Sounding a Century

When The Rite of Spring premiered in Paris in May 1913, it started a riot – or so the story goes. Even 109 years on, every performance of The Rite is still an adventure, so expect spine-tingling thrills and explosive playing. It’s a gripping counterpart to Lutoslawski’s atmospheric Fourth Symphony, a late masterpiece from one of Gardner’s favourite composers. And because music never stands still, Tomoko Mukaiyama gives the world premiere of an arresting new piano concerto by Agata Zubel – a composer for whom ‘the most important element is exploration’.