Michael Collins clarinet
Marta Gardolinska

Weber’s magnificent overture to his most successful opera concentrates the most important elements of the drama into a memorable tone-poem. Weber’s first clarinet concerto brilliantly exploits the qualities of instrument, with the music ranging in character from grand declamation to jaunty and playful, with a particularly imaginative and effective slow movement.

The prolonged effort that Brahms’ First Symphony cost the composer as he struggled to escape from the shadow of Beethoven is well known. Nevertheless it resulted in one of his most satisfying works.

The Philharmonia Orchestra is Anvil Arts’ Orchestra in Partnership.