Santtu conducts Bernstein, Copland and Gershwin

Tonight’s concert celebrates the clarinet, and the outstanding playing of Mark van de Wiel.

Mark first performed in the Royal Festival Hall as a member of the National Youth Orchestra, and was the Philharmonia’s Principal Clarinet from 2000 to 2025. He plays a brand new concerto commissioned from his friend Jonathan Dove CBE. Dove’s music often expresses feelings of wonder at the natural world. His third concerto to feature a soloist scanning the skies (following Stargazer and Northern Lights), Rainbow showcases Mark’s virtuosity and lyricism.

The celebration continues with Aaron Copland’s glorious Clarinet Concerto, commissioned by jazz legend Benny Goodman. Then Mark hands over to the Philharmonia’s new Principal Clarinet Maura Marinucci for the unmistakable glissando opening of Rhapsody in Blue. On piano, Frank Dupree brings his infectious energy and enthusiasm to Gershwin’s masterpiece.

To open, Santtu has chosen the suite from Bernstein’s Oscar-winning score for On the Waterfront, a tale of violence and corruption on the New Jersey docks starring Marlon Brando. Bernstein’s music is full of brassy bravado, but there are moments of tender hopefulness too.