Transport yourself from the rugged cliffs of Cornwall to the fjords of Norway and the grand galleries of Imperial Russia. This program celebrates the “painterly” power of the orchestra to conjure time and place.
We begin with Arnold Bax’s Tintagel. Inspired by the castle-crowned cliffs of the Cornish coast, this tone poem is a lush, late-Romantic masterpiece. You will hear the swell of the Atlantic Ocean and the echoes of Arthurian legends in a work that remains one of the most evocative seascapes in British music.
The journey continues with Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor. From its iconic opening thunder roll, Grieg’s only completed concerto remains one of the most beloved works in the repertoire. Blending Norwegian folk spirit with heart-on-sleeve Romanticism, it is a showcase of both soaring lyricism and dazzling keyboard virtuosity.
Finally, we present the ultimate exercise in orchestral colour: Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (orch. Ravel). Originally written for piano, Maurice Ravel’s masterful orchestration brings Victor Hartmann’s sketches to life with incredible vividness. From the eerie “Catacombs” to the triumphant “Great Gate of Kiev,” this is a high-octane finale that uses every corner of the orchestra to stunning effect.