PROGRAM NOTES
GROSVENOR PERFORMS BEETHOVEN
ABOUT THE ARTISTS Jonathon Heyward
Benjamin Grosvenor
Jonathon Heyward is forging a career as one of the most exciting conductors on the international scene . Currently in his second year as a Chief Conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie , Heyward took part in a two-week residency with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in the summer of 2021 , which led to a highly acclaimed BBC Proms debut .
Heyward ’ s guest conducting highlights include the London Symphony Orchestra ; BBC Symphony Orchestra ; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra ; BBC National Orchestra of Wales ; Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra ; Basel Symphony ; Musikkollegium Winterthur ; and the Baltimore , Atlanta , Seattle , Detroit , Houston , and San Diego symphony orchestras in the U . S .
Equally at home on the opera stage , Heyward made his Royal Opera House debut with Hannah Kendall ’ s Knife of Dawn , having also conducted Kurt Weill ’ s Lost in the Stars with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra . In the 2017 – 18 season , Heyward was selected as a Los Angeles Philharmonic Dudamel Conducting Fellow , later stepping in to make his subscription debut with Hilary Hahn .
Heyward recently completed three years as Assistant Conductor of the Hallé Orchestra under mentorship of Sir Mark Elder . Highlights include a performance with Benjamin Grosvenor and a 200 th birthday concert for the orchestra ’ s founder , Sir Charles Hallé .
Benjamin Grosvenor is internationally recognized for his electrifying performances , distinctive sound , and insightful interpretations . His virtuosic command over the most arduous technical complexities underpins the remarkable depth and understanding of his music making .
Grosvenor first came to prominence as the outstanding winner of the Keyboard Final of the 2004 BBC Young Musician Competition at the age of 11 , and at age 19 , he was invited to perform with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the First Night of the 2011 BBC Proms .
Concerto highlights include engagements with the Boston and Chicago symphony orchestras , Philadelphia Orchestra , Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne , and the Orchestra of Komische Oper Berlin .
In 2011 , Grosvenor signed to Decca Classics , becoming the youngest British musician ever to sign to the label . He has also received Gramophone ’ s Young Artist of the Year and Instrumental awards and a Classic Brits Critics ’ Award .
The youngest of five brothers , Grosvenor began playing piano at the age of six . He studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Christopher Elton and Daniel-Ben Pienaar , where he graduated in 2012 with the Queen ’ s Commendation for Excellence and , in 2016 , was awarded a fellowship from the institution .
Jonathon Heyward
Benjamin Grosvenor
Experience the Performance Again A livestream of this program is available for a limited time . A BSO Sessions Episode , featuring an interview with Jonathon Heyward , will be released on April 26 and will be available through the 2021 – 22 season .
FROM THE PODIUM by Jonathon Heyward
Being able to create something bigger than one human being has always fascinated me from the very beginning , when I stepped onto the podium for the first time in middle school . I was absolutely obsessed with this concept of the score and seeing all the pieces come together .
As a conductor , I am essentially a storyteller through music , and all these pieces have fantastic narratives . Sometimes I do that really annoying thing where I read the last page of a novel before going to the beginning , and my obsession with Shostakovich started the same way , with the 15 th Symphony . I hope this enigmatic music — this questioning of the universe — makes the audience curious to listen for the next unanswered question mark . It ’ s related to what happens in the second movement of the Beethoven Concerto , and also in Hannah Kendall ’ s piece , which has this beautiful atmosphere .
When you believe in the artists and composers that you are working with , there ’ s a synergy that ’ s created that I ’ m sure is palpable in the audience . I hope we can inspire people and break down the walls and the concept that classical music is for a ‘ certain type ,’ because I ’ m so sick of that . If I could fall in love with this music as a 10-year-old boy from Charleston , South Carolina , I think anyone can . So I hope that people fall in love with it and see the relatability .
MAR-APR 2022 / OVERTURE 17