Name: The Best of John Williams
Start: 2026-04-17T19:30:00
Location: The Bridgewater Hall

Stephen Bell

The Hallé

Jeannette Sorrell’s approach to Handel’s Messiah has been universally praised for its refreshingly unique interpretation. In this concert, we’ll explore its dramatic potential to full effect – after all, an oratorio is effectively an opera, just without the staging and costumes – and Sorrell takes the view that a more theatrical production is precisely what Handel intended.

Messiah

The Bridgewater Hall

As part of his project to write ‘six sonatas for diverse instruments’, Debussy wrote the Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp in 1915, immediately creating a new classic instrumental combination. The programme also includes Ibert’s homage to the Debussy trio and Ravel’s Sonatine, skilfully arranged for the same forces.

Chamber Series: Debussy Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp

Hallé St Peter's

With a little help from conductor Euan Shields, your fantastic orchestra, and the brilliant Hallé Youth Training Choir, we’ll explore Christmas music, old and new. Together, we’ll jingle all the way through festive favourites including famous TV and film music…and of course there’ll be some carols and sing-alongs so everyone can join in!

Hallé Christmas Family Concert: Sleigh Ride Adventure

Under the baton of Euan Shields, Director of the Hallé Youth Orchestra and winner of the 2023 Siemens Hallé International Conductors Competition, the younger generation of our Hallé family open this concert with Awakening. A musical tapestry, it weaves together the rich and historical sound world of Wales and the vibrant energy of New York City; the two places Katie Jenkins has called home. Commissioned by the Juilliard School for the Juilliard Orchestra’s opening concert of 2024/25, this piece serves as a celebration of the excitement and anticipation of new beginnings.

Hallé Youth Orchestra

Deck the halls and get ready for the most wonderful time of the year with the Hallé’s Christmas Cracker – a festive extravaganza bursting with toe-tapping classics including Merry Christmas Everyone and All I Want for Christmas, the magical sounds of Polar Express, the sultry delights of Santa Baby and nostalgic hits like Last Christmas and Driving Home for Christmas.

Christmas Cracker

This cherished tradition truly signifies the start of the festive season for many of you, so immerse yourself in the heart-warming music and carols, performed with the Hallé family’s unique splendour and brilliance.

Hallé Carol Concerts

Sit back and enjoy the films on the Big Screen whilst the talented musicians of the Hallé accompany The Snowman as he soars through the wintry sky and Shaun the Sheep gets up to festive mischief in The Flight Before Christmas!

The Snowman & Shaun the Sheep

Featuring a full orchestra, sensational singers Vanessa Haynes, Joe Stilgoe and Strictly Come Dancing’s Tommy Blaize, along with the silky sounds of Giacomo Smith’s jazz clarinet and sax, the Hallé is hosting the finest jazz party in town.

Gatsby & The Jazz Age

Join conductor Stephen Bell and the Hallé, along with incredible soprano Soraya Mafi for a trip around the ballrooms of Vienna in this much-loved New Year’s concert.

Viennese New Year

Katharina Wincor, in her Hallé conducting debut, will be joined by Anna Lapwood to perform Joseph Jongen’s Symphonie concertante. Composed in 1926, this electrifying piece has been cemented as one of the greatest twentieth-century works for organ and orchestra. From resounding opening to blazing end, we have the rare opportunity to hear the organ take a virtuosic starring role.

Anna Lapwood Plays…

This Scandinavian programme opens with Esa-Pekka Salonen’s enigmatic Helix, described by the composer as a spiralling ‘nine-minute accelerando’. While the pulse of the piece increases gradually throughout, the note values get proportionately longer, creating a fascinating experience, where the work seems to simultaneously speed up and slow down.

Grieg’s Piano Concerto

BBC New Generation Artist and 2025 Terence Judd-Hallé Award winner, Julius Asal joins players from the orchestra for a programme built around Schumann’s Piano Quintet. The first ever piece for this combination of instruments, the outer movements are full of exuberance and extroversion, and frame a hauntingly beautiful funeral march.

Chamber Series: Julius Asal

Legendary film composer, John Williams’ music has inspired and captivated audiences worldwide for decades: from the iconic, spine-tingling themes of Star Wars and Jurassic Park to the enchanting melodies of Harry Potter and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and many more.