BBC NOW 2026-27 Season BBC NOW – NOW!

This boldly imaginative programme, conducted by Simon Crawford-Phillips, brings three distinctive voices of contemporary music to the fore, framed by two major UK premieres and a world premiere. HK Gruber’s Short Stories from the Vienna Woods opens the evening with a series of sharply characterised musical illustrations, by turns playful, ironic and darkly expressive.

At the heart of the concert is the world premiere of Erika Fox’s Viola Concerto, performed by celebrated soloist Lawrence Power. Richly exploratory in colour and gesture, the concerto places the viola centre stage, showcasing its expressive depth through Fox’s distinctive blend of lyricism and energetic drive.

Finally, we have the UK premiere of Steven Mackey’s Concerto for Curved Space. A virtuosic and kaleidoscopic journey, the work bends rhythm, harmony and genre with irrepressible momentum, drawing the evening to a thrilling and expansive close.