Vasily Petrenko conductor
Julian Bliss clarinet

Arensky Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky
Weber Clarinet Concerto No.2
Haydn Symphony No.94 in G major ‘Surprise’ 

Arensky was so taken by the melody of Tchaikovsky’s song ‘Legend’ that he spun seven variations from it as a tribute to the composer. In the finale of his second clarinet concerto, Carl Maria von Weber took the inflections of the Polonaise dance to weave virtuosic runs and jumps into the solo clarinet line. But the rest of the concerto sparkles with brilliance too and Julian Bliss will make it sing and dance effortlessly.

Joseph Haydn had a wicked sense of humour which he often took the liberty of exploiting to catch audiences out – be prepared!