Pictures at an Exhibition

This lively concert blends together several different art forms, starting with four dances from Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera's ballet Estancia, which tells of the gaucho cowboys of South America. Anna Clyne's cello concerto Dance is based on the writings of the Persian poet Rumi. Each movement draws its title from one of his poems. "I can't remember when I last teared up listening to a contemporary piece," a reviewer for Gramophone wrote about Clyne's concerto, which was premiered in 2019. It received rave reviews for its beautiful melodies, refined orchestral colours, and emotional depth. 

The second half of the programme is devoted to one of Modest Mussorgsky's most famous compositions, Pictures at an Exhibition. Mussorgsky initially wrote the piece for piano, basing it on the works of his newly deceased friend, the painter Viktor Hartmann. The piece takes the listener on a walk through an exhibition, stopping by some of the most moving paintings, which stir the imagination through their depictions of historic places, adventures, and folk tales. Maurice Ravel's orchestral arrangement is ingenious and adds a whole new dimension to this superb composition.