APO’s Myths & Legends brings together music of myth, tension and vivid orchestral colour, culminating in the radiant breadth of Sibelius’s Second Symphony. Though the pieces come from different eras and traditions, they share certain echoes that only become clear when heard together.
The first half plunges into darker sound worlds, where narrative undercurrents and psychological drama shape the music’s atmosphere. These works create a sense of shadow and intensity that sets up the contrast to come.
After the interval, the mood shifts entirely. Sibelius’s Second Symphony opens a landscape of clarity and breadth, its long‑breathed lines and organic growth offering a sense of renewal. The symphony’s journey from unease to blazing affirmation provides a striking counterbalance to the intensity of the first half, revealing Sibelius’s extraordinary ability to conjure imagery and contrast through purely symphonic means.
Programme:
- Richard Wagner – Prelude to Götterdämmerung
- Hans Zimmer – Chevaliers De Sangreal
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Francesca da Rimini
- Jean Sibelius – Symphony No. 2
Andrew Taylor – Conductor
Venue: The Great Hall, University of Reading (London Road Campus)