Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Mussorgsky’s spine-tingling depiction of a witches’ Sabbath is one of his most successful tone poems. Scriabin’s piano concerto is by turns passionate and languorous across its three movements, the middle one of which is a set of variations on a gentle theme. The five movements of Berlioz’ stunning Symphonie fantastique embody the visions of a lovesick musician in the grip of in overdose of opium. The idea of his beloved returns in various guises through the work, ending in a nightmarish witches’ sabbath. A profoundly imaginative score, it made the composer’s reputation all over Europe.