The evening began in the Upper Circle Bar of the Usher Hall with a pre-concert talk given by the recently appointed Assistant Conductor, Celia Llácer. Well prepared and well presented, she educated us about the Concerto and Symphony we had come to hear. She was able to voice some of the tunes and point out what we should especially look out for, and why the music was written.
Just about every seat seemed to be occupied for the concert which was introduced from his desk by the Principal Clarinet player Timothy Orpen, in many ways a useful and erudite précis of the pre-concert talk.
On came the two soloists followed by the conductor for the Double Concerto for Violin and Cello by Brahms. First performed in 1887, it was a peace offering he hoped a close friend would appreciate and with whom he fallen out. Brahms had taken the side of his friend's wife in an allegation of sexual infidelity. The friend accepted and willingly played at it first performance. For us, both the soloists had come from the Berliner Philharmoniker, one its First Concertmaster, the other its First Solo Cellist. It was a fascinating exposition. It was only at their encore of their light hearted arrangement of Brahms that it was clear they too were real friends.
Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony is an extraordinarily popular work, first composed a year after the earlier Concerto. The Orchestra's much respected Music Director, Thomas Sondergård, ensured we heard it at its very best. As the opening motif was repeated throughout the Symphony we were reminded that the composer's theme was fate, as with his 4th and 6th symphonies. We heard the lovely horns and even a moment of triumph for the tuba. That Thomas Sondergård was brought back several times to receive our applause is testament to the evening's considerable success.
Event: Friday 6th February 2026 at 7.30pm