Ukrainian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Theodore Kuchar conductor
Mark Bebbington piano

Brahms Hungarian Dance No.5
Mozart Piano Concerto No.21, ‘Elvira Madigan’
Manu Martin Lim Fantasy of Companionship for Piano & Orchestra
Ivan Nebesnyy Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors – Suite
Beethoven Symphony No.7

Ukraine’s National Philharmonic makes its International Concert Series debut with a delicious programme that invites us to face the music and dance.

Beethoven’s scintillating Seventh was described by no less an authority than Wagner as ‘the apotheosis of the dance’. It’s the focal point of a concert that begins in equally swaggering fashion with Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No.5.

We’re off to Vienna with pianist Mark Bebbington for the most graceful of Mozart’s piano concerti – and then we’re heading fearlessly into the future with Manu Martin’s cinematic suite inspired by artificial intelligence.

Centred on two star-crossed lovers from warring families, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is Ukraine’s own Romeo-and-Juliet story. First a book and then a film, it’s now a ballet, scored by Ukrainian composer Ivan Nebesnyy – and tonight sees the music’s first performance in Manchester.