We’re thrilled to be welcoming audiences back to MediaCityUK and we kick things off today with Brahms’ first Piano Concerto, live on Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3 from Salford. Pianist Stephen Hough joins the orchestra for this personal and epic work which is peppered with hints at Brahms’ respect for Beethoven. Just like his contemporary, Brahms’s approach here draws on drama, colour and grandeur.
A hard act to follow, but Schubert’s delightful Rosamunde Overture dazzles in its wake. Originally written for the 1820 opera "Die Zauberharfe" (The Magic Harp), the piece we hear today came to be known as the "Rosamunde" overture when it was published as part of Schubert's incidental music for a play of the same name. The play in question, by a friend of Schubert’s, had limited success, but Schubert’s stunning music endures.
To finish, we fast-forward 200 years. Conductor Jac Van Steen is an authority on David Matthews’ work, having conducted several of his symphonies with the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Philharmonic. Today’s outing of the London-born composer’s recently completed tenth, under Van Steen’s clear baton, is sure to be a treat.