Hallé – To Glorious John

Sir Mark Elder conductor | Steven Osborne piano

Stravinsky Concerto for piano and wind instruments 19′
R. Strauss Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche 15′
Elena Langer Figaro gets a Divorce 15′
Vaughan Williams Symphony No.8 27′

A terrific Hallé programme starting with Stravinsky’s Concerto for piano and winds in which he looked back to Bach. Sir Mark describes the outer movements as having ‘such fun with plenty of cut and thrust’ and a slow middle movement of ‘intimacy and tenderness’. Steven Osborne gained critical plaudits for his recording of the work and the Hallé is delighted he’s joining them to perform it. It’s followed by Till Eulenspiegel, Strauss’s virtuoso symphonic poem vividly recounting the hero’s ‘merry pranks.’ Elena Langer’s colourful and immediate music follows with her concert suite from her lauded opera Figaro gets a Divorce. Concluding the Vaughan Williams symphonic cycle, Sir Mark conducts the witty Eighth Symphony which was premiered by the Hallé under Sir John Barbirolli, with the composer inscribing the dedication to ‘Glorious John’.