CENTURY!

Thursday 11 December 2008 at 7.30pm

Symphony Hall, Birmingham +44 (0)121-780 3333

Sakari Oramo  conductor
Elspeth Dutch  horn

Messiaen: L’Ascension 19'
Carter: Horn Concerto (UK premiere) 11'
Elgar: Symphony No. 1 52'

Today the musical world salutes the centenary of the birth of the great American composer Elliott Carter, the only major composer ever to reach his 100th year and still be creating new work. His new horn concerto is a perfect example of his art, and is played here by the CBSO's own Elspeth Dutch. Tonight's concert is actually a triple celebration of December 1908: the great French composer Olivier Messiaen was born just a day before Carter, and Elgar's magnificent First Symphony had been premiered just a week before that.

Sounds Interesting pre-concert talk at 6.15pm
Premiere! - Elliott Carter's Horn Concerto

Anthony Burton introduces the music of this great American survivor.