Spirit of adventure triumphs despite some empty seats

THERE was never the remotest chance that this BBC Philharmonic concert would be a sellout.

- By WILLIAM RUFF

And I'm not talking about the clash with The Traitors final.Although the mouths of some music-lovers would have started to water as soon as they saw the names of the composers on offer (Lili Boulanger, Zoltan Kodaly and Bela Bartok), the lack of popular fare would have put off many more. Three cheers then for the spirit of adventure which clearly still prevails at the BBC and at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall.

Lili Boulanger was a composer of exceptional promise who died at the age of only 24 in 1918, having suffered ill health throughout her short life. D'un soir triste (‘Of a sad evening’) was composed just months before she died andis a profound meditation on twilight and farewell. It unfolds with deep, autumnal textures, a haunting central melody and masterful orchestration. More than just “a sad evening,” it takes personal sadness and turns it into music of universal, poignant beauty.