From a single note, Wagner鈥檚 colossal 'Ring of the Nibelungs' creates a universe, weaving a timeless myth of love, greed, power and redemption. We don鈥檛 have time for the whole thing tonight, but in this hour-long 鈥渙rchestral adventure鈥 'The Ring' emerges as one of the 19th century鈥檚 mightiest symphonies, especially in the hands of a conductor like Antony Hermus who has a deep kinship with Romantic music. It鈥檚 difficult to follow that, but the 鈥楳ad Scene鈥 from Donizetti鈥檚 'Lucia di Lammermoor' is an inspired prelude, coupled here with an early Haydn symphony that unleashes a world of emotion without wasting a note.
The concert will be recorded for future broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 3.