Young Japanese pianist Mao Fujita is taking the classical music world by storm with his technical mastery and ‘tremendous versatility’ (The Times). Celebrated for his interpretations of Mozart, tonight he performs his Piano Concerto No. 25. A jewel of the Classical period, it is widely considered one of Mozart’s greatest concertos.
After the interval comes Mendelssohn’s rarely performed ‘Reformation’ Symphony. Never published during the composer’s lifetime, the Symphony is a lesser-known masterpiece showcasing the unmistakable genius of Mendelssohn. Written as a celebration of the Protestant Reformation, he gives us music full of religious allusions, rich in colour and packed with warming melodies.
Osmo Vänskä has chosen Missy Mazzoli’s These Worlds In Us to open the programme. Dedicated to her father who was a soldier during the Vietnam War, it’s a moving reflection on memory, grief, and love.