Obra: Maskarade: Dance of the cockerels

A disconcerting and expectation-defying premiere from Barry, followed by lyrical and virtuosic Walton from James Ehnes, ending with a majestic rendition of Sibelius' Symphony No. 1 by Storgårds and the BBC Philharmonic.

“Denmark is not all Lego and pastries!” quipped Nikolaj Znaider to the Albert Hall audience. Indeed not. It is the land of Carl Nielsen, whose 150th birthday was celebrated in a packed Prom given by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.