大象传媒

Louise Fryer presents this week's Afternoon on 3 of concerts by the Ulster Orchestra - including two concerts live from the Ulster Hall in Belfast, on Tuesday and Thursday (following the Opera Matinee that day, Gretry's William Tell).

Throughout the week there's a British and Russian flavour to the programming.

This afternoon Alexander Melnikov plays Shostakovich's Piano Concerto no. 2 - a light-hearted display written for the composer's son, Maxim - and the young Venezuelan Raphael Payare conducts Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.

The British strand begins with the world premiere performance of Edward Gregson's Horn Concerto played by the Principal Horn of the Ulster Orchestra, Paul Klein. It's the first of two concerto performances given by Paul this week - he plays Mozart on Friday.

Plus three works with a strongly autobiographical quality: Britten's variations on a theme by his teacher Bridge; Mahler's early song-cycle, 'Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen,' setting his own texts; and, to begin, Ravel's dedication to friends lost in World War I, Le tombeau de Couperin.

Ravel: Le tombeau de Couperin
Ulster Orchestra,
Raphael Payare (conductor)

2.15pm
Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No 2
Alexander Melnikov (piano)
Ulster Orchestra,
Raphael Payare (conductor)

2.40pm
Stravinsky: Firebird Suite (1919)
Ulster Orchestra,
Raphael Payare (conductor).

3.00pm
Edward Gregson: Horn Concerto (world premiere)
Ulster Orchestra,
Paul Klein (horn),
Takuo Yuasa (conductor).

3.25pm
Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer)
Eva Vogel (mezzo),
Ulster Orchestra,
Duncan Ward (conductor).

3.45pm
Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
Ulster Orchestra,
Michael Francis (conductor).