For his first concert in Nottingham the brilliant young German Augustin Hadelich takes on Bartók's intensely expressive Second Violin Concerto, written on the cusp of the Second World War, shortly before his emigration to the United States. Dvořák, too, was an Eastern European who felt compelled to cross the Atlantic, the music of the African-American spiritual echoing through the famous slow movement of the 'New World' Symphony. The symphony has never lost its appeal, largely due to its dramatic and melodic strength; something which the opening piece - Smetana's depiction of the river running through Prague - also has in abundance.
Free pre-concert talk, 6.30pm in the auditorium:
Tim Jones introduces the programme
