The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is set to break boundaries in an extraordinary collaboration with Birmingham’s finest grime, hip-hop, and rap stars. Scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the prestigious Birmingham Symphony Hall, the event, titled Legacy, promises to be a ground-breaking blend of classical and urban music.
This unique concert stems from Legacy, a book and documentary by the Punch Records agency, which delves into the untold stories of Birmingham’s thriving grime, hip-hop, and rap scenes.
The star-studded lineup is headlined by the celebrated Lady Leshurr, who will be joined by 14 of the city’s finest artists, including Big Dog Yogo, Brixx, C4, Creezon, Jaykae, Mayhem, Nodb, Pressure0121, Roxxxan, Saf One, Sox, T Roadz, Trappy, and Trilla. Together, they will perform tracks such as Murdah, Woo Riddim, Toothache, and Moscow, accompanied by the CBSO under the baton of award-winning conductor Phil Meadows.
Orchestra meets urban music
Speaking about the concert, Emma Stenning, Chief Executive at the CBSO, expressed excitement for the collaboration, describing it as a significant step in making symphonic music accessible to all.
In an interview with The Times, Stenning said:
“We hope this concert will make Symphony Hall more welcoming and a place where people feel comfortable and themselves.”
Addressing the PA news agency, she added:
“The orchestra is still flush with energy following a fantastic year of creative milestones. From their spectacular performance at the BBC Proms, under the baton of our cherished music director Kazuki Yamada, our players then raced home to begin a week of free concerts across Birmingham. These ranged from full ensemble performances at the Bullring shopping centre and New Street Station to pop-up chamber groups and quartets in the city’s parks, libraries, cafes, and galleries.”
She highlighted the success of their £1 ticket initiative for Birmingham residents, which attracted new audiences to orchestral concerts, demonstrating the accessibility and inclusiveness of the CBSO’s work.
Punch records collaboration
The collaboration with Punch Records marks a significant moment in the CBSO’s commitment to community engagement and cross-genre innovation. Stenning announced:
“We finish the year announcing this exciting partnership for the Legacy project in early 2025, which will see the CBSO collaborate with 15 of Birmingham’s leading music icons.”
A new kind of audience engagement
In tandem with the concert, the CBSO will launch an audience listening campaign. This initiative invites Birmingham residents to share personal reflections on the role of live music in their lives. The campaign aims to deepen the orchestra’s connection with its local community and highlight the unifying power of music.
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Stenning reflected:
“We continue to show how symphonic music is for everyone and that the CBSO truly is Birmingham’s orchestra.”
Breaking barriers and building bridges
The Legacy concert will not only celebrate Birmingham’s rich musical heritage but also challenge traditional notions of orchestral performance by uniting classical instrumentation with the raw energy and storytelling of grime and rap.
Award-winning conductor Phil Meadows, known for his ability to bridge musical styles, will lead the orchestra in this bold endeavour. Meadows commented:
“This project showcases the transformative potential of music, merging two seemingly disparate genres to create something entirely new and reflective of Birmingham’s dynamic cultural landscape.”
Tickets and community involvement
Tickets for the Legacy concert are expected to go on sale early in 2025. With a commitment to accessibility, CBSO will continue offering affordable pricing options to ensure the event reaches as broad an audience as possible.
As Birmingham Symphony Hall prepares to host this unprecedented event, anticipation is building for what promises to be a truly memorable evening. By combining the talent and diversity of Birmingham’s music icons with the world-class artistry of the CBSO, Legacy is set to leave an indelible mark on the city’s cultural calendar.
