The BBC Symphony Orchestra and its Chief Conductor Jiri Belohlavek perform the six symphonies of Bohuslav Martinu to commemorate the 50th year since the death of the great Czech composer.
The complete cycle of Martinů symphonies begins on the opening night of the BBC Symphony Orchestra's 2009-10 Barbican season with music by Mozart, Mahler and Musorgsky preceding a performance of Martinů's first symphony.
Acclaimed Strauss interpreter, Anne Schwanewilms, sings Strauss's Four Last Songs in the second concert of the series which opens with Martinů's second symphony, written to honour the defiant courage of Czechs living under Nazi oppression.
Andrew Haveron, leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, performs Korngold's Violin Concero in D major alongside music by Janáček and Martinů's Symphony No. 4.
Martinů's Fifth Symphony, written for the Czech Philharmonic, sets out the composer's vision of truth in music of tender lyricism and is paired here with Brahms's A German Requiem, sung by the wonderful soprano Ana María Martínez.
Feelings of despair and intense homesickness are never far from the surface of Martinů's Third Symphony, performed here alongside music by Stravinsky and Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, performed by Barry Douglas.
Elisabeth Leonskaja joins Jiří Bělohlávek and the BBC Symphony Orchestra to perform Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor before Martinů's Symphony No. 6, 'Fantasies symphoniques' brings both the complete cycle of Martinů symphonies and the BBC SO's 2009-10 Barbican season to a close.
Martinů and the Symphonies
Study Day Saturday 6 February, 10.00am - 4.30pm Mozart Room, Barbican
The BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Instititute of Musical Research present a study day on the symphonies of Bohuslav Martinů. A number of leading Martinů experts will present papers on the symphonies in the morning and the afternoon will include a panel discussion with audience participation, chaired by Christopher Cook.
ENGLISH
23.9.10
- 26.9.10
