Sinfonia Viva

Name: Sinfonia Viva
Start: 2026-01-10T19:30:00+00:00
Location: Royal Concert Hall

Sat 10 Jan 2026 at 7:30pm

Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham

Main Auditorium

Tickets

Sat 10 Jan 2026

7:30pm

Tickets

Show times are subject to change and published where available.

Sinfonia Viva
Jonathan Bloxham conductor

Isata Kanneh-Mason piano
Braimah Kanneh-Mason violin
Sheku Kanneh-Mason presenter
Nottingham Harmonic Choir

Mozart Overture to The Magic Flute
Beethoven    Piano Concerto No. 4
Brahms    Schicksalslied
Beethoven Romance for Violin No. 2
Vaughan Williams    Toward the Unknown Region

Mozart’s Overture to the Magic Flute launches the concert with both the Masonic solemnity and the comedic high spirits of his opera before concluding with energy and bravado. Premiered alongside his legendary Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, Beethoven, typically innovative, distinctively introduces the first movement of his Piano Concerto No. 4 with the only the piano, soon joined by the orchestra with grandeur and lyricism. The slow movement beautifully contrasts agitated orchestral motifs with the gentle and poignant solo piano, leading into a determined, graceful, and proud finale.

Brahms’s dramatic cantata Schicksalslied (‘Song of Fate’) was inspired by Friedrich Hölderlin’s poem concerning the Greek mythical titan Hyperion, and the contrast it makes between the blissful lives of the Immortals and the restless existence of human beings, buffeted by fate. Composed only two years before his Piano Concerto No. 4, Beethoven’s Romance for Violin No. 2 is delicate and light, with refined phrasing and balance, a youthful escape as he came to terms with his hearing loss.

The final choral item forms a fascinating contrast to Schicksalslied. There’s a more optimistic mood embraced by Vaughan Williams’ Toward the Unknown Region, as you might expect from a work reflecting the composer’s admiration for Walt Whitman’s transcendent poetry. The spirit of adventure reigns throughout, Whitman’s visionary words unleashing wave after wave of musical elation.

Change to programme
As a result of Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s recent finger injury, we have needed to change this programme. Sheku and his siblings were due to be performing Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.

Sheku has been advised to refrain from playing his cello to allow it to heal and consequently has withdrawn from all engagements for the remainder of 2025. He will make a gentle return to playing in the new year as part of the rehabilitation process, but this means that there is insufficient time to rehearse the Beethoven work adequately with his siblings. Whilst he is very disappointed not to be able to perform as planned, we are pleased to confirm that Isata and Braimah will be performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and Romance for Solo Violin No. 2 respectively. Sheku will join his siblings on stage during the evening of the concert to introduce these pieces and he looks forward to returning to the concert platform for his European engagements in spring 2026.

Free pre-concert talk, 6.20pm in the auditorium: Braimah, Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason in conversation.

Part of

Nottingham Classics

Age Guidance: 7+

Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+

Running time: Doors: 6.00pm. 1st Half: 7.30pm - 8.20pm, 20 minute interval, 2nd Half: 8.40pm - 9.30pm

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Season Ticket and Multibuy Package Discounts
12 concerts – Save 30%
10 -11 concerts – Save 25%
7 – 9 concerts – Save 20%
5 – 6 concerts – Save 15%
3 – 4 concerts – Save 10%

Book as a group
Make it a big night out and get bigger discounts by booking as a group. Save 20% for parties of 10 – 19 and 30% for parties of 20 or more, with a wide choice of seats for each member of your party. Please contact group.sales@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or call on 0115 989 5555 to book.

Concert Coaches
We run seven Concert Coaches, from Loughborough, Sleaford/Grantham, Southwell, Worksop/Retford, Ashbourne/Derby, Bakewell/Matlock and Lincoln/Newark. These offer affordable, stress-free return coach travel, picking up at convenient stops on the way and dropping off/picking up at the Royal Concert Hall doors. Please contact group.sales@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or call on 0115 989 5555 to book.

Under 26s and full-time students
Under 26s and students in full time education can book seats in any area of the hall for £5 each. Just select the Under 26 price from the drop-down list when selecting a seat. Please note: you may be asked to show proof of age or student status when you enter the auditorium.

Bargain Seats
These are available in the choir stalls at £9.50 for orchestral series concerts only and can be purchased from 12pm on the day of the concert online, by phone, or at the box office counter. Please note that these seats are subject to availability.