Conductor Brent Stewart shares his guide to the concert

This programme has something I love in a concert: you can enjoy it instantly, but there is also a huge amount going on under the surface. Nothing feels remote or sealed behind glass. It is full of colour, character, and momentum: from Fauré’s elegance to Ritchie’s world première, and finally the sheer voltage of Beethoven. Fauré’s 'Masques et Bergamasques' is the perfect opening: light on its feet with orchestration so transparent that every little colour matters, creating a beautiful doorway into Anthony Ritchie’s sound world, where colour is used so brilliantly.

What I love about Anthony’s new Cello Concerto is its clear personality: a lyrical opening, a playful second movement, a darker third movement, and then a finale with swagger, bluesy bite and a rowdy coda. It will be extraordinary to hear soloist Inbal Megiddo bring this world première to life. Then Beethoven's 7th arrives. For me, this symphony is rhythm catching fire. Even the grand opening has something stirring underneath it, and once that pulse takes over, the whole orchestra is swept into motion. It is fierce, joyful and completely alive. Before we launch into the symphony, I’ll say a few words and also have the orchestra demonstrate a handful of moments to listen out for, so the audience gets a small glimpse inside the engine before it takes off.