Soloist – Mengyang Pang (piano)

Conductor – Michael Rose

Rimsky – Korsakov – Capriccio Espagnole

Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No.1

Tchaikovsky – Symphony No.4

Rimsky-Korsakov wrote “My intention was that the Capriccio should glitter with the virtuosity of its orchestral colour, and it would seem that i was not mistaken”. Its first performance in St Petersburg was an immediate success, with many instruments having their special solo moments. Then to Tchaikovsky with his magnificent Piano Concerto No1. Our soloist, Mengyang Pang, is a great match for this brilliant work, and we are delighted to welcome her again to Bedford. Still Tchaikovsky, but a very different work follows.

In 1876 he saw Bizet’s opera Carmen, and his reaction confirmed him in his belief that, as with the opera characters, Fate was dictating his life. He finally came to terms with his feelings, and produced the 4th symphony – certainly another masterpiece, but much of it restless and foreboding.