Cbso 2026/27 Elgar's Enigma Variations
B:Music (Town Hall & Symphony Hall)Symphony Hall, 8 Centenary Square, Birmingham
Wed 30 Sept · 14:15
About this event
Artists Stephanie Childress Conductor Jess Gillam Saxophone Sheku Kanneh-Mason Cello Ben Goldscheider Horn Gwilym Simcock Orchestral Piano City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Programme Britten Simple Symphony, 18mins Gwilym Simcock Triple Concerto, 25mins Elgar Enigma Variations, 33mins Overview Enigmatic Elgar, early Britten, a thrilling new work – and some outstanding young talent. Britten’s Simple Symphony is surely one of his most popular works, its ‘Playful Pizzicato’ even turning up as the soundtrack to commercials. Its four movements are based on pieces Britten wrote as a precocious pre-teen, then reworked in his early twenties. Elgar’s Enigma Variations is also, possibly, his most popular work. Each variation of the theme depicts a friend of the composer’s, such as the famous ‘Nimrod’ movement - a portrait of ‘a long summer evening talk’ with August Jaeger. In between is Simcock’s new Triple Concerto, composed for an exceptional trio of musicians, including CBSO Collaborative Artist Jess Gilliam on saxophone. Conductor Stephanie Childress makes her debut with the CBSO. This concert is generously supported by Dr Charley Johnston in memory of Dolores.
