Sibelius Symphony No.2

The rugged coastline of Northern California is the inspiration for Gabriella Smith's cello concerto, 'Lost Coast', receiving its UK premiere. She describes the music as "raw emotional expression of the grief, loss, rage and fear experienced as a result of climate change - as well as the joy, beauty, and wonder I have felt in the world's last wild places." Gabriele Cabezas, the hugely versatile and eclectic artist for whom this music was written, joins conductor Gemma New and the BBC Philharmonic as soloist in this performance.

The power of Sibelius's Second Symphony, with its unsettled opening, organic unfurling of symphonic ideas and triumphant finale has become associated with Finland's fight for freedom at the very start of the Twentieth Century. A struggle for liberation is portrayed courageously in Grażyna Bacewicz's 'Overture' which opens the concert too; written in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, the morse code for 'Victory' is explored as a musical cipher creating energy and drive for this bravely optimistic music.

Recorded at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester in October and presented by Tom McKinney

Bacewicz: Overture
Gabriella Smith: Lost Coast

8.15 Music Interval

Sibelius: Symphony No.2

Gabriel Cabezas (cello)
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Gemma New (conductor)

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