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The evening

This boldly imaginative programme, conducted by Simon Crawford-Phillips, brings three distinctive voices of contemporary music to the fore, framed by two major UK premieres and a world premiere. HK Gruber’s Short Stories from the Vienna Woods opens the evening with a series of sharply characterised musical illustrations, by turns playful, ironic and darkly expressive.

At the heart of the concert is Stanley Bate’sViola Concerto, performed by celebratedsoloist Lawrence Power. A compelling and richly expressive work, the concerto revealsBate’s distinctive musical voice, combining lyrical intensity with dramatic energy. Theviola takes centre stage throughout, exploring a wide emotional range and highlightingthe instrument’s remarkable warmth, agility and depth of character.

Finally, we have the UK premiere of Steven Mackey’s Concerto for Curved Space. A virtuosic and kaleidoscopic journey, the work bends rhythm, harmony and genre with irrepressible momentum, drawing the evening to a thrilling and expansive close.