Ryan Bancroft conductor
Michelle Cann piano

IVES The Unanswered Question
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4
STRAUSS Also sprach Zarathustra

Ryan Bancroft is a favourite among Philharmonia fans. Tonight, he conducts the Orchestra in Leicester for the first time in music by Beethoven and Strauss.

The opening of Also sprach Zarathustra might be one of the most recognisable in classical music. But there’s much more to the work than its 2001: A Space Odyssey fame. In its half-hour span, Strauss takes us on a philosophical journey exploring the meaning of life. With blazing brass and sumptuous strings, he creates a listening experience full of intense feeling. It’s a real highlight of the orchestral repertoire and gives players a chance to show off the renowned Philharmonia sound.

First, Grammy Award-winning Michelle Cann makes her Philharmonia debut in Beethoven’s playful Fourth Piano Concerto. Opening with the solo piano with no orchestral introduction, it’s a deeply intimate work that remains one of Beethoven’s best loved.

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