Thrilling keyboard virtuosity and poetic dreams in a concert for the Romantic-at-heart.
What do you do when you acquire a Stradivarius viola? The 19th-century virtuoso Paganini turned to the French composer Berlioz and asked him to write a new concerto. But he didn't get what he bargained for. Harold in Italy was the result - an extravagant blend of concerto and symphony - and Roger Benedict's role as soloist will be to play a "character", a Byronic dreamer.
Dreams are set aside in Prokofiev's wide-awake piano concerto. It's his most popular and rewarding concerto - memorable, good-humoured and bracing. Behzod Abduraimov has joined the Sydney Symphony and Ashkenazy on tour in Europe and Asia, and we're delighted to introduce this exceptional young pianist to audiences at home.
We’re also delighted to present the first performances of the winner of our 80th anniversary composition prize. Elliott Gyger’s on air is a response to the Sydney Symphony’s origins as a broadcast orchestra and our shared history with the ABC, which also turns 80 this year.
GYGER on air, dialogue for orchestra
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No.3
BERLIOZ Harold in Italy
Vladimir Ashkenazy conductor
Roger Benedict viola
Behzod Abduraimov piano
AUDIO PLAYER LISTING
Track 1 - PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No.3: III Allegro ma non troppo Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano) with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn
DECCA 473 259-2
Track 2 - BERLIOZ Harold in Italy: II March of the Pilgrims
Track 3 - BERLIOZ Harold in Italy: III Serenade of the Mountaineer
Track 4 - BERLIOZ Harold in Italy: IV Orgy of the Brigands
Daniel Benyamini (viola) with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by
Zubin Mehta
DECCA ELOQUENCE 466 907-2
Audio kindly supplied by Silver Partner Universal Music.