This afternoon, a selection of music that showcases and exemplifies the exciting breadth of the 成人快手 Philharmonic Orchestra's work, Chief Conductor John Storga虋rds takes to the podium at MediaCityUK.

The 成人快手 Philharmonic Orchestra and Storga虋rds have recorded many of Shostakovich鈥檚 works together and today, a rare opportunity to hear one of Shostakovich鈥檚 earliest pieces, written when he was a teenager - his delightful Scherzo Op.1.

We also journey to Storga虋rds鈥� native Finland. Outi Tarkiainen鈥檚 Midnight Sun Variations had its world premiere in 2019 when Storga虋rds conducted the 成人快手 Philharmonic Orchestra at the 成人快手 Proms, and Sebastian Fagerlund's essay for violin and orchestra, Helena's Song, was a co-commission for the 成人快手 Philharmonic Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Lotta Wenna虉koski pays tribute to fellow Finnish composer Sibelius in Verdigris, a highly original work. Today鈥檚 performance of Verdigris is the second of two for the 成人快手 Philharmonic Orchestra this spring, following one in April at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

Also on the programme are two British composers, Grace-Evangeline Mason and Piers Hellawell.

Mason earned the prestigious 成人快手 Young Composer of the Year award in 2013. Just ten years later, her lush, painterly work ABLAZE THE MOON, premiered at the 2023 Proms with the 成人快手 Philharmonic Orchestra.

Critics have described Hellawell as an 鈥榦riginal and thought-provoking musical mind.鈥� A Professor of Composition for many years at Queen's University in Belfast, Hellawell composed his Symphonies in Chains in 2019. It鈥檚 a reflection on the historical symphonic tradition, and an accomplished showcase for the orchestra.

Programme

Fagerlund - Helena's Song
Shostakovich - Scherzo Op. 1
Hellawell - Symphonies in Chains
Mason - ABLAZE THE MOON
Tarkiainen - Midnight Sun Variations
Wenn盲koski - Verdigris

John Storg氓rds - conductor