Franck's Symphony

Gergely Madaras joins the BBC National Orchestra of Wales to present a showcase of the orchestra and its members. The concert begins with an arrangement of Schumann's Four Marches for brass ensemble by the Orchestra's Principal Trombonist, Donal Bannister. The politically driven Marches were composed by Schumann for piano in 1845, and in Donal's vivid arrangement, the fantastic music is given new life by the brass section of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Once the brass have had their turn in the spotlight, the strings take to the stage, joined by another principal in the orchestra: clarinettist Nicholas Carpenter as soloist in Finzi's exsquisute Clarinet Concerto. After the interval, César Franck's Symphony in D minor, an under-performed, heady mix of Germanic and French writing which was fantastically radical and divided opinion when it was written.

Presented by Shân Cothi in BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff. Recorded on the 27th of September.

Schumann, arr Bannister: Four Marches, Op 76
Finzi: Clarinet Concerto, Op 31
Franck: Symphony in D minor, CFF 130

Nicholas Carpenter (clarinet)
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Gergely Madaras (conductor)

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