BBC NOW 2026-27 Season In Times of War

Under the baton of Jörg Widmann, this fascinating programme journeys from jubilant celebration to an urgent plea for peace. Schumann’s Symphony No. 3, opens the evening with an exuberant tribute to the Rhine, its leaping, syncopated themes surging with life and purpose. Heroic horn calls shape the symphony’s noble character, giving centre stage to the majestic fourth movement, inspired by the solemn grandeur of an archbishop’s elevation to cardinal.

After the interval, Widmann’s own Cantata in tempore belli (Cantata in Times of War) delivers a powerful, searing response to conflict. Featuring Jess Dandy and narrator Amira Casar, the work weaves biblical texts, poetry and Wolfgang Borchert’s uncompromising pacifist appeal, “Say No!”, into an unforgettable statement against war and in hope for peace.