Part of the BBC Proms. Liszt's symphonic poem (he invented the genre) is based on Victor Hugo's poem about the legendary Mazeppa, a nobleman caught in flagrante who is tied to a wild horse which is then driven into the night. Continuing this season's exploration of non-standard concertos, Ailish Tynan tackles a Glière rarity unheard at the Proms since the 1980s. By contrast, Rachmaninov's gloriously lyrical Second Symphony has become a firm favourite in recent years. A sense of symphonic unity is provided by its network of thematic cross-references, which also give rise to some of the composer's best tunes. The Adagio is especially famous for its lovely, long-breathed clarinet melody over softly murmuring violins. Finish time: approx. 21:10| 10 Aug 11 | Royal Albert Hall Inner London, Greater London Performance Details => Venue archive |
