Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra: Tasmin's Mendelssohn

There is perhaps no more popular or beloved violin concerto than Mendelssohn’s masterpiece. Taking a journey from darkness to light, it begins restless, mysterious and questioning, and ends in a blaze of colour, full of joy and exhilaration, sustained by virtuosic melodies and lively interplay between soloist and orchestra. The First Symphony cost Tchaikovsky more labour and anguish than any other work. Grappling with the challenge of fusing distinctively Russian music into a structured symphony, he revised and edited it for many years. It bears many hallmarks of the mature Tchaikovsky with its robust expressiveness, picturesque beauty, potent melodies and deft orchestration.  Prokofiev’s reworked film score is one of his most popular creations. The life of the fictitious Lieutenant Kijé is told through a series of cheeky and witty miniatures including mock military march, pompous fanfares, clumping dance tunes and a brisk, joyful sleigh ride.