Czech National Symphony Orchestra with Pavel Kolesnikov at Usher Hall

The Usher Hall’s highly-acclaimed Sunday Classics programmes continues after stunning performances from the likes of the Brussels Philharmonic and Russian State Symphony Orchestra. Now rising Russian pianist Pavel Kolesnikov joins the Czech National Symphony Orchestra for an afternoon of beautiful classical music in the Usher Hall.

The Czech National Symphony Orchestra is joined by rising star Pavel Kolesnikov for Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto. The piece had its premier in March 1807, and a review in the May 1809 edition of the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung described the work as “the most admirable, singular, artistic and complex Beethoven concerto ever". It is still widely loved today, and considered to be one of the central works in the piano concerto canon.

Although only two movements were completed, Schubert’s eighth ‘Unfinished’ symphony has become a musical icon. The Guardian’s Tom Service described it as “the complete, essential and mysterious symphonic experience.” The works extraordinary power and emotionality speaks to the composer’s state of body and mind at the time of its composition, instilling in it a heart-felt spirituality.

To complete the programme is what is widely regarded as Dvo?ák's greatest symphony, the 7th. His most ambitious work in structure and most consciously international in its melodies, Dvo?ák himself talked about creating a work that “must be capable of stirring the world”, and indeed he did. The creative intensity Dvorak displayed during the symphony's composition extended to its first performance. Completed on March 17th, 1885, a mere five weeks later Dvorak conducted the first performance in London. Brimming with Slavic melodies and patriotic emotions, who better to perform this than the Czech Republic’s national orchestra?

Celebrating its 25th birthday in 2018, the CNSO has gained a position among both Czech and Europe’s top symphonic ensembles. Renowned for its versatility, the orchestra presents annually a broad program ranging from classical music concerts through contemporary genre, film scores, jazz, or musicals.

In 2014 Siberian-native pianist Kolesnikov became one of BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists and made his Wigmore Hall debut. The Telegraph gave his recital a rare five-star review and called it “one of the most memorable of such occasions London has witnessed in a while.”
Ben Palmer is Artistic Director of Covent Garden Sinfonia, which, under his leadership since 2007, has firmly established itself as one of London’s most dynamic and versatile chamber orchestras. He has made a particular speciality of conducting films live to screen, with performances this season including Raiders of the Lost Ark and a UK tour of Jaws with the CSNO.

Listings information
Usher Hall, Lothian Road, Edinburgh
Sun 22 April 2018
Door time: 2:00pm
Start time: 3:00pm
Schubert Symphony No.8 ‘Unfinished’
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4
Dvorak Symphony No.7
Ben Palmer Conductor
Pavel Kolesnikov Piano