The Aronowitz Ensemble, former ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3 New Generation Artists, explore Britten's musical relationship with his teacher, Frank Bridge.
The Piano Variations, composed while Britten was still a student, looks forward to his celebrated Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, that masterpiece for string orchestra to be performed later in the season (see Prom 50).
Today's concert begins with a striking composition from the young Britten in which the oboist is Nicholas Daniel, past winner of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Young Musician of the Year competition. Bridge's Piano Quintet comes from relatively early in his own career, before the events of the First World War cast a dark shadow on his creative outlook.
There will be no interval