SCO 2022: A French Adventure with Steven Isserlis

British cellist extraordinaire Steven Isserlis joins Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev for a sophisticated soirée amid some of France’s most irresistible music – and a quick trip to Hungary, too.

Isserlis brings his lustrous intensity and celebrated joie de vivre to both the sparkling wit and invention of Saint-Saëns’ spirited Cello Concerto No 1, and the bittersweet beauty of Fauré’s 'Élégie', music whose beguiling elegance conceals a vein of deep emotion.

Debussy’s languorous 'Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune' provides a delicately flavoured amuse-bouche, while the nostalgia and musical mischief of the 'Dixtuor' (or Dectet) by Jean Françaix provides sparkle and fizz. Bartók’s Divertimento, by way of contrast, is music of earthy Hungarian passion par excellence.

DEBUSSY 'Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune'
SAINT-SAËNS Cello Concerto No 1
FRANÇAIX 'Dixtuor'
BARTÓK Divertimento for String Orchestra

Maxim Emelyanychev: conductor
Steven Isserlis: cello

Kindly supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart