大象传媒

Recorded in the Music Hall, Aberdeen

Presented by Mark Forrest

Alpesh Chauhan and the 大象传媒 SSO perform Prokofiev Lieutenant Kij茅 Suite and Sibelius' 2nd Symphony: plus they are joined by Freddy Kempf in Grieg's Piano Concerto.

Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije Suite
Grieg: Piano Concerto

8.20 Interval

8.40 Part Two
Sibelius: Symphony No 2

Freddy Kempf (piano)
Alpesh Chauhan (conductor)
大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra

As Christmas approaches, and as part of festivities marking the reopening of the Aberdeen Music Hall after major refurbishment, the 大象传媒 Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Alpesh Chauhan take to the newly polished stage to perform some of classical music's greatest hits.

The sleigh-bells of Troika are often heard in Christmas concerts - conjuring a snowy landscape. Here they are part of Prokofiev's Suite from his Lieutenant Kij茅 film music. If the composer was consciously courting popularity with an accessible style, this music nevertheless maintains a distinct tartness, for all its tunefulness.

Grieg's Piano Concerto is perhaps the most famous of all: parodied into eternal fame in the 1971 Morcambe and Wise Christmas Special. Freddy Kempf is the soloist in the work which remains popular because of its rhythmic invention and melodic abundance: many tunes echoing Dano-Norwegian folk music.

And is there a hint of Nordic winter chill in Sibelius' Second Symphony? Probably not, because it was written during an Italian springtime. It could be seen as an emotional journey, or an abstract symphonic one. Either way the finale is suitably festive for this evening's sense of occasion.

Photo: Opera Omnia Productions