Mendelssohn said that the opening theme for the Hebrides Overture came to him almost instantly when he first saw the breathtaking scenery of the Inner Hebrides on a trip to Scotland. His vivid evocation of the sea – ebbing and flowing, dramatic changes in dynamics alluding to crashing waves on the rocks around the famous sea cave – paves the way for Elgar’s Sea Pictures. Alice Coote brings these five songs to life, each based on a poem, presenting the intertwining feelings of fear and fascination that are synonymous with the great unknown of the world’s oceans.
From the landlocked Czech Republic comes Dvořák’s bucolic Symphony No. 5, incorporating Bohemian folk melodies – listen out for the furiant, an up-beat and sharply accented dance. Composed in just five weeks, this symphony is full of bright orchestral colour, delicate motifs passed between the woodwinds (a feast for clarinet players) and thundering brass.
Need to know
Prices & Discounts
£16 – £42
Under 25s and full-time students: £12. Subscription series available.
Running time
1 hour 40 minutes, including 20-minute interval
Box office
Anvil Arts box office: 01256 844244
