About the Concert

A creative rebirth for early 20th century composers searching for new ways of framing the future whilst taking inspiration from the past

Inspired by the contrapuntal energy of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks received its premiere at the eponymous Harvard University research institute in Washington. Despite the nature of its source material, the work is undoubtedly a reflection of the modernist era in which it was conceived. Rodrigo found inspiration in the gardens at the Palace of Aranjuez for his popular guitar concerto. Suffused with yearning and punctuated by extraordinary outpourings of grief, the second movement is undoubtably the heart of the work. 2024 also marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Rodrigo’s death. Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony has become a calling card for musical Neoclassicism. The Ukrainian’s distinct personality is channelled through the prism of Haydn and Mozart’s music, achieving a captivating transparency whilst nevertheless facing towards the future.

A Chinese classical guitarist, Xuefei was the first ever guitarist in China to enter a music school and became the first internationally recognised Chinese guitarist on the world stage, leading to a phenomenal career performing in over 50 countries at their most prestigious venues with leading music festivals and global orchestras, named by Classic FM as one of the top 100 classical musicians of our time.

Join us at 6:30pm for a pre-concert talk,

Guitar Xuefei Yang

Conductor Michael Collins