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Beethoven’s Violin Concerto is so popular with audiences today that its perhaps surprising it hardly made an impact at its premiere. Opening with an almost jazz drum tap the expansively elegant opening movement makes way for a set of theme and variations, serene and beauteous, before a catchy and lively Rondo bursts into energy to round off the work, performed by the inimitable Veronika Eberle.

George Benjamin’s Concerto for Orchestra captures the spirit, humour and undimmable energy of its dedicatee, the late Oliver Knussen, in this varied and dynamic tour de force, gleaming with clarity and detail as each member of the orchestra becomes its soloist, before earthly travail lead to heavenly bliss in Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration. To conduct we welcome back award-winning French conductor Alexandre Bloch.