Season Opening: MacMillan and Sibelius 1

Sunrise lights up the sparkling Aegean seas: the cinematic opening of Nielsen’s Helios Overture ushers in a new season with Sir Antonio Pappano, Chief Conductor, at the helm.

James MacMillan has explored the concerto in a kaleidoscope of forms – from saxophone to organ to percussion. This time he places the whole orchestra in the spotlight in his brand new Concerto for Orchestra – a thrilling showpiece for the musicians of the LSO.

The first of Sibelius’ seven symphonies is bursting with melodic invention and beautiful solos for woodwind and strings. In Pappano’s own words, ‘I hear those typical Sibelian evocations of nature, and the primeval history of that land’ – concluding a programme that evokes light, sky and landscape.