Taiwan Philharmonic: Out of this World

Experience exhilarating speed, mystical planets and cosmic battles in wondrous orchestral colour in this concert which welcomes the Taiwan Philharmonic, one of Asia’s leading orchestras, to Symphony Hall for the first time. Strap yourself in as master of minimalism John Adams launches into a thrill-seeking ride that’s brilliantly scored for large orchestra. We head to outer space and Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra, the opening ‘sunrise’ of which appeared so memorably in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Next, we visit two of Gustav Holst’s planets – Mars, The Bringer of War; and Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity – inspired by the composer’s fascination with astrology. Finally, the life-force of the orchestra is unleashed in John Williams’s iconic Star Wars Suite, drawing on music from the best-known space film of them all. No-one captures action-packed adventure, heroism and romance in such glorious orchestral colour as Williams. All of which adds up to a concert that’s out of this world. See the full B:Classical Season here