Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No.2 is hugely dramatic, mirroring the intensity of the darkest events of the opera it was intended to precede. Derived from music from Act II of Fidelio, it depicts Florestan’s dungeon, to which we are led via dark, descending octaves and dissonant harmonies. Bartók wrote his Second Piano Concerto as a counterpart to the first. It is thematically more agreeable and with fewer difficulties for the orchestra. This intention explains the more folk-like, lighter character of most of the themes. It is intricately planned and reveals Bartók’s characteristic fascination with symmetrical patterns, using the piano as an inherently percussive instrument. Now a firm favourite, it took listeners a little time to recognise the genius and pioneering expression of the symphonic form in Sibelius’ Second Symphony. He wrote it whilst holidaying in Italy: a Mediterranean warmth penetrates the work, thawing some of the Finnish ice. But there is also tension; a pent-up energy builds throughout until eventually the granite-like finale bursts open in a flood of triumphant brass.
Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
---|---|
Standard | £16.00 |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
BSO: Triumph Over Adversity (26 Mar 2026) | ||
---|---|---|
Day | Times | |
Thursday | 19:30 | - 21:30 |
You might have seen him on Strictly Come Dancing, Scared of the Dark, Would I Lie to You,…
Sweet sweet soul Tom Davis is best known for hit shows King Gary, The Curse, Murder In…
Multi-award-winning South African-New Zealander Urzila Carlson is one of Australian and…
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's Calleva Assistant Conductor, Enyi Okpara conducts…
Josh Widdicombe is back on tour, not again! By now he has almost certainly mastered the…
Stravinsky’s concerto for orchestra derives inspiration not only from Bach but also from…
John Mackay & Sally Homer, in association with Debi Allen/Curtis Brown, present
The…
Step Into Christmas for the most magical show of the year. This Christmas concert feel…
Liszt’s solidly romantic tone poem is an exciting, vibrant work. With moments of “bucolic…
Hear all about the life of an achiever who has given himself a reason to go on and do…
Turina composed Danzas Fantásticas a few years after returning to Spain, inspired by the…
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the BSO’s Last Night of the Christmas Proms…
Renowned through his many, inspired Lieder, Schubert’s gift for melody is also abundantly…
Coalescence explores the concept of mankind’s attempt to outsmart nature. An evocative…
A nine-man shanty folk group drawing on 200 years of traditional vocal repertoire.