“Goddess of a thousand names, let us celebrate your mysteries…” The story of Persephone is as ancient as western culture: an ever-fresh parable of motherly love, untamed lust and the eternal cycle of nature. In 1934, Igor Stravinsky rose to its challenge: the result is part ballet, part opera, but all Stravinsky.
In other words, it’s unmissable – a musical drama unique in the 20th century, charged with all of Stravinsky’s originality, humour and emotion. For this rare concert performance Sakari Oramo has lined up a world-class team, including our own BBC Symphony Chorus. As an upbeat, violinist Lisa Batiashvili makes a very welcome return in Magnus Lindberg’s lyrical first Violin Concerto – a luminous prelude to Stravinsky’s mythic masterpiece.
Narrator to be announced.