THE EMPEROR CONCERTO

Wednesday 20 May 2009 at 2.15pm

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

Vassily Sinaisky  conductor
Freddy Kempf  piano

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 (Emperor) 38'
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 (Italian) 26' Listen
requires Real Player
Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini 24'

Premiered 200 years ago in 1809, Beethoven's last and grandest concerto is a work on a truly epic scale, its torrents of notes providing the soloist with both a great challenge and a fantastic opportunity to shine, a task to which Birmingham favourite Freddy Kempf is well equal. 1809 was also the year of Mendelssohn's birth, and we continue our bicentenary celebrations with his most popular and tuneful symphony. Finally, we stay in Italy for another of Tchaikovsky's passionate tales of doomed love - this time, the lovers out of Dante's Inferno.

From April 1 2009 a £2 fee per transaction will be charged on all bookings by THSH Box Office, except purchases made in person.