Performer: Alexandra Soumm

Lalo's sunny slice of Seville formed the centrepiece of a programme by the BSO and James Gaffigan that completely lived up to its seductive “Exotic Spice” billing.

A great evening of Sibelius – shape, architecture and detail from Osmo Vänskä, excellent ensemble and solo work from the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and an impassioned performance of the Violin Concerto from Alexandra Soumm.

Surely, Michael Tippett must be considered the most important British composer of the mid 20th century, even if this might be an unfashionable thing to say in this Britten-filled centenary year. Certainly, the BBCSO’s brave performance of his Third Symphony was evidence of this in itself.Since his death in 1998 at the age of 93, performances of Tippett’s work have gone into sad decline.

Son appréhension du répertoire, sa vocation de musicienne et d'enseignante, son engagement et ses interrogations sur la place de l'artiste dans la société : Alexandra Soumm se dévoile dans un grand entretien.