´óÏó´«Ã½

Afternoon on 3 with Verity Sharp

´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales and Mark Wigglesworth, recorded last Wednesday at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Proms, in Elgar's richly orchestrated First Symphony and the London premiere of the Violin Concerto by Welsh composer William Mathias.

Presented by Penny Gore at the Royal Albert Hall, London

Wagner: Das Liebesverbot - Overture
Mathias: Violin Concerto

Elgar: Symphony No.1 in A flat major, Op. 55

Matthew Trusler (violin)
´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales
Mark Wigglesworth (conductor)

Mark Wigglesworth was Music Director with ´óÏó´«Ã½ NOW from 1996 to 2000. Now he returns to conduct the orchestra in the exuberently rhythmic overture to Wagner's early comedy Das Liebesverbot, and Elgar's First Symphony, a work that's steeped in the Germanic tradition of Wagner, Brahms and Beethoven. Yet it still embodies the essence of England, and according to Mark Wigglesworth it's full of nostalgia but never sentimental, which makes for a fine line to tread.

Exciting young British violinist Matthew Trusler continues this Proms season selection of rarely heard violin concertos with William Mathias's neglected work from 1991.
When Mathias died at the age of only 57, Wales lost a key figure who had immersed himself in all aspects of the country's music-making. He was already seriously ill when he wrote the Violin Concerto, yet rather than any sense of declining skills it possesses a remarkable drive, cut through with elegiac writing that perhaps shows Mathias was only too aware that this could be his own swansong. Matthew Trusler gave the first performance since 1991 with ´óÏó´«Ã½ NOW just a year ago to great acclaim, and now this virtuosic celebration of song and dance receives its London premiere.

First broadcast 6th August 2014.