Britten. Bartók. Beethoven

The three “Bs” of classical music – this is the designation given by the conductor Hans von Bülow to the great masters Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.

Our sixth subscription concert will feature works by composers whose names also begin with the letter “B”, although this is a slightly less usual selection.

We begin with Benjamin Britten. As one of Britain’s most significant composers and a major figure of the 20th century in general, Britten attained fame largely through his operas. It is worth noting that he composed at a very early age – and unlike most composers, he explicitly used this fact in his more “serious” work. At the age of 20 he wrote a chamber piece for string orchestra, Simple Symphony, and in each of its movements he quoted a motif that had occurred to him as a child.

On the other hand, Béla Bartók’s Viola Concerto came into being at the end of the composer’s career and life. The concerto is one of Bartók’s last compositions and combines the demanding nature of the viola part with an evocative musical language. It reflects, among other things, Bartók’s fascination with folklore, especially in the lively third movement.

The solo part will be performed by Sào Soulez Larivière, who was named the 2023 “Young Artist of the Year” at the International Classical Music Awards.

The evening will conclude with a piece by one of the original three “Bs”. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral” has a five-movement layout, which was a bit unusual at the time. In a unique way it sets to music lyrical rural scenery, including a dramatic storm and charming onomatopoeic motifs.