BBC SSO 2019/20: Dvořák Symphonic Variations

*** Unfortunately, Martyn Babbins is unwell and unable to conduct the BBC SSO this week. John Wilson, the orchestra’s former Associate Guest Conductor, has agreed to step in at very short notice to conduct .       

As a result, Dvořák’s Serenade for wind instruments will now replace Pictured Within which was due to receive its Scottish Premiere in Glasgow. John Wilson will conduct the Dvořák Symphonic Variations, Britten Serenade and Brahms Haydn Variations as advertised, but the Dvořák Serenade will be conducted by Royal Conservatoire Conducting Fellow, Sergej Bolkhovets .   

The BBC SSO is very grateful to both conductors for stepping in at such short notice.   We hope to be able to re-programme Pictured Within for performance at some point in the future. ***

Revised Glasgow programme

Brahms Variations on St Anthony Chorale (Haydn Variations)

Britten   Serenade for tenor, horn and strings

Dvořák   Serenade for wind instruments in D minor, Op.44* 

Dvořák   Symphonic Variations

Stuart Jackson tenor

Alberto Menéndez Escribano horn

Sergej Bolkhovets conductor*

John Wilson conductor

Thursday 21 November, 7.30pm

City Halls, Glasgow

About John Wilson

John Wilson held the post of BBC SSO Associate Guest Conductor from September 2016 until August 2019; he has worked regularly with the BBC SSO since 2002. Born in Gateshead, he studied composition and conducting at the Royal College of Music in London where he won all the major conducting prizes, and in 2011 was made a Fellow. In 1994, he formed his own orchestra, the John Wilson Orchestra, dedicated to performing film music from the golden age of Hollywood and Broadway. As well as touring the UK, they have appeared annually at the BBC Proms since 2007, most recently at this year’s The Warner Brothers Story. 

His most recent CD releases include three volumes of symphonic works by Copland with the BBC Philharmonic, described by Gramophone as “outstanding”, and two volumes of works by Richard Rodney Bennett with the BBC SSO.

Variations are simple: a composer takes a favourite tune and keeps tweaking it until we’re listening to something completely new. Martyn Brabbins offers three different spins on that deceptively straightforward trick. Brahms filled his Haydn Variations with all the wit of his favourite classical master. His friend Dvořák invented his own melody, and let it grow into a masterpiece. And a team of top living composers let their imaginations ricochet off each other. In between, British tenor Stuart Jackson and BBC SSO principal horn Alberto Menéndez Escribano dive deep into Britten’s Serenade.