Eric Cross

Tickets: £22, £18, £12, £8
Information: 0191 4434661