John StorgÃ¥rds makes a welcome return to MediaCity for a live Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3 broadcast with charismatic cellist, Leonard Elschenbroich.
This afternoon’s programme serves up music from America, Russia and Germany, opening with Serenade for strings from New-Jersey native, Antheil. Fresh, tuneful and cinematically charming, its dense textures combine refined elegance with buoyant playfulness.
From Germany comes the Symphony Mathis der Maler, Hindemith's own adaptation of material from his opera of the same title, with each movement inspired by the German Renaissance painter Mathis Grünewald. A piece of unusual beauty, the aftermath of its triumphant premiere in March 1934 was quickly usurped a month later with a performance ban, due to reports that Hindemith had been critical of Hitler.
Leonard Elschenbroich is the soloist in Shostakovich’s haunting second Cello Concerto. Despite coming only seven years after the first, the Second is remarkably different in tone and temperament – introspective, elusive and contemplative; deep, powerful and immediate.
This concert is a live broadcast for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3, presented by Tom Redmond.