repertoire

Mikhail Glinka: Spanish Overture No. 1, Capriccio Brilliante ‘Jota Aragonesa’
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 35
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (selection by Ludovic Morlot)

ARTISTS

James Ehnes, violin
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
OBC

Programme

An explosion of rhythm and colour will burst forth after the solemn introduction of Mikhail Glinka’s 1845 Spanish Overture No. 1, a work also known as Capricho brillante sobre la jota aragonesa. It will by no means be the only vibrant piece. Next up will be Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 35, which combines brilliance, virtuoso passages and a highly intense orchestral composition style, as well as opening the door to lyricism at its most introspective.

The solo part, performed here by James Ehnes, is more than a technical exhibition: it plays its own role in the piece’s symphonic flight through a dialogue that is both collaborative and assertive at times. Tchaikovsky draws on folk music to intensify listeners’ emotional experience. Similarly, a selection of dances from The Nutcracker – prepared by the principal conductor, Ludovic Morlot – will close out the evening with the magic of traditions: a world of Christmas fantasy that has captivated generations, and still allows us to dream like children.