Summer Serenade: Elgar, Schumann & Borodin

The Mid-Somerset Orchestra’s Summer Concert places the spotlight on Elgar’s Cello Concerto, one of the most searching and personal works in the repertoire. The solo part will be performed by Harry Jordan, formerly of Wells Cathedral School and now a student at the Royal Academy of Music. Harry’s musical maturity and expressive range make him a compelling advocate for this deeply reflective score. Written in the aftermath of the First World War, the concerto balances inward lyricism with moments of quiet intensity, unfolding as a dialogue between soloist and orchestra that is both restrained and profoundly affecting.
The programme opens with Borodin’s Prince Igor Overture, an energetic curtain-raiser shaped by bold themes and vivid orchestral colour. The evening concludes with Schumann’s Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish,” a work of rhythmic vitality and open-hearted character, inspired by the landscapes and life of the Rhineland. Together, the programme offers contrast and cohesion, anchored by a concerto of enduring emotional weight. The Mid-Somerset Orchestra is conducted by Hitoshi Suzuki in his last concert as Principal Conductor of the MSO.