| Friday 11 December 2026 | 19:30 |
| Falla, Manuel de (1876-1946) | The Three Cornered Hat | |
| Ortiz, Gabriela (b. 1964) | Clara | |
| Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich (1840-1893) | Violin Concerto in D major, Op.35 |
| Nil Venditti | Conductor |
| Rihab Chaieb | Mezzo-soprano |
| Alena Baeva | Violin |
| BBC Symphony Orchestra |
In a fairy-tale Andalusia, a young miller and his wife outwit a clumsy old suitor, in music that glows with Spanish sunlight. Gabriela Ortiz imagines another love story – the marriage of Clara and Robert Schumann – and retells a romance that was forged through music. And Tchaikovsky casts off his gloom to sing and dance, in a Violin Concerto that simply brims with his glorious brand of melody.
It’s a perfect showcase for the artistry of the “utterly captivating” (The Strad) violinist Alena Baeva; just as the incomparable voice of mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb will bring a special dimension to Falla’s folk-inspired ballet. Guest conductor Nil Venditti brings all her energy and insight to a concert in which wonderful tunes hide still more marvellous depths.
