The concert opens with music by Bushra El-Turk, a Londoner with Lebanese roots, who combines Western and Eastern musical styles to thrilling effect in Tmesis.Renowned soloist Rolf Hind joins us to perform Bartók’s virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 2. Infamous amongst pianists for the fearsome demands it makes of the soloist, for audiences it presents a riot of colour and energy right from its opening fanfare.Beginning gently, Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 – perhaps his most famous – unfolds an epic narrative over four movements that lead inexorably to its stirring finale. Often associated with the cause of Finnish independence, it vividly evokes the majestic landscapes of the composer’s homeland.Rolf Hind is a major force as a soloist, composer, recording artist, chamber musician and collaborator. He has given recitals at many of Europe’s leading new music festivals, and at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House and on tours of Korea, Taiwan and Cuba. He has worked with many leading conductors, including Ashkenazy, Knussen, Rattle, David Robertson and Andrew Davis and appeared seven times at the BBC Proms.