London Philharmonic Orchestra

Rodion Shchedrin: Concerto No.2 for orchestra (The Chimes) (London premiere)
Nicolay Yakovlevich Myaskovsky: Silentium, Op.9 (London premiere)
Interval
Edison Denisov: Bells in the fog (London premiere)
Sergey Rachmaninov: The Bells (Choral Symphony)

Jurowski conducts Rachmaninov's ecstatic choral masterpiece, 'The Bells'.

After a feast of bell-themed works by Denisov, Miaskovsky and Shchedrin comes Rachmaninov's creative response to his own fascination with the sound of bells. Passionate and rapturous music is tenderly weaved throughout by the soloists and charged by full-throttle chorus in Rachmaninov's bell-strewn vision of human life.

Like a seductive mist, the sound of bells casts a long, beautiful spell over orchestra and voices in this concert. Rachmaninov believed they directly conveyed emotional human truths, depicting the silvery brightness of birth, the golden browns of marriage, the dark stillness of death and the serenity of peace.

Free post-concert event on The Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall: Barlines - artists involved in the performance discuss the evening's programme.

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Vladimir Jurowski conductor
Tatiana Monogarova soprano
Sergei Skorokhodov tenor
Vladimir Chernov baritone
London Philharmonic Choir
London Symphony Chorus