Work: The Confession of Isobel Gowdie

Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra fills the Royal Albert Hall, while Schumann’s piano concerto is followed by MacMillan’s masterpiece The Confession of Isobel Gowdie. 

There is always something special when a piece is performed in the presence of a composer, and even more so when the composer conducts a famous and popular work. James MacMillan conducted the BBCSSO in The Confession of Isobel Gowdie to help celebrate Commonwealth Day in Glasgow. 

In a musical tour around Great Britain, the dramatic focus was centred on Wales and Scotland, with James MacMillian’s Three Interludes from The Sacrifice: and The Confession of Isobel Gowdie opening and closing the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s concert at the Basingstoke Anvil.