Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra Summer concert 2025 - Bruckner Symphony 9, Barber and Tchaikovsky
With soloist: Kosta Popovic and conductor: Jonathan Butcher
Presented by: Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra| 0 | LONDON: St John's Waterloo Church (info) |
|---|---|
| P | Saturday 3rd May, 2025 |
| N | Door time: 7:00pm Start time: 7:30pm |
| . | All ages (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult) |
| C | Music - Classical |
Event information
Samuel Barber’s First Essay for Orchestra is an orchestral work in one movement, resembling a first movement of a symphony. The first performance was given by the NBC Symphony Orchestra in 1938, with Arturo Toscanini conducting.
We are delighted to welcome Kosta Popović, our soloist in the Variations on a Rococo Theme (with thanks to The Countess of Munster Musical Trust). This work was the closest Tchaikovsky got to writing a full concerto for cello and orchestra, and demonstrates his love of the Classical style, the original theme being in the Rococo style.
Anton Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony was not complete when he died in October 1896, the first three movements and a large part of the Finale were complete and fully scored, but not the crucial Coda, which existed only as sketches. Any attempt to put these into performable shape was hindered by souvenir hunters helping themselves to random pages as mementos. The first three movements make a satisfying performable whole, revealing that Bruckner’s final affirmation of his faith reaches a troubled and fearful dissonance before achieving peace.
