Brett Dean and Bartók

The evening

A heartfelt ode to a dying art of communication, plus Bartók’s showcase for the orchestra’s virtuosic talents.

In music of expressive beauty and visceral intensity, Brett Dean makes a heartfelt case for letter writing. A violin concerto in all but name, The Lost Art of Letter Writing draws inspiration from quotations from famous historical letters, from Brahms to Clara Schumann, Van Gogh to a colleague, Hugo Wolf to his brother-in-law and the outlaw Ned Kelly to the Australian government.

A heady blend of mischief, drama and sheer delight, Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra shines a bright light on every orchestral section. Among the highlights is the light-hearted second movement and a finale of irrepressible carnival spirit.

Violinist Isabelle Faust, one of the most versatile of all concert soloists, unites with Maxime Pascal, a conductor who shines in contemporary repertoire, for this concert as part her wider residency at the Barbican.