Elgar’s Enigma Variations

The fairies and enchanted woodlands of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream captivated Mendelssohn from an early age, inspiring him to write music to accompany the play. His score oozes brilliance and lyrical charm, perfectly capturing the mood of the play with its shimmering sprites and magical forest setting.

We meet more characters in Elgar’s Enigma Variations, as the composer used music to paint enigmatic musical portraits of his friends and loved ones. Regarded as one of the greatest orchestral works of the twentieth century, it continues to intrigue and enthral audiences to this day.

To complete the evening, cellist Richard Harwood performs Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme – a virtuosic piece, inspired by Mozart.