There were some doubts about this music – it seems more frequently performed in continental Europe than in the UK – but in the event there were no doubts about the fascinating and beautiful performance.

The symphony is an orchestral song cycle for soprano and baritone, so inevitably invites comparison with Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, but it sounded to me more operatic, a bit showier and with more interaction between songs. There are perhaps not so many memorable, hummable tunes – maybe that is the result of unfamiliarity – but the piece makes its mark through the weight of lush orchestration, balanced with delicate use of small groups of instruments and solo passages all round the orchestra.

The solo singers were strongly persuasive. The soprano Claudia Boyle, hugely experienced on the opera stage, had wonderful presence in her role – she really enacted the lovelorn girl. Her singing rose to the power occasionally needed to contend with the orchestra without losing sweet delicacy of tone.

The baritone, Roderick Williams, the BSO Artist in Residence this season, brought his huge skill and famous way with words to his sections. Aided by surtitles giving the text in English, he told a very moving and involving story of the eternal arch of love, from longing to loss.

To balance the evening, something equally weighty but better known was required. Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, No 8, fitted this bill. Its lyrical, romantic themes matched the feel of the Zemlinsky, but in a different style.

The top class playing we expect from the BSO with Mark Wigglesworth conducting, resulted in a performance best described as stylish, with an elegant beauty assembled from dozens of individual moments forged into a glorious whole.

The principal performers re-emerged after the show for a question-and-answer session with a large portion of the audience who stayed on in the Lighthouse Concert Hall. This much appreciated gesture helped to further open up such an engaging evening.

Member and supporter, Tom Wickson

This concert is available to watch for 30 days here