It’s hard to imagine a creative spirit more Russian than Rachmaninov – or more Scottish than James MacMillan. But like any truly great artists, both composers take the local and make it universal: Rachmaninov in the most grandly romantic of all late Romantic Symphonies, MacMillan in a piano concerto that began life as a ballet score, and pulls three centuries of Scottish musical history into a whirling, dazzling reel. Peter Donohoe leads the dance tonight, while Andrew Litton will make the music soar – and smash a bottle of champagne on the bows of a brand-new orchestral work by the young Liverpool composer Mark Simpson.
Pre-Concert Prelude (6.45pm in the Recital Room):
Liverpool-born composer Mark Simpson introduces his new work Israfel and talks about his life as a musician, in conversation with Alex Gascoine (free to ticket-holders, limited seating availability).
Post-Concert Coda (approximately 10 minutes after the main concert)
The last of Peter Donohoe’s recitals complementing the MacMillan piano concertos.
The concert will be broadcast live on ±«Óãtv Radio 3, presented by Jamie MacDougall.
