The Orchestre National de Lille opens its Sibelius concert series with the Symphony No.2. In the words of the famous record producer, Walter Legge, “Out of all the great works in the repertoire, none is better calculated to rouse strong emotion in an audience”. Written in 1902, the galvanising power of the Second symphony made its composer a national hero. For the first half of the concert, Alexandre Bloch has invited Amihai Grosz, a musician who combines an astonishing career as a brilliant soloist with his position as principal violist of the Berlin Philharmonic. Written for William Primrose, considered a pioneer of the viola, Bartók’s concerto makes the dark colours of this magnificent instrument glow.