BBC Symphony Orchestra

This listing is in the past

Barbican HallSilk Street, London, Greater London, EC2Y 8DS, United Kingdom

Dates/times in London time zone

Programme

Britten, Benjamin (1913-1976)	Ballad of Heroes for tenor or soprano, chorus and orchestra, Op.14
Clarke, James (b. 1957)	Untitled no. 2 for piano and large orchestra
Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)	Symphony no. 3 in E flat major "Eroica", Op.55

Performers

BBC Symphony Orchestra
Ilan Volkov	Conductor
Toby Spence	Tenor
Crouch End Festival Chorus

Another new concerto to catch the ear, written for Nicolas Hodges in 2006-08, and two contrasting views of the heroic add strong spice to this programme. Ilan Volkov’s choice of works opens with Britten’s rarely-heard Ballad of Heroes, a choral setting of words by Auden and Swingler honouring British members of the anti-fascist International Brigade killed during the Spanish Civil War.

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An Heroic Effort

Helen Fraser, 29th April

Perhaps visions of the royal princes in battle dress influenced last night’s programme. Or perhaps it was merely felt that Beethoven’s Eroica symphony requires a suitably epic companion. Either way, the result was a rare performance of Britten’s enormous Battle of Heroes, written to honour the members of the International Brigade who died in the Spanish Civil war.