The Hallé & RNCM Students - Side-by-Side

A remarkable opening to the RNCM Strings Festival sees RNCM students join The Hallé in a side-by-side performance that blends time-honoured repertoire with the excitement of a shared musical journey.

The Hallé, then under Hans Richter, originally premiered Elgar’s In the South during a 1904 festival arranged by his patron Frank Schuster. Elgar described the piece as capturing the ‘exhilarating out-of-doors feeling arising from the gloriously beautiful surroundings’ of the Mediterranean landscape.

Shostakovich composed two concertos for his friend and celebrated cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich. Designed to showcase his exceptional lyricism and dramatic intensity, the Cello Concerto No 1 became an instant success and is considered one of the finest achievements among cello repertoire with its hauntingly expressive melodies, driving rhythmic intensity, and profound emotional depth.

Inspired by his friend and love interest Iosif Kotek, Tchaikovsky wrote his iconic violin concerto in the Swiss Alps after fleeing his troubled marriage. The piece was developed in collaboration with Kotek, where Tchaikovsky would write a passage then Kotek would play it and offer valuable feedback about violin technique. What emerged is one of the most beloved violin concertos in history that is praised for its lyrical beauty, technical brilliance, and vibrant emotional contrasts.

The RNCM Strings Festival celebrates the sheer versatility, beauty, and brilliance of string music across a range of concerts and programmes. Our students, staff, and guest artists will be performing side-by-side throughout the festival, captivating listeners and embodying learning at its highest level.