BBC Radio 3 Concert Dialogue and Drama is coming to Ulster Hall on 26 November 2026 for an afternoon celebrating the expressive beauty and rich colours of the orchestra's wind section, alongside one of Mozart's most celebrated symphonic masterpieces.
Weber's Clarinet Concertino in E Flat Major was written in 1811 for the renowned clarinettist Heinrich Baermann and helped establish the clarinet as one of the great solo instruments of the Romantic era. Though modest in scale, it is rich in character, combining lyrical warmth with dazzling displays of virtuosity. Weber explores the instrument's full range, from its mellow lower register to its brilliant upper sonorities, creating music of charm, energy and sparkle. Michael Collins, the Ulster Orchestra's Principal Guest Artist, takes the solo role.
Collins is then joined by Guylaine Eckersley, the Orchestra's Bassoon Section Leader, for a performance of Richard Strauss's Duet-Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon. Written in 1947, it was one of the composer's final completed works and reveals a more intimate side of Strauss, far removed from the vast orchestral forces of his earlier tone poems. The contrasting colours and personalities of the clarinet and bassoon are woven together with warmth, humour and elegance, creating a captivating musical conversation. Across its three movements, Strauss creates music of great refinement and charm.
The programme concludes with Michael Collins conducting Mozart's Symphony No. 40 in G minor: a work combining beauty and drama with extraordinary craftsmanship. From its restless opening movement to its energetic finale, Mozart's masterpiece remains one of the crowning achievements of the Classical era, continuing to captivate audiences more than two centuries after it was composed.
Weber: Clarinet Concertino Op.26 in E Flat Major (10’)
Richard Strauss: Duet-concertino for clarinet & bassoon (18’)
Mozart: Symphony No.40, K.550, in G minor (35’)
Michael Collins, conductor/clarinet
Guylaine Eckersley, bassoon
Ulster Orchestra
