Beethoven Violin Concerto with María Dueñas

Programme

A remarkable young violinist, Beethoven at his most lyrical and Tchaikovsky in full dramatic flight make this a thrilling symphonic evening.

María Dueñas takes the solo role in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, a work of nobility and poise, whose spacious lines demand both virtuosity and inner calm. Her debut recording of the work was praised as being “nothing short of remarkable” by Gramophone and when she last appeared in the Philharmonia’s season, MusicOMH commented “It felt as though time stood still”. Tonight, Dueñas reunites with Santtu to bring her extraordinary authority and freedom to one of her signature pieces.

Unsuk Chin’s Subito con forza opens the programme with a burst of energy and colour. Composed in 2020 as a tribute to Beethoven during the original anniversary year before celebrations were curtailed, it takes on fresh significance as part of our belated commemoration. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 then brings the evening to a close in music that surges between anguish, tenderness and blazing orchestral power. Together, the three works create a compelling arc from concentrated brilliance to full symphonic release.