29th January 2020
CBSO concert at Symphony Hall
The centre’s outing to Birmingham Symphony Hall once again was well supported. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra celebrates is centenary this year, and it is also the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. The concert featured 3 works – Beethoven’s symphonies 2 & 4, and a brief work by Benjamin Britten, ‘Young Apollo‘ for piano and string orchestra, composed in 1939. The programme was an appropriate salute to Beethoven.
The conductor was the CBSO’s music director, Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla, whose light approach gave space to the players themselves to shine. In particular the strings played with energy and pace, and an impressive performance by their nimble fingers. The CBSO gave an exhilarating and brisk interpretation of the two symphonies, masterpieces performed in an entertaining, lively and enjoyable manner.
The CBSO’s reputation as one of the world’s great orchestras continues to grow. The first concert in 1920 was conducted by Sir Edward Elgar. The CBSO is the flagship of musical life in the Midlands.