Anything the violin can do, its beefier sibling can match in Mozart’s hybrid concerto. Two soloists step forward, engaging in theatrical dialogue with the soulful voice of the viola pairing perfectly with the bright brilliance of the violin.
The mighty opening chords of Farrenc’s Overture stun and mystify. Before we can even get our breath back we’re launched into a whirlwind of musical invention, guided by the steady hand of a truly gifted composer. As the first woman to be appointed Professor of Piano at the Paris Conservatoire, Farrenc was a trailblazer who demanded the (well-deserved) respect of her contemporaries.
A dawn chorus of birds, rowdy country dances, and an ominous thunderstorm - Beethoven’s idyllic ‘Pastoral’ Symphony paints a vivid picture of the Viennese countryside that the composer longed to escape to. For a man who gained a reputation for being a surly character, here is music that speaks of a calmer mind and invites us to journey to pastures green.
This concert will be one hour and 30 minutes long (including an interval).
