Frank Bridge: The Sea Suite
Dmitry Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No.2
Interval
Benjamin Britten: Spring Symphony

Charismatic conductor Edward Gardner in Britten's Spring Symphony with Susan Gritton, Christine Rice, Allan Clayton along with Kirill Gerstein in Shostakovich Piano Concerto No 2.

Edward Gardner leads a programme that brings together three composers who powerfully influenced one another. Britten, whose centenary we are celebrating this year, was a composer prodigy so gifted that he began lessons with Frank Bridge at the tender age of 14. From Bridge he learned the cardinal rule that 'you should try to find yourself and then be true to what you found.' Later in life he fell under the spell of Gustav Mahler, as did his near contemporary and close friend, Dmitri Shostakovich.

All cares are banished, however, in tonight's concert, especially in Shostakovich's exuberant Second Piano Concerto, in which the humble five-finger exercise meets Rachmaninov head-on.

Performers

Philharmonia Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor
Kirill Gerstein piano
Susan Gritton soprano
Christine Rice mezzo-soprano
Allan Clayton tenor
CBSO Chorus
CBSO Youth Chorus
CBSO Children's Chorus

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