An exuberant Ballade, a ‘jewel’ of a Concerto – and a Symphony of liberation.

This programme is like musical dopamine, from boisterous start to exhilarating finish, steered by the thoroughly talented Thomas Søndergård. Coleridge-Taylor’s rollicking, rumbustious Ballade burst onto the scene in 1898 and was given an enthusiastic thumbs-up by Elgar, no less. Mendelssohn’s rightly famous Violin Concerto, composed when he was still in his teens, was described by violinist Joachim to be the best of all the German concertos: the ‘‘dearest…the heart’s jewel." Alina Ibragimova brings her subtle virtuosity to this utterly charming piece. Sibelius’ magnificent Symphony No.2 was taken up by Finland as a symbol of national liberation. Its dramatic build towards the blazing final bars is one of the most rewarding moments in symphonic history.