A misty lake, a doomed love, a swan princess…Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is one of those stories that lingers in the imagination. Today, guest conductor Clemens Schuldt follows it with two more fairytales: Zemlinsky’s sumptuous re-telling of The Little Mermaid and, for the first time in the UK, a new re-interpretation of Swan Lake by Victoria Borisova-Ollas.

Swan Lake, says Borisova-Ollas, is “a story that has it all”. The central role in her new concerto is taken by the glowing, endlessly expressive violin of its dedicatee, Tessa Lark and the result…well, come and surrender to its spell. And then dive into the lush, passionately romantic world of Alexander von Zemlinsky: if you love Mahler or Richard Strauss, he’ll sweep you off your feet.

Cristian Macelaru has had to withdraw from this concert. We are grateful to Clemens Schuldt who will conduct in his place.

Baibe Skride has had to withdraw from this concert. We are grateful to Tessa Lark who will play in her place.

Programme

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake
Suite selected by Macelaru

Victoria Borisova-Ollas
A Portrait of a Lady by Swan Lake
UK premiere

Alexander von Zemlinsky
Die Seejungfrau (The Mermaid)

Performers

Tessa Lark
violin

Clemens Schuldt
conductor

BBC Symphony Orchestra