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Elgar's Enigma Variations

Symphony HallBroad Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B1 2EA, Vereinigtes Königreich
Datum/Zeit in London Zeitzone
Mittwoch 30 September 202614:15
Darsteller
Stephanie ChildressMusikalische Leitung
Jess GilliamSaxophon
Sheku Kanneh-MasonCello
Ben GoldscheiderHorn
Gwilym SimcockKlavier
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Britten’s Simple Symphony is surely one of his most popular works, its ‘Playful Pizzicato’ even turning up as the soundtrack to commercials. Its four movements are based on pieces Britten wrote as a precocious pre-teen, then reworked in his early twenties. Elgar’s Enigma Variations is also, possibly, his most popular work. Each variation of the theme depicts a friend of the composer’s, such as the famous ‘Nimrod’ movement - a portrait of ‘a long summer evening talk’ with August Jaeger. In between is Simcock’s new Triple Concerto, composed for an exceptional trio of musicians, including Collaborative Artist Jess Gilliam on saxophone. Conductor Stephanie Childress makes her debut with the CBSO.

© Andrew Fox
© Andrew Fox
Music of life: Kazuki Yamada on Elgar’s Enigma Variations