The Hallé in Blackburn: February 2023

Hungarian conductor Gergely Madaras, described by iNews as “a rising star to watch”, conducts the Hallé in Franck’s Les Éolides (The Breezes) that captures an idyllic image of springtime. Wagner wrote his Wesendonck Lieder while living with the wealthy silk merchant Otto Wesendonck and his wife Mathilde. Their friendship inspired creativity with Mathilde writing five passionate poems that Wagner then set for female voice. The wonderfully talented mezzo-soprano, Jennifer Johnston, winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Singer of the Year Award 2021, will take on the solo role. Tchaikovsky described his Sixth and final Symphony as “the best thing I ever composed or shall compose”. The work begins with a first movement filled with raw emotions, followed by a teasing waltz, a barnstorming march and a slow, tragic finale.