| Wennäkoski, Lotta (b. 1970) | Flounce | |
| Lindberg, Magnus (b. 1958) | Viola Concerto (UK premiere) | |
| Sibelius, Jean (1865-1957) | Symphony no. 1 in E minor, Op.39 |
| Esa-Pekka Salonen | Conductor |
| Lawrence Power | Viola |
| Philharmonia Orchestra |
The Philharmonia’s former Principal Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to conduct three works by fellow-Finns as part of the orchestra’s Nordic Soundscapes series.
From its haunting opening clarinet solo to the intense energy of the finale, Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 is a favourite with many classical music fans. Full of sweeping melodies evoking vast Nordic landscapes, it’s also a perfect introduction to Sibelius’s distinctive voice for anyone new to his music.
Esa-Pekka Salonen and Magnus Lindberg became friends and collaborators in their student days, and Salonen frequently conducts his friend’s music. This afternoon, Lawrence Power, one of today’s foremost viola players, gives the UK premiere of Lindberg’s new Viola Concerto.
Salonen has chosen Lotta Wennäkoski’s Flounce, five minutes of joyful, imaginative, and in the composer’s own words, ‘not too serious’ music composed for the Last Night of the Proms in 2017, to complete this afternoon’s all-Finnish programme.