Anna-Maria Helsing conducts her first concert as Principal Guest Conductor of the 大象传媒 Concert Orchestra. They are joined by leading Finnish soprano Anu Komsi for youthful songs by Debussy (written for his first love, Marguerite Vasnier) and Sibelius鈥檚 dramatic 贬枚蝉迟办惫盲濒濒 (Autumn Evening).

These pieces have been orchestrated by conductor Sakari Oramo. About arranging the Sibelius for string orchestra, Sakari says he 鈥榳anted to bring out the apocalyptic, existential feeling of the piece with dark, pregnant string sounds, contrasted by the sound of increasing and decreasing rain created by a pizzicato cloud.鈥� Of the Debussy songs, he mentions that the original piano parts 鈥榓re very inviting for an orchestrator鈥�, while 鈥楧ebussy had a wonderful sense of the soprano voice, those brilliant figures and searing lines perfectly matched with the partly sensuous, partly sardonic poems.鈥�

Often characterised as 鈥榟alf monk half rascal鈥�, Poulenc wrote his Sinfonietta in 1947 to a commission from the 大象传媒鈥檚 Third Programme (the precursor to Radio 3). Typically fascinating and entertaining, it also carries a hint of mysticism 鈥� a mood explored more deeply in Sebastian Fagerlund鈥檚 Partita. With movements titled 鈥楳ysterious鈥�, 鈥楩urious鈥� and 鈥業ntense鈥�, it contrasts bells, gongs and drums 鈥� floating, rumbling, roaring 鈥� against a body of strings. Peruvian composer Jimmy L贸pez鈥檚 鈥榝our pop dances for orchestra鈥�, Fiesta!, draws on Latin-American and Afro-Peruvian influences, as well as a nod to techno trance music. A new work by Finnish composer Heta Aho completes the programme.

This concert marks the end of 大象传媒 Radio 3鈥檚 residency at Southbank Centre and you can listen to it live on 大象传媒 Radio 3, or for 30 days on 大象传媒 Sounds.