Mahler, Farrenc, and Bottesini

From the first dramatic notes of Louise Farrenc’s sparkling Overture No. 2, this concert celebrates orchestral colour, virtuosity and emotional power on a grand scale.

One of the most significant French women composers of the 19th century, Farrenc combines classical elegance with the energy and drama of early Romanticism in an overture that deserves to be heard far more often.  Then comes a concert rarity; while violin and piano concertos are familiar favourites, opportunities to hear a double bass concerto live are few and far between.  Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra is delighted to welcome rising star, Nathan Knight as soloist in Giovanni Bottesini’s Double Bass Concerto No. 2 – a dazzling showpiece by the legendary “Paganini of the Double Bass” - the concerto combines technical brilliance with lyrical, operatic beauty.

The second half is devoted to Mahler’s monumental Fifth Symphony.  From its famous opening trumpet fanfare and funeral march to the radiant final pages, the work charts an extraordinary emotional journey.  At its heart lies the much-loved Adagietto, one of the most beautiful movements in the orchestral repertoire, before the symphony concludes in a blaze of energy and triumph.  More than a century after its premiere, Mahler’s Fifth remains one of the most exhilarating and rewarding achievements in symphonic music.