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Orchestra captures magic of Vienna

New Year in Vienna, Halle Orchestra, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

THE orchestra filed on stage immaculately turned out as befitting a New Year concert, followed by conductor John Wilson who took his position with a flourish and invited his audience to join in a Viennese celebration.

What followed was an invigorating programme of familiar music, from the master of waltz, Johann Strauss, the ever-popular Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and a handful of other composers.

Toe-tapping and hand

Date published: 05/01/2009

Hot on the trail of buried treasures

The Chronicles of Alda

You may recall from my last series how my father’s beautiful and sacred Viking golden ring was found in a stream at Greenfield by a Mr Horsfall of Springhead in 1914.

Can you imagine the sense of that gentleman’s excitement when he first spotted the shimmering jewellery in the water? And then his utter astonishment when handling such a valuable...

Date published: 02/01/2009

All Things Must Pass

HOW the Chronicle reported 2008: just a few of the thousands of stories we brought you in the last 12 months.

January

3 — MOORSIDE student James Ashton was stunned to find that his friend Aisling Davies had changed his named to Ima Stapler by deed poll in secret for revenge for an earlier hair dye prank.



4 — FAILSWORTH stylist Leanne Allsopp was crowned...

Date published: 02/01/2009

Film, song, book or bubble bath?

AH well, that’s it for another year. And what have we got to show for it? Poorer, fatter and, in my case, in possession of enough bubble bath to float the QE2.

Not to mention sufficient body lotion to keep me occupied with the Chippendales for a good 12 months.

We had a quiet Christmas. What with Him Indoors waking up on the 25th unable to utter a word. It was fine for...

Date published: 31/12/2008

Musicals, maestro, please

Halle Orchestra: “That’s Show Business,” Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

Last night’s show with all the glitz of decades of stage musicals was the perfect antidote to Christmas’s over- indulgence.

The stage burst into life with the famous orchestra playing the overture from “Chicago” to announce vocalist Gemma O’Duffy who...

Date published: 31/12/2008

Is ‘Big Phil’ feeling the strain?

IT WAS a strange appointment in the first place.

In getting rid of the affable but inexperienced Avram Grant, who failed to live up to the expectations of the Chelsea board even though he was only a John Terry slip away from winning the Champions League, those in charge at Stamford Bridge were presumably looking for something different.

Which made the appointment of...

Date published: 30/12/2008

What Kati Did next; Don’t join a gym, it’ll only end in failure

WELL, it’s all finally over, done and dusted. We can all breathe out a sigh of relief, undo the top button of our jeans and relax.

Hold on a minute though, whats that? There, looming just around the corner. Oh no it’s New Year, quick button up and breathe in, one final push before we can relax.

Or can we? After the storm of Christmas I always look forward...

Date published: 30/12/2008

You can live it up live tonight

STILL looking for somewhere to welcome in the New Year in style?

Well look no further my friend because there’s one place worth spending tomorrow night if you like your music live and loud.

The Best of The Aftershow New Year’s Eve Special at Moho Live is set to be a night to remember.

Rather than wandering aimlessly across the city centre in search of...

Date published: 30/12/2008

2009 reasons to look forward to tomorrow

AS 2008 draws to a close, it’s time to take a closer look at what we’ve got in store next year.

Forget all this doom and gloom and look forward to a sensational line-up of gigs guaranteed to make you smile.

::First up is Bloc Party who will hit the Manchester Apollo on January 28 and 29.

The tour backs up the release of the lads’ latest album...

Date published: 30/12/2008

Gig Guide

TONIGHT: C Beebies Live — Arena; The Wizard of Oz — Lowry, Salford; 2ManyDJs — Sankeys

TOMORROW: NYE Special: Dirty Beats — Castle, Oldham; The Wizard of Oz — Lowry; Ignition: A Punk and Ska Extravaganza — Retro; New Year’s Ball — Palace Hotel; El Diablo — Deaf Institute; The Best of Aftershow — Moho Live; NYE...

Date published: 30/12/2008

It’s that time to give up giving up

THE ART OF New Year resolutions, by Kevin Fitzpatrick

The start of a new year is a time for hope, excitement and sobering up. It’s the day after the night before and the day before the night after which, if you’ve set a new year’s resolution, is when you’re probably thinking about giving it up.

The dawning of a new year is a fresh start, a rare...

Date published: 29/12/2008

Ges on the Box; Rattled by last-minute prezzie-hunt

DON’T you just love Christmas shopping? Fighting for the last tray of already-wrapped-in-bacon chipolata sausages in the supermarket.

If it was you who won them, well done . . . I don’t want you to spare a thought for my tiny grand-daughter’s face tomorrow when the turkey emerges from the oven minus said delicacy — the only bit of the gargantuan...

Date published: 24/12/2008

Messiah never fails to move

ON SONG... Saddleworth male voice choir hits all the right notes at the performance watched by hundreds including the Mayor, Councillor Shoab Akhtar and Councillor Brian Lord, chairman of the Saddleworth Parish Council

Saddleworth Male Voice Choir, augmented by female voices from other local choirs, gave its annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah” in the Civic Hall, Uppermill.

Such traditions are...

Date published: 23/12/2008

Destination Manchester

SHE’S probably best known for her time in American supergroup Destiny’s Child and her covert marriage to global rapper Jay-Z but after her stunning performance on the “X Factor” final, Beyonce proved she’s hot in her own right.

The sassy songstress duetted with eventual winner Alexandra Burke before taking to the stage on her own with new...

Date published: 23/12/2008

A bit of all right, still

LOUDMOUTHED Londoner Lily Allen disappeared off the radar after cracking debut album “Alright Still”.

Yes, she’s had her chat show and we’ve seen her stumbling — or being carried — out of countless celeb hotspots. But she’s not been doing much singing.

After a tumultuous few months in her private life — Lily suffered a...

Date published: 23/12/2008

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