BBC Philharmonic: Szymanowski/Myaskovsky at The Bridgewater Hall

Johnny James, Managing Editor
Matt Squire

BBC Philharmonic: Szymanowski/Myaskovsky at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre 1 February 2020 Tickets from £12.50 — Book now

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – The Golden Cockerel – Extracts (8’)
Karol Szymanowski – Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major (20’)
Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky – Symphony No. 6 (58’)

Sharing the stage with celebrated violinist Liza Ferschtman, the BBC Philharmonic will perform two Eastern European masterpieces as well an epic symphony by Myaskovsky at The Bridgewater Hall.

Extracts from Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Golden Cockerel open the concert. Completed in 1907, this opera shines brightly in the composer’s rich catalogue. Based on the last fairytale in verse written by the great Alexander Pushkin in 1834, it presents a satire of the precarious political situation in Russia at the turn of the 20th century – a daring move which led to authorities banning and then censoring the opera. At The Bridgewater Hall, the BBC Philharmonic will make the most of the work’s timbral color and artful imagery in what promises to be a great opening performance.

Next in the programme is Szymanowski’s gripping Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major. This was written at the request of Paweł Kochański, whose technical advice as a violinist guided the composition. Very different from its impressionistic, fairytale-like predecessor, this concerto is assertive and triumphant. Shunning chromatic densities in favour of diatonic purity, Szymanowski exhibits extraordinary clarity of thought in the timbral evolutions and virtuoso figurations here. We particularly look forward to hearing Liza Ferschtman’s interpretation of the jaw-dropping cadenza, which consists almost entirely of double-stops!

A further Eastern European masterpiece will bring this concert to its conclusion. Nikolay Myaskovsky was a rebel in a time and place when rebellion was a dangerous game – post-revolutionary Russia, where a word out of turn could leave you silenced for good. His epic Sixth Symphony is deeply political and intensely personal, inspired by both the Revolution and the deaths of his father and aunt. Deeply felt and full of philosophy, six anguished chords open the work, before its compelling first theme guides us into the symphony’s intensely dramatic world. Featuring a whirlwind second movement and a lyrical, introspective third, the symphony arrives at a surprisingly cheery finale, which lays out a vision of a better world.

Full of drama, this BBC Philharmonic concert should be a real treat. Don’t miss it.

BBC Philharmonic
Liza Ferschtman – violin
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus – chorus
Vassily Sinaisky – conductor

*Due to an injury, original soloist Tasmin Little has regrettably had to withdraw from the concert on 1 February. Liza Ferschtman takes her place in Szymanowski’s Second Violin Concerto.

BBC Philharmonic: Szymanowski/Myaskovsky at The Bridgewater Hall, City Centre 1 February 2020

Book Now

What's on: Music

Until
ActivityManchester
DJ Gym at Hatch

Learn some DJ and production skills with DJ Gym Manchester, based in the culturally infused surrounds of Hatch.

from £269
Until
MusicManchester
RNCM Summer Season 2023

Read our highlights from the RNCM Summer Season, from 50th anniversary celebrations to partnership events with MIF23 and Opera North.

MusicManchester
Roger Waters at AO Arena

Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters brings his This Is Not A Drill tour to Manchester’s AO Arena, performing both solo and Pink Floyd material.

from £98.50
MusicManchester
Darkside at New Century

Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington AKA Darkside bring their dreamy mélange of psychedelia, art rock and electronica to New Century.

from £31.42

Culture Guides

Music

We go all in on festivals, with a round-up of everything from city-spanning giants to grassroots gems you may not know about.

Exhibitions

There's no rest for the art lover - this month brings outdoor sculpture, musings on water, political drawings and Liverpool Biennial 2023!

Classical Music

Summer's classical music calendar is filling up nicely! Read our top picks of concerts happening in Manchester and the North.

Winnie the Pooh at Manchester Opera House
Families

The sun has finally got his hat on! Enjoy our top picks of family-friendly events and activities, both indoors and outdoors.

Gerry Potter (credit Lee Baxter)
Literature

Books are big this summer, with festival readings, poetry slams, creative writing activities and famous faces all putting in an appearance.

Food and Drink

All signs point toward June being a scorcher of a month, so let’s take a look at all things summery food and drink.

Tours and Activities

From literary activities to brilliant independent shops, keep your minds and homes filled with the good stuff this month.

Theatre in Manchester
Theatre

Check out our updated guide for lively theatre festivals, rip-roaring rooftop circus and dreamy outdoor shows.