Bridgewater Hall, 16 May 2026
In this striking exploration of Nordic soundscapes, Chief Conductor John Storgårds will flex every Finnish musical muscle as he leads the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra from the icy beauty of the Arctic to a Danish climax that revels in the raw power of human resilience.
Rautavaara’s Cantus Arcticus blends cinematic orchestral textures with otherworldly field-recordings of birdsong from the far north. The result is an evocative, dreamlike meditation on nature, where sweeping strings merge with the calls of Arctic birds in an unforgettable soundscape.
Sibelius’s Violin Concerto offers a different kind of wildness – virtuosic, passionate, and deeply expressive. Renowned violinist Simone Lamsma, celebrated for her thrilling performances and sparkling technique, returns to the Orchestra.
Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5 is a gripping musical battle between chaos and order. Pulsing rhythms, fierce percussion, and surging orchestral lines create an intense drama, with a defiant energy that combines beauty, struggle, and exhilarating power.
Manchester’s international concert venue, built to give the best possible space for music
Lower Mosley St., Manchester, M2 3WS
0161 907 9000 / supervisors@bridgewater-hall.co.uk