Saved events

BBC Symphony Orchestra/Bychkov

Brahms Symphony 4

Semyon Bychkov, conductor

Two different centuries, and two very different – but equally heartfelt – fourth symphonies. Semyon Bychkov conducts music by Detlev Glanert and Johannes Brahms. 

'When you stand before me and look at me, what do you know of the pain within me? And what do I know of that within you?' When Detlev Glanert was commissioned to write a symphony for Prague, he turned to Franz Kafka – whose words, he says 'spoke to me immediately'. The result is a song-symphony in the tradition of Mahler that speaks directly to our time: exactly what you’d expect from this most communicative of living composers.

For this UK premiere performance, it’s conducted by its dedicatee, the great Semyon Bychkov, who caused a sensation with the world premiere in Prague last December. He’s paired it with another deeply personal Fourth Symphony by a composer who thrived on reinventing tradition – Johannes Brahms. Expect beauty, truth, and deep emotions honestly shared: in other words, a night to remember. 

The end time for this performance will be added closer to the performance date

Produced by BBC Symphony Orchestra

Digital programme

Hall