Sir Harrison Birtwistle's concerto was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra for Christian Tetzlaff and unveiled by him in March to rave reviews. The composer himself studied the clarinet, but says, 'I had some violin lessons at school, so I have a memory of the physical feel of the instrument, in a sense. It's rather like remembering how to bowl a leg break in cricket, even if I couldn't do it now.' Also on Wednesday’s programme are Frank Bridge’s Isabella and Holst's The Planets which displays astonishing verve in its orchestration and in the radicalism of much of its content for its time.
Birtwistle’s opera The Minotaur received its world premiere at the Royal Opera House and is available on DVD and Blu-ray from Opus Arte. Holst’s The Planets has been lavishly visualised by the BBC and also been released by Opus Arte. For other British music why not try Brittens’ operas Billy Budd, Gloriana and The Turn of the Screw.
Birtwistle – The Minotaur – Royal Opera House
OA 1000 D (DVD) / OA BD7052 D (Blu-ray)
Holst – The Planets – BBC
OA 0916 D (DVD)
Britten – Billy Budd – Glyndebourne
OA 1051 D (DVD) / OA BD7086 D (Blu-ray)
Britten – Gloriana – Opera North
OA 0955 D (DVD)
Britten – The Turn of the Screw
Film OA 0907 D (DVD)
Opera Australia OA F4014 D (DVD)
Wednesday 7 September - 7.00pm – c. 9.10pm - Royal Albert Hall
Harrison Birtwistle - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (UK Premiere)
Bridge - Isabella
Holst - The Planets
Christian Tetzlaff violin
Holst Singers
BBC Symphony Orchestra
David Robertson conductor