BBCCO thrills in an evening of Sibelius and his Swedish neighbours

Julia Sporsén, Anna-Maria Helsing and the BBC Concert Orchestra

By Susannah Moody, 20 March 2024

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Reviewed at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on 17 March 2024

Sibelius, Finlandia, symphonic poem for orchestra, Op.26

Rangström, The wind and the tree

Rangström, Prayer to Night

Stenhammar, Fylgia, Op.16 no.4

Stenhammar, Five Songs: Stjärnöga, Op.20 no.1

Le Gendre, Concerto for Orchestra (World premiere)

Sibelius, Var det en dröm (Was It a Dream?), Op.37 no.4

Sibelius, Arioso for soprano and string orchestra, Op.3

Sibelius, Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte (The girl comes from meeting her lover), Op.37 no.5

Sibelius, Symphony no. 1 in E minor, Op.39

Anna-Maria Helsing, Conductor

Julia Sporsén, Soprano

BBC Concert Orchestra

The BBC Singers at full throttle at Milton Court

Nick Boston, 26th February

Powerful Herbert Howells, together with affecting Shaw and engaging MacMillan from the BBC Singers, with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Sofi Jeannin.

****1

Aleko on the Arno: Bryn Terfel leads fine new GPO double bill

Roy Westbrook, 6th June

An unlikely pairing opens Grange Park Opera's season, the two works united by the dominant central character of each opera – Sir Bryn Terfel.

****1

Mystics and magicians from the BBC Concert Orchestra at the BBC Proms

Leighton Jones, 28th August

Music from different genres, for the big and small screens, sit side by side in an evening of music that ignites and enchants the imagination.

****1

Over the top: revamped Tosca returns to the Theatre in the Woods

Mark Pullinger, 10th June

Stephen Medcalf gingers up Grange Park Opera’s staging with some deft directorial touches… even if Tosca is denied her final leap.

***11

Mari Samuelsen radiant in Pärt and Vasks with the BBC CO

Chris Garlick, 26th February

The Norwegian violinist performs a trio of contemporary works in an evening that concludes with Einojuhani Rautavaara's Angel of Light.

****1

Polished Glass from Mari Samuelsen at the Southbank Centre

Mark Pullinger, 5th May

Philip Glass' Violin Concerto draws a big crowd to the Southbank Centre for an evening with the BBC Concerto Orchestra packed with music by contemporary composers.

***11

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Susannah Moody

A London-based journalist and ex-lawyer, Susannah will cheerfully listen to most styles of music. Having trained as an operatic soprano through school and university, she has worked for several opera companies and set up a student opera company where she translated, directed and performed in productions including flash mob opera. Most recently she took part in the ENO Response programme reviewing the company's 2022-2023 season. She also writes about food as The Moody Foodie.

The BBCCO thrills in an evening of Sibelius and his Swedish neighbours