Esa-Pekka Salonen conductor
Hélène Grimaud piano

Sibelius ‘Finlandia’
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5, Emperor
Prokofiev Suite, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (excerpts)

Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Philharmonia’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, opens the season with the music of his compatriot Jean Sibelius and his tone poem ‘Finlandia’ with its nationalist evocations of Finnish history. Prokofiev’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Suite is also deeply expressive; he first composed music for the full ballet, later making several symphonic suites from the score.

Prokofiev originally rewrote Shakespeare’s text to have a happy ending (“living people can dance, dying ones can’t”) but after pressure from the political authorities reinstated the original tragic ending with some of his most heartrending music. Between these works, Brahms’s First Piano Concerto provides a flamboyant display of pianistic virtuosity.

6.15pm Free pre-concert talk
Philharmonia Orchestra's Managing Director David Whelton in conversation with John Florance about the new season and Esa-Pekka Salonen’s tenure as Principal Conductor

“Salonen and the outstanding Philharmonia had it all perfectly judged.” The Guardian