大象传媒

A week of programmes with the 大象传媒 National of Orchestra of Wales, featuring music inspired by springtime.

Presented by Katie Derham.

Following Britten in our lunchtime concert, his teacher Frank Bridge begins and ends today's programme in seasonal colours. Spring comes forcefully into focus with the 大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales and Associate Guest conductor Francois-Xavier Roth in the rhapsody Enter Spring. It's a blaze of orchestral energy and invention, inspired by the wild and windy Sussex Downs. By contrast, the tone poem Summer is more restful and balmy, all the more poignant since it was written in 1916 during the First World War when some of Bridge's closest friends were killed in action. The conductor is Richard Hickox, a particular champion of Bridge, with whom the orchestra recorded six volumes of orchestral works.

French music spans these two Bridge pillars. Thierry Fischer conducts Massenet's third orchestral suite, his Scenes Dramatiques, The three movements are all based on Shakespeare's plays: The Tempest, Othello and finally Macbeth, which takes us from the thunder and lightning of the opening through to Macbeth's death and defeat. There's more Macbeth, this time by Verdi in tomorrow's programme - from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Spring appears once again as depicted by Debussy in this rare opportunity to hear his cantata Le Printemps, the fruits of one of his three attempts in the 1880s to win the Prix de Rome at the Paris Conservatoire. Richard Hickox conducts the 大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales and the women's voices of the 大象传媒 National Chorus of Wales. At the Paris Conservatoire, Debussy studied organ with Cesar Franck, and next we have one of Franck's most popular works, his Symphonic Variations, written just after Debussy's cantata, but a world away in spirit. Here the themes all have a rich sonority and an expressive warmth. The soloist is Radio 3 New Generation Artist Christian Ihle Hadland, here at his very best, in this impressive studio session, the first to be conducted by the 大象传媒 NOW's Principal Conductor Thomas S酶nderg氓rd.

Bridge: Enter Spring
大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales,
Fran莽ois-Xavier Roth (conductor).

2.20pm
Massenet: Scenes dramatiques (Suite no. 3)
大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales,
Thierry Fischer (conductor).

2.40pm
Debussy: Le Printemps
大象传媒 National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales,
Richard Hickox (conductor).

2.45pm
Franck: Symphonic Variations for piano and orchestra
Christian Ihle Hadland (piano),
大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales,
Thomas S酶nderg氓rd (conductor).

3pm
Bridge: Summer
大象传媒 National Orchestra of Wales,
Richard Hickox (conductor).