鈥淢y fountain of youth is music.鈥� 鈥� Julia Wolfe
For our season opener, an assembly of composers who, by embracing pain, find solace, redemption, and clarity.
Composer in Residence for the 2025-26 season, Julia Wolfe鈥檚 LAD makes for a spectacular opening: nine bagpipes, processing through the Bridgewater Hall, playing drones that stretch and bend with a thrilling agony. (鈥楾here鈥檚 something really destructive and terrible about [LAD],鈥� the Scottish guitarist Sean Shibe has written, 鈥榖ut it also has a redemptive element too.鈥�) Rejuvenation is a clearer aim in her Fountain of Youth, a musical tsunami where blocks of orchestral sound obliterate all in their path.
Sergei Prokofiev approaches the question of rejuvenation from a different perspective: composed just before he ended 17 years of exile from post-revolutionary Russia, his Violin Concerto No. 2 finds a simpler, more precisely expressive style; still, expect ravishing melodies and rustic punch, as superstar violinist Augustin Hadelich brings his incredible artistry to one of Prokofiev鈥檚 most celebrated works.
We end with Tchaikovsky鈥檚 Fifth Symphony, orchestral music鈥檚 ultimate embrace of fate. This is maximalist music 鈥� huge emotions and passionate melodies, painted on an epic musical canvas.
Pre-concert performance
Please note, the performance of Julia Wolfe's LAD is a pre-show performance at 7pm in The Bridgewater Hall foyer. The Gallery space will be open for those who wish to move closer to the performers. Please be aware that noise levels may be high during this performance.