Hallé Summer Concerts - The Tsar, The Rock And The Firebird (2.15pm)

Rimsky-Korsakov The Tale of Tsar Saltan: Suite 17′
Rachmaninov The Rock 18′
Stravinsky The Firebird: Suite (1945) 31′

Sir Mark Elder conductor

For the series finale, Sir Mark leads the Hallé in a spectacular Russian programme, beginning with Rimsky-Korsakov’s suite, or ‘Little Pictures’, from his fairy-tale opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan. They are, Sir Mark comments, ‘full of lovely tunes’ and show the composer’s ‘wonderful ear for orchestral colour, and theatricality.’ Each ‘Picture’ is a short tone poem, all beginning with the same brass fanfare, as if to say, ‘Once upon a time …’.

Rachmaninov was only 20 when he composed his brooding, atmospheric The Rock, inspired by a Chekhov story, yet it already demonstrates his mastery of the orchestra.

The music of Stravinsky is again celebrated with his breakthrough work and first masterpiece, The Firebird, drawn from Russian folklore. Although influenced by his teacher Rimsky-Korsakov, it’s imbued with Stravinsky’s own personality, displaying a natural flair for composing ballet as exemplified by the vibrant ‘Dance of the Firebird’ and the thrilling ‘Infernal Dance’.