A concert featuring Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 3 'Rhenish' and Jörg Widmann's Cantata in tempore belli, conducted by Jörg Widmann with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Jörg Widmann takes the podium at BBC Hoddinott Hall on Sunday 14 February 2027, leading the BBC National Orchestra of Wales through a programme that moves from celebration to a plea for peace. It's part of the BBC NOW 2026-27 season, and the same concert is given at Brangwyn Hall in Swansea the day before, on Saturday 13 February.
The first half is Robert Schumann's Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, known as the 'Rhenish'. It's an exuberant tribute to the Rhine, with leaping, syncopated themes and heroic horn calls that shape its noble character. The fourth movement is a majestic piece inspired by the solemn grandeur of an archbishop's elevation to cardinal.
After the interval, Widmann steps from conducting to composing. His own Cantata in tempore belli (Cantata in Times of War) is a searing response to conflict, weaving together biblical texts, poetry, and Wolfgang Borchert's uncompromising pacifist appeal 'Say No!' into a statement against war and a hope for peace. He's joined by alto Jess Dandy and narrator Amira Casar, who bring the texts to life alongside the orchestra.
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Between the two, the afternoon shifts from the celebratory Rhine to a direct confrontation with war. It's a long arc to take in one sitting, and having the same programme in Cardiff and Swansea means you can catch it wherever suits you best. The Cardiff performance is at 15:00 at BBC Hoddinott Hall.
