For their first visit to G Live, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic open their concert of classical favourites with Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony. Written towards the end of his life, the symphony consists of just two completed movements and Schubert’s move towards the compositional influence of Beethoven can distinctly be heard throughout.
The young Spanish cellist Pablo Ferrández joins the orchestra for the first, and most popular, cello concerto by Saint-Saëns. Powerful, wonderfully lyrical, graceful and good-humoured, the work gives the soloist ample opportunity to dazzle throughout reaching a thrilling conclusion in the final movement.
Closing the concert is Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, his one and only programmatic symphony. He enjoyed spending time in the countryside, invigorating him spiritually and creatively. By the time Beethoven was writing the Sixth Symphony, his deafness was profound, and communing with nature seemed to offer him solace, as he wrote: “My miserable hearing does not trouble me here. In the country it seems as if every tree said to me: ‘Holy! holy!’ Who can give complete expression to the ecstasy of the woods! O, the sweet stillness of the woods!”
Conductor - Carlo Tenan
Cello - Pablo Ferrández
Schubert - Symphony No.8 in B minor 'Unfinished'
Saint-Saëns - Cello Concerto No.1
Beethoven - Symphony No.6 'Pastoral'
This season we are delighted to welcome Scala Radio as our media partner for the Guildford International Concert Season, and are proud to introduce The Cheryl King Trust as our charity partner.
Please note: For the enjoyment of all those attending, and in respect of those performing, please note that latecomers will not be admitted until the end of a work. Similarly, should you need to leave the auditorium during the concert, re-admittance will also be at the end of the work. For clarity, latecomers and re-admittance is not permitted between movements.
