BBC Philharmonic Rhapsody In Blue

Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Lower Mosley Road
United Kingdom
44 (0) 161 907 9000
http://www.halle.co.uk/publishedSite/aidsdayconcert.asp

Nicholas Collon conductor | Lawrence Power viola | Jonathan Scott piano

One spark is all it takes. A flash of light, a tiny shard of fire – and the imagination ignites. Tonight, we’ve a whole shower of Sparks from our new Composer in Association Mark Simpson.

And what follows is a positive starburst of musical colour, whether it’s James MacMillan’s wild, fantastic Viola Concerto – played by the artist who gave its first ever performance in 2014, Lawrence Power – or the smouldering clarinet opening of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. It used to be one of Leonard Bernstein’s party pieces; tonight, Mancunian keyboard star Jonathan Scott will really go to town.

And finally: Stravinsky’s The Firebird, a tale of green-clawed demons, beautiful princesses and a magical bird of flame. The dynamic young British conductor Nicholas Collon will really set things ablaze.

Preview at 6.30pm:
Recently appointed as the BBC Philharmonic's Composer in Association at the age of just 26, Mark Simpson talks about his future plans with the orchestra.


Mark Simpson : Sparks
James MacMillan : Viola Concerto
George Gershwin : Rhapsody in Blue