29/7: A Day of Musical Madness in Manchester

Saturday 26th July: A Day of Musical Madness in Manchester

When I looked out of the window on the top deck of the 192, my eyes unwilling to meet the reality of the rain just beginning to hit the glass before me, I feared the worst: a jam-packed, annual event celebrating Manchester, planned extensively by fellow Mancunians, only to be dreadfully drowned out by the very thing residents of this city are all too familiar with...bad weather.

A fitting natural accompaniment to 'Manchester Day On Holiday,' you might suggest. Thankfully (for the less cynical of us), such a comedic mental image did not come to fruition.

Instead of the day seeing us consume soggy sandwiches before a troupe of sodden circus performers, myself and a friend were treated to myriad displays of talented musicians, stalls selling all sorts of wares and - the cherry on top - a beaming blue sky. And that was all precluding our visit to the Stoller Hall, where we witnessed a Sheffield Youth Orchestra rendition of Mahler's 5th Symphony. 

Here's but a taste of what Manchester had to offer on this lovely summer's day.

Talent, where? St Anne's Square!

Enlivening the area from noon until late in the evening, 'Party in the Park' showcased a variety of musical acts; ranging from a brass band ('Explosive Ents') and Piano in the Park (courtesy of Forsyth's Pianist programme) to a poetry-cum-carnival bonanza (Manchester School of Samba)...all of which, unfortunately, we didn't manage to catch.

What acts we did get to experience were certainly worth writing home about, though - so here I am!

First to share their craft beneath the makeshift (and beautiful) bandstand were Flat Pack Opera, singers of charity organisation Flat Pack Music, whose mission is to 'bring opera,' and classical music more generally, 'to the masses'. 

That they did, and they did so triumphantly! Each performer exuded enthusiasm, enjoyment and, pivotally, adoration for the pieces and arias they relayed to the rapidly expanding audience; utterly transfixed by their soaring voices.

Although all of the songs performed by the singers and their highly proficient accompanying pianist were, as tradition dictates, in Latinate languages, one felt that the passion and prowess evidenced by the musicians on stage was alone enough to immerse all who were there to listen, regardless of the words being sung.

A standout moment for me was one soprano's rendition of the Habanera, the most well-known aria from Bizet's 19th century opera Carmen. With a tone bearing both sensuality and forcefulness, the singer was enthralling throughout - making good on the charity's stated rasion d'etre.

Nipping out for a tipple from the trusty Golden Arches, we returned and were subsequently met with the sound of the pounding of drums. The interval between the first and second bandstand acts was, we discovered, filled by a vibrant collective of circus performers. 

We were quick to join the crowd of onlookers, watching agog as a brass band bellowed, dancers entertained with endlessly fluid movements and puppeteers controlled charming characters, including immaculately designed bees - what would a 'Manchester Day' be without them?

Next up on the St Anne's roster were Cupid's Bow, a duo of cellists whose pieces jumped from pop to jazz to tango and back again. Kitted out accordingly in black and yellow, the women appeared quite frankly buzzed to be playing that Saturday afternoon; bouncing off each other's buoyancy, they rattled through Queen and Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Eilish and a dash of ELO to see us off with an infectious degree of joy.

The wonder of their performance was enhanced by the technical skill of the two cellists: playing arco, pizzicato, slowly and at considerable pace (as is required for The Flea Waltz) and always with fervour, recovering easily from the odd mistake here and there as a result.

I'm sure that many a crowd member appreciated the amount of tastes to which they catered through the chameleonic nature of their setlist, all of whom will have enjoyed at least one of the twosome's string covers.

Ultimately, what was the zenith of the afternoon, sunshine-wise, was made that bit sunnier by this bright and breezy show by Cupid's Bow. No doubt they'll be bringing their string-based brilliance further afield to more anticipatory audiences. (Perhaps not donning Manchester-inspired drapes all the while!)

Just like being at the seaside...really!

There were some other events taking place that we caught fleeting glances of - see sandcastle building on Deansgate, children's activities in St Peter's Square and the swathes of colourful stalls lining Market Street - though I don't think 'just passing through' constitutes a detailed analysis of what was there, nor would it really be possible, so I'll simply say this: if you weren't there, you most certainly missed out!

I''ll attach some extra shots I got of Manchester Day, but I'm sure what you've seen and read already has cemented your attendance at next year's extravaganza. I hope to see you there!

A stellar, Stoller spectacle

Having chowed down on some Indian cuisine in the Northern Quarter, me and my mate (for whom I will take this moment to thank, again, for accompanying me on this outing and offering me the concert ticket - my blog thanks you especially for that) meandered over to Stoller Hall, a music venue adjacent to Victoria Station. 

Constructed in 2017, the Chetham School of Music building boasts a modern exterior and a breath-taking interior design, particularly in the concert hall itself: where walls extend high above the ground, allowing for immaculate acoustics and reverberations, and vibrant lighting surrounds the stage and beyond. 

The perfect performance site for an orchestra whose membership is neither too little nor too large, it could be said, with which statement I would have to agree, having seen Sheffield Youth Orchestra inhabit the space for just over an hour. 

Playing Mahler's Symphony No.5 to an audience that was, I presume, mostly comprised of family members, Sheffield Youth Orchestra gave their all at the piece's every twist and turn. I relished how well the different sections navigated its frequently turbulent dynamics, tempo and tone, some players retaining a look of eagerness, appearing almost totally immersed in the sounds they created, throughout. This group of incredibly talented musicians clearly devoted much time and energy into their respective parts; whatever amount of practise put in, it paid off tremendously, as the end product sounded truly astonishing within Stoller Hall's four walls. 

The orchestra's conductor was as magnetic as the players themselves, carrying about him an air of oneness with the melodies he facilitated and controlled. It was a delight to listen as the strings, the percussion, the brass and the woodwind sections coalesced, fading in and out at the piece's every whim and enjoying the spotlight in certain instances - the harpist, trumpeters, cellists and clarinet players being standout examples of musicians commanding the attention of every audience member.

With Sheffield Youth Orchestra being just that - a youth orchestra - it wasn't surprising that not every player was note-perfect, 100% of the time, but, that considered, the young people behind the instruments put on a wonderful, impressive and highly entertaining show.

So, that was our day in the city - one whirlwind of a day, at that! I hope you enjoyed the rundown of our experiences and feel perhaps drawn to indulging in the many musical offerings made by Manchester to those who seek them out. (I just have to hope that my college hands out more free gig tickets...!)