Music leaves the concert hall for Manchester gig

01 Oct 2012 A series of classical performances outside the concert hall are culminating tomorrow (Oct 2) with what is thought to be the first ever concert at a hip Manchester venue. Academics and students from The University of Manchester have been among the contributors to the week long series organised by Classical Revolution, commissioned by Manchester Peace Festival. Thirty nine musicians will squeeze onto the Night and Day Cafe stage for the premiere of a new work by University of Manchester lecturer Richard Whalley- setting to music two poems by poet Ira Lightman called This and That. Also on the October 2 bill will be a piece by fellow lecturer Nina Whiteman called Cloud Fragments. Guests at the intimate venue will experience the highs and lows of classical music, in many cases for the first time. Freelance double bass player and Director of Classical Revolution Heather Bird said: "When you go to classical music concerts, it's striking how few young people there are. "I think perhaps they may be intimidated by what they find: it's not done, for example, to clap between movements and to dress informally.