Rossini’s sparkling, effervescent overture to Semiramide raises the curtain on this concert of dramatic music under conductor Stefan Hofkes. To follow, Barber’s intensely beautiful Violin Concerto, culminating in the rollercoaster of the breathless virtuosic perpetual motion finale - all to be played by wonderful soloist Eloisa-Fleur Thom making a welcome return with us at St George’s Bristol. To finish, the Third and most lyrical and romantic of Brahms’s Symphonies. On hearing a preview, fellow composer Dvorak wrote ’I say without exaggerating that this work surpasses his first two symphonies, certainly in—beauty...What magnificent melodies there are for the finding!’. There will be a retiring collection for Gympanzees.