The hurtling rhythms of Bart贸k鈥檚 Miraculous Mandarin plunge us into the heart of an unforgiving city, where a gang of do-badders pounce on hapless victims enticed into their seedy lair. But they get more than they bargain for when the mysterious figure of the title strides into their world, his shimmering robes a portent of this 20th-century classic鈥檚 edgy magic. In stark contrast, Glazunov鈥檚 Saxophone concerto breathes the rich harmonies of his plush Romantic soundworld.
Jess Gillam, a former 大象传媒 Young Musician finalist and winning advocate for the saxophone鈥檚 classical credentials, is our soloist here, and also in Debussy鈥檚 Rhapsody, a subtle piece of Impressionism with a Spanish flavour. Tchaikovsky鈥檚 Fifth Symphony finds this conflicted composer grappling once again with the forces of fate, but here the emotional journey is one that ends triumphantly. The Fifth quickly became the most popular of all his symphonies, its passionate melodies matched by a roll call of perfectly-pitched solos.
Free pre-concert talk, 6.30pm in the auditorium: Jess Gillam in conversation.
This concert is followed by one of the Royal Concert Hall's After Hours events. See below for more details.
