Jess Gillam plays Glazunov

Programme

What better way to see in the start of spring than an evening of radiant, joyous masterpieces? Join us, alongside conductor Alpesh Chauhan and classical music superstar Jess Gillam for this one-off performance of gorgeous Russian classics.

Arguably the world’s best-known classical piece for saxophone, Glazunov’s concerto is rich with the lush tunes and velvet harmonies of Russia’s musical golden era. Balancing achingly beautiful moments with sparky virtuosity, the piece is the perfect showpiece for one of the biggest names in classical music. Jess Gillam has won the hearts of audiences worldwide with star turns at the Last Night of the Proms and the world’s biggest stages, her own show on BBC Radio 3, and two chart-topping albums – “Not just one of Britain’s most virtuosic instrumentalists, but also an unstuffy, inspiring personality” The Times.

Framing the concerto, phenomenal works from the two towering figures of their eras. Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks fizzes with the energy of a composer at the height of his powers. With cheeky melodies and delicate interplay through the ensemble evoking the music of Mozart, it’s a brief, small-scale gem from his Neoclassical era.

Anything but small-scale, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony is one of the composer’s grandest works. Preoccupied with the knocking of fate, an ominous opening brass fanfare lends the work an intense drama from the outset. But across the music’s entire journey we are treated to Tchaikovsky at his best – heartwrenching woodwind, the balletic string pizzicato of the third movement, and throughout, his unmatched ear for melody. As our evening closes with the musical fireworks of the whole orchestra at full tilt, it’s easy to see why this symphony is loved by audiences across the word – and why it’s sure to leave you humming all the tunes on your way home. We can’t wait to see you in Basingstoke once more.