Beethoven’s Fifth

The exhilarating baton of Michael Seal takes centre stage in this deeply dramatic concert beginning with a Nottingham Classics first, a performance of Elgar’s extraordinarily poignant Violin Concerto. His love of mystery shines through his nuanced 48-minute monument that unhurriedly develops from intimate expanses to noble declarations. From its first performance under the direction of Elgar, it’s been honoured as a fiendish challenge suited to the ambitions of only the most determined violinists. Celebrated for his conviction to expression, Michael Foyle, is the perfect candidate for the soloist’s spotlight.
Our collective knowledge of the opening bars of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is unparalleled, its pronounced rhythm – one of classical music’s greatest defining statements – continuously evolving throughout this great symphony. Refining the revolutionary concepts of his Eroica into something more concise, its solemn beginning soon reveals a vivacious core dominated by its signature rhythm. Florence Maunders’s Uprising captures this essence, its title reflecting a constant whirlwind of energetic action which doesn’t let up until its very final and abrupt conclusion.
Free pre-concert talk, 6.20pm in the auditorium: Michael Seal in conversation, from conducting to cricket.
Sinfonia Viva
Michael Seal Conductor
Michael Foyle Violin
Elgar Violin Concerto
Florence Maunders Uprising
Beethoven Symphony No. 5