The Planets by Holst and the Piano Concerto by Grieg

The Planets by Holst

When Gustav Holst gazed at our solar system at night, he was inspired to write the grand orchestral work The Planets . It is cosmic, otherworldly beautiful and a touch mysterious. Each movement describes the nature of the planets and their influence on mankind. Venus is 'The Bringer of Peace', Uranus 'The Magician' and Mars 'The Bringer of War'. The music is impressive, captivating and beautiful.

Grieg's Piano Concerto

Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto is one of the most beloved piano concertos of the Romantic period. Composed in 1868, it is characterised by an impressive opening passage in which the piano challenges the orchestra with powerful chords. The work is steeped in Norwegian folk music influences, especially in the lyrical melodies of the slow second movement and the sparkling rhythms of the finale. Grieg combines virtuosity with emotional depth, making the concerto not only a technical masterpiece but also a passionate expression of Scandinavian Romanticism.

The Piano Concerto features Ukrainian pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk, who won international competitions at a young age and performs as a soloist worldwide. Finnish-Ukrainian conductor Dalia Stasevska is chief conductor in Lahti and principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. She leads leading orchestras with an expressive, energetic style.