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Salford teams up with the BBC Philharmonic, book about the Royal Exchange Theatre launched, Manchester legends Happy Mondays announce a homecoming show. Plus, much more.
Music to Salford's ears
Salford is adding a world-class orchestra to its growing list of attractions, with a recently announced £20 million sponsorship of the BBC Philharmonic.
Established in the run-up to the relocation of five BBC departments North to new headquarters at mediacity:uk, Salford Quays, the sponsorship deal has been hailed as bringing the "wow factor to the city" - helping to raise Salford's profile, as well as nurturing local talent.
Cllr John Merry, leader of Salford City Council, said: "Many prominent British cities have an orchestra they can call their own and now Salford is joining that prestigious list.
"Salford is already home to world-class sporting events, celebrated architecture and enviable heritage, and the partnership with the BBC Philharmonic will be another element in creating a culturally rich city."
From 2011 the award-winning BBC Philharmonic, which has been at the forefront of Manchester's vibrant orchestral scene for over 70 years, will be based in a dedicated state-of-the-art studio at mediacity:uk.
The orchestra will be using Salford's branding to promote the city, carrying the strapline "Making music IN Salford" across the UK and beyond.
A life of drama
Dealing with tears, tantrums and triumphs is all in a day's work for Royal Exchange Theatre founding artistic director Braham Murray. Now you can read all about the highs and lows of his eventful life and extraordinary career in his newly launched autobiography.
Titled ?The Worst It Can Be Is a Disaster', the book tells the story of a boy born into a Jewish family, who struggled against his parents' expectations that he should follow them into the world of commerce and became instead, at 22, the youngest artistic director in the country.
Detailing his personal as well as theatrical successes and flops along the way, the narrative takes us through Murray's journey as one of the founding fathers of the Royal Exchange and provides a first-hand account of the theatre's defiant rebirth just ten days after the 1996 IRA bombing in Manchester city centre.
The Worst It Can Be Is a Disaster is published by Methuen Drama and priced at £16.99. You can buy it at the Royal Exchange Theatre or by calling Methuen on 01256 302 699.
Happy Christmas with Happy Mondays
Manchester legends Happy Mondays have announced a homecoming show at Manchester Central (formerly G-Mex) on Dec 14.
This will be the second concert by the iconic band in Manchester this year - the first one, during Manchester International Festival, reportedly having sold out in seconds. They will be performing tracks from their new album, Uncle Dysfunktional, alongside their classics.
Frontman Shaun Ryder said: "Everyone remembers our last shows at Manchester G-Mex but I reckon we'll top that with this one - it's just going to be one pure, big Mancunian Christmas party."
Tickets for the concert cost £28.50 and you can book on 0871 2200 260.
Going wild in Manchester
Manchester is turning urban roofs into habitats for wildlife in its bid to become Britain's greenest city.
The latest place to be included in the city's ambitious plans is the pavilion building in Piccadilly Gardens, which houses Caffé Nero and Rice. The building looks set to get a living roof covered with wildlife-friendly plants and grasses.
Designed by landscape architects Grant Associates, the rooftop garden will attract insects and birds to the heart of the city, and offer a profusion of colour in the summer.
Subject to planning approval, work to create the garden will start?early next year.
Meanwhile, the first living roof in the city centre, specifically designed as a habitat for the rare Black Redstart bird, is currently under construction at Building Design Partnership's new headquarters in Piccadilly Basin.
Ancoats through a peephole
An intriguing new public artwork in east Manchester is encouraging visitors to peep through spy holes to discover objects buried in walls.
Inspired by the ancient practice of walling up objects into buildings, which was alive and well when the mills of Ancoats were built, world-renowned British artist Dan Dubowitz has walled up places, including a tunnel and a bell tower, across the Ancoats area. He has, however, added a modern twist - lights and peepholes that enable people to see the entombed places.
There are no maps, guides, trails to follow or interpretation panels for the artwork, which is called 'The Peeps'. Passers by simply discover it as they wander the close-knit network of streets, and the only clues are the brass casts in the walls.
The first peepholes went live last month. When the project is complete, it will be a single artwork spanning up to 20 sites across Ancoats.
£70 million retail development takes shape
Barton Square, the high-end homeware shopping complex at The Trafford Centre, is well on its way to completion.
Last month, the campanile on the Barton Square tower was lifted into position in front of a crowd of curious onlookers.
The 200,000 sq ft development, which is due to open in March 2008, will host some of the biggest names in the homewares sector, including M&S Home, Habitat and Dwell.
Its design will mirror that of The Trafford Centre, with opulent architecture, water features and grand structures, and it will be linked by a glazed bridge to the adjacent £1.5 billion shopping and leisure temple.