Sibelius' Symphony No.2

Berlioz’s whimsical comic opera Béatrice et Bénédict was inspired by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, so it’s no surprise that this playful, energetic orchestral opening is just as witty and lighthearted in style. It’s followed by Mozart’s equally operatic Oboe Concerto – a delightful, three-movement piece that showcases his writing for oboe, with its technical passagework and bold tonal leaps in the excellent hands of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Principal Oboe John Roberts. The programme ends on a more emotional note beneath the Northern Lights of Finland, as Sibelius’ mighty Second Symphony grows from tranquil beginnings to a sweeping, soaring hymn of triumph, all conducted by the Orchestra’s Music Director Vasily Petrenko.

'The RPO’s Music Director Vasily Petrenko leads an orchestra who play with palpable hunger for him.’ The Times, May 2025