ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

www.rpo.co.uk

Wednesday 2 June 2021, 7.30pm Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall

ROSSINI La Scala di Seta: Overture 6 mins

HAYDN Cello Concerto in C major 25 mins I. Moderato / II. Adagio / III. Allegro molto

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Symphony No.5 42 mins I. Preludio: Moderato / II. Scherzo: Presto misterioso III. Romanza: Lento / IV. Passacaglia: Moderato

Vasily Petrenko Conductor Kian Soltani Cello Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Please note, there is no interval in this performance. Rossini’s Overture from his one-act comic opera, La Scala di Seta provides an assured opening, before Kian Soltani performs Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C major. Unearthed in 1961, two centuries after it was written, it swiftly gained popularity for its sense of joyand optimism. From the cello’s triumphant opening chord in the first movement, through to the rapturous third movement, the melody dances between the soloist and orchestra with virtuosic displays of musical agility. Vaughan Williams’ Fifth Symphony rounds out this evening’s concert, with its warmth, serenity and pastoral tranquillity that evokes, above all, hope. Written against the backdrop of 1940’s war-torn Europe, this much-loved work reminds us of the power that music has to transform and uplift – a message that’s as much relevant to us today than ever. ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Music Director Designate: Vasily Petrenko The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO)’s mission is to bring the joy of music to everyone. Performing approximately 200 concerts each season and with a worldwide audience of more than half-a-million people, the RPO embraces a broad repertoire that enables it to reach the most diverse audience of any British symphony orchestra. The RPO’s aim is to share the joy of music with the widest possible audience, no matter who they are or where they’re from.

Join our journey and discover the RPO at www.rpo.co.uk VASILY PETRENKO Conductor In 2021, Vasily Petrenko will take up the positions of Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director of Artistic Director of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia (“Evgeny Svetlanov”). Currently, he holds the position of Chief Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (since 2009 as a continuation of his period as Principal Conductor which commenced in 2006), Chief Conductor of the European Union Youth Orchestra (since 2015) and Principal Guest Conductor of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia (since 2016).

Discover more about Vasily at www.vasilypetrenkomusic.com KIAN SOLTANI Cello Hailed by The Times as a “remarkable cellist” and described by Gramophone as “sheer perfection”, Kian Soltani’s playing is characterised by a depth of expression, sense of individuality and technical mastery, alongside a charismatic stage presence and ability to create an immediate emotional connection with his audience. He is now invited by the world’s leading orchestras, conductors and recital promoters, propelling him from rising star to one of the most talked about cellists performing today.

Discover more about Kian at www.kiansoltani.com