Marin Alsop conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra

Marin Alsop is not just one of the highest-ranking conductors of our time, she’s a trailblazing star, a pioneer and a passionate advocate for female conductors. In this Season highlight, we’re thrilled to welcome her back to Birmingham as Principal Guest Conductor of the world-class Philharmonia. Alsop has long acknowledged Leonard Bernstein as a central influence in her life, as teacher and mentor, and there’s no-one with greater insight to bring to his music. With breathtaking violinist Esther Yoo, expect to be dazzled by the virtuosity and lyrical beauty of Bernstein’s Serenade – a series of musical dialogues between solo violin and orchestra on philosophies of love. With a new wife and small daughter, this was one of the happiest times of Mahler’s life, but his intensely profound Symphony No 6 foreshadowed deep personal tragedy. Marin Alsop points to the forces at work here: major and minor, light and dark, good and evil; cowbells conjure an idyllic Alpine scene in contrast to the shattering hammer blows of the finale. It’s a monumental tour-de-force, a ‘must-hear’ work, and Symphony Hall is the place to experience it. See the full B:Classical Season here