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After a sombre opening, the overture to Mozart’s most enduring opera skips off in a gleeful, fugal allegro and is notable for the brilliant use of counterpoint and dynamic contrasts. More of a suite than a concerto, Václav Trojan’s Fairy Tales is full of appealing and catchy melodies. The seven short movements each describe a fairy-tale character, such as the sleeping princess, the charming prince and the evil dragon. Thomas de Hartmann’s charming vignettes also delve into the rich heritage of folklore. Having read Dante’s epic poem The Divine Comedy, an episode from the Inferno section fired Tchaikovsky’s imagination: the tale of Francesca, a young woman from Rimini who has been condemned to eternal damnation because of an illicit love affair. After an unsettling introduction, he vividly depicts the driving winds of Hell before the music dies away to a whisper and a pathetic theme on solo clarinet launches Francesca’s tale before building in a long crescendo of passion.

Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody, a brilliant showpiece for virtuoso pianist, is probably the most admired of his works. An exercise of both compositional and pianistic prowess, it embodies his late style at its brilliant and witty best and has one of the world’s most irresistible melodies. Moments of Romantic outpourings hurtle towards a typical grandiose conclusion, but at the last moment it wittily becomes a whisper and ends impishly. Although his earlier works had shown flashes of what was to come, the Eroica was Beethoven’s first truly Romantic composition. It opens with two staggering chords that announce to the world the arrival of a new talent, a forceful personality, a man never to be forgotten. From that point on Beethoven was no mere composer – he was a creator of monuments. Strauss’ tone poem is a blend of sonata form and rondo. With Don Juan’s swashbuckling theme and the fountain of semi-quavers that opens the work, it exemplifies his exhilarating orchestral virtuosity.

Debussy’s seductive painting of a languid, sun-drenched Sicilian afternoon marked a turning point in musical history, with its tenuous grasp of tonality and harmony. It weaves a tantalising veil of hypnotic colours and textures. Mussorgsky’s musical wander through a fictitious gallery of works is a beautifully curated series of miniatures, some intimate, others grotesque, that imaginatively capture the essence of a character, mood or scene, further imbued with orchestral colour by Ravel’s genius for scoring. Picturing outdoor scenes drawn from the most vivid experiences of Berlioz’ Italian stay, Harold in Italy is full of youthful vitality, tinged with that appealing romantic sensibility that Berlioz borrowed so poetically from literature. Although using a solo viola it remains a symphony as the traditional balance between soloist and orchestra is shifted; the soloist is rarely the protagonist, more often a bystander.

Join us for an enchanting evening with the magnetic presence and sound technician violinist, Alena Baeva, at the Lighthouse, Poole. This recital, featuring the celebrated Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko, promises to be a captivating experience with a repertoire that spans over fifty violin concertos. The duo has established a dedicated musical partnership of more than a decade, bringing their extraordinary memory and passionate musical curiosity to the stage. **Event Details:** - **Date and Time:** Wednesday, 30 April, 7:30 pm - **Venue:** Lighthouse, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, BH15 1UG - **Program:** - Schumann: Märchenbilder Op.113 - Schubert: Violin Fantasy Op.159 - R Strauss: Violin Sonata Op.18 - Stravinsky: The Fairy’s Kiss extracts - **Performers:** - Alena Baeva, Violin - Vadym Kholodenko, Piano - **Ticket Prices:** £17 - £52 - **Digital Livestream Price:** £10 **Special Notes:** - This concert will be livestreamed, and some shots will include wide-angle views of the audience. - Priority booking is now open, exclusively for BSO Members until general booking opens on Wednesday, 29 May. Join our membership scheme now for priority booking and to help support the BSO. For more information on concerts, ticketing, or any other general enquiries, get in touch with our box office. Open Monday-Friday, 10 am-5 pm at hellobsorchestra.co.uk or call 01202 669925. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the full sensual glory of a live symphonic concert with Alena Baeva and Vadym Kholodenko.

The name’s Bond – James Bond. When it comes to the high life, nobody does it better. The BSO puts on its tux, pours itself a Martini and toasts the superstar spy with some of the sassiest signature tunes in cinematic history. They say diamonds are forever, and as the Orchestra celebrates seven decades of gadgets and super villains we see that Bond tunes are every bit as enduring and brilliant.

“From the heart, may it go to the heart” was Beethoven’s inscription on the score of this monumental spiritual masterpiece. After Hilary’s Cronin’s memorable performance with the Festival Chorus in the 2024 Festival she makes a welcome return this year performing alongside some of Britain’s other leading young soloists, Katie Bray, Elgan Llýr Thomas and William Thomas.

Arguably the greatest operetta of all time, Die Fledermaus gets the royal treatment with gorgeous 1920s designs, an all-star ensemble cast, and a witty English translation. This new production, sparkling with melody, mischief, and masquerade, will be directed by Paul Curran and designed by Gary McCann, with lighting design by Johanna Town. Paul Daniel conducts the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

One of the most successful global bands of all time, QUEEN have sold over 300 million albums. After four decades of music, QUEEN are as popular as ever, enjoyed by audiences old and new. After the huge success in Meyrick Park in 2007, the BSO is delighted to restage this spectacular concert.