BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

In the week of the 25th anniversary of his death, celebrate Leonard Bernstein with a concert drawing on repertoire from his final performance.

Some say that Leonard Bernstein was one of the most important classical composers of the twentieth century. Others think his music’s too enjoyable for that! But there’s only one man who could have written a violin concerto based on an ancient Greek drinking party and filled it with such melody and wit.

Manchester favourite Tasmin Little raises a glass to Bernstein’s Serenade tonight, as Juanjo Mena conducts a concert inspired by Bernstein’s last ever public performance as a conductor in 1989.

Britten’s Four Sea Interludes get things off to an invigorating start, and then Mena unleashes the BBC Philharmonic in some of the most life-enhancing music ever created. And until you’ve heard Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony in full, heart-pounding flight, you’ll never know just how intoxicating music can be.