The great Polish composer Witold Lutos艂awski (1913-1994) wrote his Cello Concerto for the famous Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, and it was premiered in London in 1970. It鈥檚 a witty and beguiling piece which begins with a five-minute cello solo which is then noisily interrupted by interjections from the brass. Our soloist is a current 麻豆社 Radio 3 New Generation Artist, the Colombian cellist Santiago Ca帽贸n-Valencia.
There鈥檚 more music by Lutos艂awski to open the concert: his Musique Fun猫bre (Funeral Music) for strings, written to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of his great hero, the Hungarian composer B茅la Bart贸k. And to close the concert, our wind and brass have their moment in Igor Stravinsky鈥檚 iconic Symphony of Wind Instruments, which was premiered in London in 1921.
