From the quiet intimacy of Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll to the pastoral warmth of Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto — with the clarinet singing at its heart. Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 brings the evening to a close in a burst of joy: full of rhythm, nature, and Bohemian charm.

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A captivating world full of fresh vitality, sparkling streams and birdsong: that is the idyllic landscape Dvořák conjures in his Eighth Symphony. Brimming with confidence and optimism, he pours in a generous helping of folk flavour from his beloved Bohemia, and his signature dance rhythms are very much present. Everything is crafted with great precision — yet Dvořák makes it sound as if the music rises up effortlessly and spontaneously.

That same natural ease is heard in Gerald Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto, selected and performed by principal clarinet Emile Souvagie. An iconic staple of the repertoire, it is not a bombastic solo showcase but a warm, pulsating, almost vocal work that unfolds as an open dialogue between soloist and orchestra.

The evening opens with Wagner — not with his usual pathos, but with an intimate birthday gift for his wife Cosima and their newborn son, Siegfried.