Spectacular Polar comes to Birmingham Symphony Hall

Spectacular Movie Polar comes to Birmingham Symphony Hall

Birmingham set for big freeze this December as snow-tastic classical spectacular drifts into city.

World Class Service Ltd and Town Hall & Symphony Hall Birmingham are delighted to announce two special performances of the super-cool classical spectacular Polar, at Birmingham Symphony Hall at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Wed 21 December.

A stunning portrait of the world’s frozen kingdoms, Polar combines stunning HD footage from the world’s best natural history film makers with a unique live score arranged by renowned conducer and orchestrator John Harle, which will be performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

This truly mesmerising concert experience takes the audience on a magical journey to the Arctic and Antarctic regions of our planet,  featuring previously unseen footage, shown on an immense 32 feet wide, HD screen raised above the orchestra and a score specially arranged and conducted by John Harle. The music includes original work from Harle as well as special arrangements of some of the most well known pieces of the world’s most famous composers including Mozart, Stravinsky, Rautavaara, Purcell, Tchaikovsky and Sibelius.

Conductor John Harle said: "Words like epic, poetic and dramatic spring to mind when imagining the vastness of the Polar Regions. In this journey through the landscapes and animal life of Arctica and Antarctica we've married music of equal scale and descriptive power to these great wonders of our world. With the lyrical music of Mozart and Tchaikovsky marrying rhythm, melody and harmony to unforgettable and never-before-seen footage of polar bears, penguins, beluga whales, and Sibelius's symphonic power matching the colossal scale of these icy, remote landscapes. Polar is an ode to these mysterious and monumental regions of the world that will move you with its stunning imagery and music".

Those fortunate enough to catch Polar will watch the mighty polar bears, the haunting beluga and beautiful humpback whales, see the white blizzards, dazzling blue oceans and vast wilderness of the poles come alive on the huge screen raised above the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Andrew Glester, Producer and Director of Polar said: ‘’Polar is the perfect pre-Christmas treat that the whole family can come along and enjoy. The films used in Polar capture the dazzling beauty of these remote and fragile places and you can’t fail to be mesmerised as you take in this epic experience. We’re delighted to be working with John Harle and the mighty City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to bring you this wonderful production, which is already attracting international interest.”

Film Maker Doug Allan said: “The audience will be excited, touched and inspired by the images on a big screen, and the music with no commentary will reach into their emotions at a personal level, leaving them with a heightened awareness of the beauty yet fragility of the Polar Regions. I’d like to think that the connection that we all have to the natural world – the one which however is so easily subsumed in our “normal” lives - will be reaffirmed and reawakened. Let’s all touch the planet more sensitively and responsibly”.

Take a look at some of Doug Allan’s enchanting Polar footage set to the beautiful music of Sibelius by clicking http://bit.ly/oEC980

This ultimate winter time family treat is the perfect event with which to start your festive celebrations this December. Celebrating and inspiring a love for these increasingly fragile and stunning places.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

Polar

Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Date: Wed 21 December

Times: 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Tickets: Matinee £9.50-£32.50 and Evening £12.50 - £39.50

How to book: In person at Symphony Hall Box Office, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA, alternatively, call 0121 780 3333 or click www.thsh.co.uk