Nielsen conjures up a sun rising from the darkness in his Helios Overture, lighting up the sparkling Aegean sea. At the end of the day, the sun – and the music – sinks below the horizon.

James MacMillan has explored the concerto in many forms – from saxophone to organ to percussion . The prospect of a brand new work, this time placing the whole orchestra in the spotlight, is truly exciting.

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London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano

Barbican Centre

Kicking off the series is BBC NOW’s Composer-in-Association, Gavin Higgins, with the concerts world premiere, his Sarabande, before we turn to the exciting multi-award-winning Chinese American composer Tan Dun and his Three Muses in Video Game. This trombone concerto pays tribute to gaming music, whilst reflecting the traditional music of China - with its movements named after ancient Chinese instruments these distinctive sounds are the muse for orchestra and soloist alike. To perform we’re delighted to welcome Jrgen van Rijen, who also gave the works world premiere.

Bbc Now - Now!

Wales Millennium Centre

The Festive Overture is exactly that: a sprightly, light-touch of a piece composed in only three days. MacMillan’s orchestral music is sometimes likened to Shostakovich’s. His new Concerto, with its dark colours and folk-like melodies, sits well between two of the Russian composer’s works. The darkness is dispelled at the end, concluding with great serenity.

London Symphony Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda

Snippets of folk-like tunes weave together in Holst’s kaleidoscopic Capriccio, and taking an equally central role in Stravinsky’s Symphonies of Wind Instruments are the Russian folk elements and original meaning of ‘symphony’, that of sounding together. Short litanies between the different instruments draw together contrasting episodes at three different but still related speeds.

Expressions of Folk

Brangwyn Hall

Snippets of folk like tunes weave together in Holst's kaleidoscopic Capriccio, and taking an equally central role in Stravinsky's Symphonies of Wind Instruments are the Russian folk elements and original meaning of 'symphony', that of sounding together. Short litanies between the different instruments draw together contrasting episodes at three different but still related speeds.

Sir James MacMillan

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 3, 2025

London Symphony Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda · Barbican Centre

1 - 2 May, 2025

Expressions of Folk · BBC National Orchestra of Wales

May 2, 2025

BBC NOW - Expressions of Folk · Brangwyn Hall

Past events

Sep 11, 2024

London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano · Barbican Centre

Jan 26, 2024

Bbc Now - Now! · BBC National Orchestra of Wales

About

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