Florence Price Piano Concerto

The evening opens with Copland’s Appalachian Spring, a piece that captures an expansive, rural atmosphere through its clear textures and familiar Shaker melodies. You will hear how the music moves from quiet, still beginnings to more rhythmic, spirited sections. This leads into Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement. As the title suggests, the work flows continuously, weaving together late-romantic orchestral traditions with the distinct rhythms and melodic shapes of African American spirituals and the juba dance. It is a compact and highly melodic piece that allows for a close dialogue between the piano and the orchestra. After the interval, we turn to Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 3. Unlike his later, more brooding symphonies, this work is characterised by its five-movement structure and a brighter, often dance-like quality. Listen for the polonaise rhythm in the final movement, which brings the performance to a grand and energetic conclusion. The transition from the open-air feeling of Copland to the intricate patterns of Tchaikovsky provides a varied experience of orchestral colour.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is the resident ensemble at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, known for its long history and wide-ranging repertoire within the city. For this performance, they are led by conductor Bar Avni. They are joined by soloist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, a pianist recognised for her technical skill and her commitment to bringing a broad range of nineteenth and twentieth-century works to the stage. The collaboration brings together an established regional orchestra with a new generation of performers, focusing on a programme that balances well-known symphonic structures with influential American compositions.

This concert takes place at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and has a total running time of approximately 120 minutes, including an interval. The variety of the programme and the accessible nature of the melodies make this a suitable choice if you are attending an orchestral concert for the first time. There is no specific dress code for this venue, though many patrons choose smart-casual attire. You should arrive in time to find your seat before the first work begins, as late entry may only be possible during a suitable break in the music.