BBC Philharmonic Orchestra: Grand Pianola

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra continues its thrillingly up-close series at the RNCM with a heavyweight artistic collaboration – Chief Conductor John Storgårds joins the acclaimed pianist Tamara Stefanovich in this exploration of the pure power of the piano.

Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments is a razor-sharp, neoclassical masterpiece, spare yet dynamic, balancing crisp counterpoint with jazz-inflected rhythms and biting wit. Written in the 1920s, it strips away Romantic excess in favour of stark brilliance, precision, and energy.

In contrast, John Adams’s Grand Pianola Music revels in excess, transforming minimalist repetition into something grand, surreal, and cinematic. Featuring two pianos, a lush wind ensemble, and ethereal vocal harmonies, Adams conjures an addictive, dream-like sound world that oscillates between nostalgia and sheer spectacle.

Together, these works offer a fascinating study in contrasts – one taut and disciplined, the other expansive and ecstatic – each redefining the piano’s expressive possibilities in brilliantly unexpected ways.

Programme
Igor Stravinsky Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments
John Adams Grand Pianola Music

Performers
John Storgårds conductor
Tamara Stefanovich piano
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra