BBC NOW 2023-24 Season Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra

Caroline Shaw’s The Observatory sees its UK premiere – blending chaos and clarity, foreground and background, the piece is inspired by a trip to the Griffin Observatory near the Hollywood Bowl and explores new ways of looking at the universe, melding old and new in a stream of consciousness that never quite ends where it began.

Ravel’s iconic piano concerto, rich with lyrical contrast, jaunty tunes and richly intricate piano lines is performed by the inimitable Sergio Tiempo as he makes his debut with BBC NOW. A pure celebration of music and instrument colours, Bartók’s folk-flecked Concerto for Orchestra closes this breath-taking programme, conducted by the illustrious Grammy Award Winning Costa Rican conductor, Giancarlo Guerrero.