Cast out of society and tormented by forbidden desires, Manfred takes to the mountains to battle with his demons. Lord Byron didn’t do understatement – but Tchaikovsky sensed a kindred spirit, and his epic Manfred Symphony contains some of the rawest, most personal and most passionate music he ever wrote. Still surprisingly neglected, it’s another voyage of discovery with our principal guest conductor Ilan Volkov, and a high-octane contrast to Unsuk Chin’s enchanted journey through the history of the violin concerto, performed tonight by the violinist for whom it was written. A world premiere from the teeming musical imagination of Tom Harrold launches an evening of musical adventure.
Prelude: 6.45pm in the Recital Room
Writer and musicologist Gavin Plumley introduces the works in this evening’s programme.
There will be no coda after this concert.
