Bristol Symphony Orchestra: Orchestral Heroines

Bristol Symphony Orchestra marks International Women’s Day with an inspired programme of music by three remarkable female composers, featuring Norwegian cellist Birgitta Elisa Oftestad, celebrated for her compelling stage presence and richly expressive playing.

Programme

Higdon Blue Cathedral
Tabakova Cello Concerto
Beach Symphony in E minor, Op 32, Gaelic

Bristol Symphony Orchestra
Birgitta Elisa Oftestad cello
Robert Weaver conductor

The evening opens with Jennifer Higdon’s Blue Cathedral, a luminous and deeply personal reflection on loss and transcendence. Written in memory of the composer’s brother, the work traces a journey from quiet contemplation to ecstatic light, with flute and clarinet lines weaving a delicate dialogue amid shimmering orchestral textures.

Birgitta Elisa Oftestad then takes the spotlight in Dobrinka Tabakova’s Cello Concerto, a radiant and lyrical work that blends warmth, elegance, and introspective depth. Oftestad’s expressive subtlety and musical intelligence bring out the concerto’s full emotional range, from tender intimacy to soaring lyricism.

After the interval, the orchestra performs Amy Beach’s Symphony in E minor, Op 32, the Gaelic Symphony. Beach, the first American woman to gain international recognition as a symphonist, transforms Celtic folk melodies into a richly orchestrated tapestry, balancing grandeur with intimacy and evoking the joy of homecoming.

A celebration of female creativity and orchestral brilliance, this concert highlights the expressive power and imaginative range of three extraordinary composers.