Raphael Wallfisch, one of the most distinguished solo cellists of our time, has a long association with the Northern Chamber Orchestra. He plays Tchaikovsky’s original version of the Rococo Variations, which marries the expressive power of the instrument with the virtuosity of its player. Raphael gives the UK première of the concertino by Mieczysław Weinberg, a contemporary of Shostakovich who surpassed his friend in the quantity of symphonies and quartets he composed, and whose work has recently gained new recognition from critics and audiences alike. First though, Gustav Holst shows the perfection of his string writing in St Paul’s Suite, making characterful use of folk tunes; whilst the evening ends with the ever fresh Fifth Symphony by the youthful Franz Schubert.
