BBC Symphony Orchestra/New & Lise de la Salle

American dreams and sonic fireworks as conductor Gemma New and pianist Lise de la Salle make their joint debut with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

President Nixon goes to China – and diplomacy becomes a foxtrot. George Gershwin scales the pinnacles of jazz-age Manhattan, in the ultimate skyscraper concerto. Valerie Coleman finds that unity has African roots, and Samuel Barber grapples with European tradition, in a symphony written at storm force.

America has many musical voices, and in her debut concert with the BBC SO Gemma New has conceived a concert that’s as diverse and as generous as the American dream itself - ranging from the UK premiere of Valerie Coleman’s exuberant ’Anthem of Unity’ to 20th century classics by Adams and Barber. And to top it all, there’s another BBC SO debut, as the ’stunning’ (Washington Classical Review) Lise de la Salle plays Gershwin’s gloriously tuneful concerto: expect fireworks worthy of the Fourth of July.

This performance will end at approximately 9.30pm, including a 20-minute interval

Produced by BBC Symphony Orchestra

Digital programme