THE BBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WILL HEADLINE THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL PRINTEMPS DES ARTS IN MONTE-CARLO

On 28th March 2015, the BBC‘s Symphony Orchestra will be making its debut performance at the world-famous Festival Printemps des Arts in Monte-Carlo. Led by Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo, the orchestra will be performing Symphony No. 5 by Sibelius, in celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the great Finnish composer’s birth.

This will be the 31^st Printemps des Arts festival of music and dance taking place over four weekends from 20 March until 12 April.  The prestigious festival will introduce a diverse line up of over 400 different guest artists, seven world-renowned ensembles and three prestigious European orchestras. A number of the performances will take place in the principality’s most iconic venues including the Musee Oceanographique, Monaco Cathedral, Opéra Garnier and The Grimaldi Forum. This year’s main focus of work will surround the three major composers of Bach, Sibelius and Donatoni.

The eagerly anticipated performance on 28 March by the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Auditorium Rainer III concert hall of one of Sibelius’ key works is set to be one of the highlights of the festival. 2015 marks a significant year for the popular Finnish composer – it is the 150^th anniversary of his birth and Symphony No. 5, the piece chosen by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, is particularly poignant as it was originally created on 18 December 1915 on his 50^th birthday.  

During the evening, audiences will also have the chance to hear another one of Sibelius’ key pieces, La Fille de Pohjola, op. 49.  The composition of the piece was inspired by The Kalevala, an epic book of poetry based on Finnish mythology and folklore compiled by Elias Lönnrot in the 19^th century. The performance will be followed by some of his most famous melodies sung by soprano Soile Isokosi.

Those visiting Monaco over the long weekend of 26 – 29 March can also look forward to a dramatic performance of Bach’s Passions in Auditorium Rainer III. There will also be a piano recital by Henri Barda of Bach’s ‘The Well Tempered Clavier’ in the incredible setting of Yacht Club de Monaco, designed by Sir Norman Foster. The new Yacht Club de Monaco is one of the principality’s new flagship venues that officially opened in June 2014.