Classical Hour – Beethoven Violin Concerto by Beethoven, Da (2025/2025), Direttore d'orchestra Mark Elder, Grieghallen, Bergen, Norvegia

Big musical ideas were brewing inside Ludwig van Beethoven in 1806. Some of them led to his Symphony No. 5 - the most iconic and revolutionary symphony the composer would write. Others were more concerned with emotional escape. The latter would make their way into a Violin Concerto in the sunny key of D major, the brightest and most joyous work that would flow from a composer most often associated with impassioned fury and tortured introspection. But despite its cheerful nature, Beethoven’s concerto is a tricky score from which many of our modern notions of virtuosity stem and whose ideas of individual will, spirit and integrity have been built on by almost all subsequent concertos for the violin. In this hour-long event, Principal Guest Conductor Sir Mark Elder will introduce Beethoven’s concerto and perform it, with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists Arabella Steinbacher by his side. A unique chance to delve deep into what makes a favourite score so special, and hear it performed in the best possible hands.