If you haven’t seen Classic FM’s Hall of Fame before click here, it’s a comprehensive list of the 2021 results of the world’s biggest poll of classical music tastes. Classic FM Recommended concerts feature pieces from this selection.
Wednesday 9 February: Drama and Romance (featuring Case Scaglione and Federico Colli)
This exciting concert sees the much awaited BSO debut of American-born conductor Case Scaglione leading a programme of Wagner, Beethoven and Dvořák. Case is Chief Conductor of the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn and Music Director Designate of Orchestre national d’Île de France.
In this concert he directs the Orchestra in an exploration of Wagner’s Tannhäuser overture, a piece which depicts the struggle between sacred and profane love, as well as Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto — one of the composer’s most daring keyboard works. Italian pianist Federico Colli takes on this challenging work which veers between the ardent and melancholy, the heroic and ethereal and the anguished and whimsical. Meanwhile, Dvorák’s Eighth Symphony is his most nationalistic and while buoyant, it is also sweetly reflective.
This concert is available to watch online for 30 days after broadcast
Wednesday 4 May: Brilliant Mendelssohn (featuring Teresa Riveiro Böhm and Kristóf Baráti)
Another BSO debut in this concert; Teresa Riveiro Böhm has been Leverhulme Conducting Fellow with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. She is also winner of the Neeme-Järvi-Prize at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival 2019.
Mozart’s overture is an energetic speed ride while in contrast with its name, Britten’s Simple Symphony actually demonstrates a complexity of execution. The piece was dedicated to his viola teacher Audrey Alston and was evidently an emotional piece for the young composer. Kristóf Baráti takes the lead role in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. This is a piece which is full of soaring melodies, glistening arabesques and exhilarating virtuoso passages. It’s a favourite amongst performers and listeners alike.