BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Serenade for Strings

Tonight, the string section takes centre stage.

Written in 1939 as Europe teetered on the brink of war, Bartók’s Divertimento fuses Hungarian folk-rhythms with his signature spiky harmonies and driving momentum. This is furiously virtuosic music; technically demanding and intense, pulsing with energy. By contrast, Tchaikovsky offers us lush Romanticism in his Serenade for Strings.

Orchestra Leader Zoë Beyers directs this unmistakably Russian work from the violin, all soaring melodies and heartfelt lyricism. From its noble opening to the dazzling finale, this Serenade is a masterpiece of warmth and beauty.

Programme
Béla Bartók Divertimento
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings

Performers
Zoë Beyers director
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra