Sunday 29 September 2013 3.00pm (Please note start time) M
SUNDAY MATINEE SERIES
Esa-Pekka Salonen conductor Piotr Anderszewski piano BEETHOVEN Overture, Namensfeier SCHUMANN Piano Concerto BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique
Cast in five trailblazing movements, the Symphonie fantastique celebrates Berlioz’s delirious infatuation with the Irish actress, Harriet Smithson, who crops up throughout by means of her own musical signature or idée fixe. After taking a draft of opium, Berlioz’s wild ravings climax in a Witches’ Sabbath finale, which sees Harriet consorting with all manner of ghouls and fiends. In this afternoon’s concert it is paired with music by the composer who most influenced him – Beethoven – and by Berlioz’s contemporary and admirer Schumann.
Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia players were on sharp, excellent form. The Times, October 2011
Read, watch films, buy CDs and listen at www.philharmonia.co.uk
7