Live from Adelaide Town Hall, American conductor and pianist Andrew Litton leads the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in the first concert of their unmissable cycle of Rachmaninoff's three mighty symphonies. Sneak into this long-sold-out event for the spine-tingling live experience of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1. Its premiere in 1897 was such a disaster that Rachmaninoff was left scarred for life — he didn't even take the score with him when he left Russia. After his death, it was reborn to posthumous triumph.
Also on the programme, a pastoral scene for piano and strings by English composer Gerald Finzi — his Eclogue opens the concert with a feeling of warm-hearted welcome.
One of the all-time feel-good pieces appears at the heart of the concert tonight: George Gershwin's timeless Rhapsody in Blue. Conducted from the piano by Andrew Litton, it features some of the most celebrated melodies and energetic rhythms of the twentieth century. In the one-hundredth anniversary year of its first performance in 1924, Rhapsody in Blue also cracked the top five of this year's Classic 100 Feel Good. The moment is ripe to celebrate it — live — with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
Broadcast live from Adelaide Town Hall on June 22, 2024 by ABC Classic. Producer Luke Altmann. Engineer Tom Henry.
Program
Gerald Finzi: Eclogue
George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
Sergei Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1
Artists
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Litton (piano/conductor)
Credits
Image Details
Andrew Litton.
