大象传媒

Presented by Petroc Trelawny

Vladimir Jurowski conducts the London Philharmonic in one of his favourite symphonies, Tchaikovsky's Manfred. Plus Weber's Overture Der Freisch眉tz and Mahler songs with Alice Coote.

The London Philharmonic and their Principal Conductor Vladimir Jurowski perform three works exploring the relationship between humankind, the natural and the supernatural. They begin with the Overture to Weber's opera Der Freisch眉tz - the story of a marksman who makes a pact with the devil to improve his aim. Mezzo-soprano Alice Coote joins the orchestra for Mahler's first great song cycle, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen - Songs of a Wayfarer: the wayfarer is a young man disappointed in love (as Mahler himself was at the time), wandering the countryside in the attempt to find consolation or oblivion in nature. Byron's Manfred - inspiration for Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony - is in an even worse state. Tortured by guilt over the death of his beloved Astarte, he wanders in the Alps, encountering the local people (symbolic of the 'normal' human life he cannot attain) and supernatural beings - can he find ultimate redemption?

Tchaikovsky: Manfred

Alice Coote (mezzo-soprano)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Vladimir Jurowski (conductor)

This Prom will be repeated on Wednesday 29th August at 2pm.