Performance on 3 - Dohnanyi 80th Birthday

Presented by Catherine Bott. Conductor Christoph von Dohnanyi joins the Philharmonia Orchestra in a concert at the Royal Festival Hall to celebrate his 80th birthday. It features Mendelssohn's Hebrides overture, Brahms' Symphony No 3 and Piano Concerto No 2, with Yefim Bronfman as soloist. When Brahms finished his Second Piano Concerto, he sent the score to a friend with a note saying 'I am sending you some little piano pieces'. These 'little pieces' turned out to be a huge four movement concerto, which met with instant success when first performed with the composer as soloist in 1881, as did his Third Symphony which followed two years later. The symphony is bound together with Brahms' musical motto theme - the notes F-A-F, standing for frei aber froh, 'free but happy'. Yefim Bronfman (piano) Philharmonia Orchestra Christoph von Dohnanyi (conductor) Mendelssohn: Overture (The Hebrides) Brahms: Symphony No 3 Brahms: Piano Concerto No 2 Followed by Handel's Italian Cantatas: a series featuring some of the cantatas Handel wrote in Italy during the first decade of the 18th century when he was still in his early 20s. Including Armida abbandonata, sung by Anne Murray and conducted by Harry Christophers. Handel: Clori mia bella Clori Ann Murray (soprano) The Symphony of Harmony and Invention Harry Christophers (conductor)