THE Basel Symphony Orchestra brings its Minimalist masterworks to The Anvil on Friday, April 25 at 7.45pm.

The concert gives a rare chance to hear a live performance of John Adam’s spectacular Harmonielehre.

American conductor Dennis Russell Davies conducts the orchestra on their first visit to the UK and their programmes offer an overview of works by pioneering Minimalists.

“I’m extremely proud of the Basel Symphony Orchestra and what we’ve achieved together since I became their Music Director four years ago,” comments Dennis Russell Davies. 

The conductor notes that he is eager to share his knowledge of each work in the programme – many of which he premiered in concert or on record – with his Basel colleagues. 

“This repertoire area has been part of my musical life for over forty years. Philip Glass and I were considered the young upstarts of our generation back then. Now we’re thought of as the senior citizens!”

The programme begins with Arvo Pärt’s “These words…”.  The concentrated and mysterious sound world is heard very effectively in the piece for strings and percussion.

This is followed by Philip Glass’ Cello Concerto no. 2 which contains intense and elegiac music distilled from the soundtrack to the film in its subtitle. 

Finally, John Adams’ spectacular Harmonielehre was a breakthrough piece in which the composer arrived at a new and confident means of expression – distinctively modern but based firmly on traditional tonality.

Thanks to Basel’s location close to the borders of Germany and France, the city’s Symphony Orchestra carries strong flavours of German and French playing styles.

“We have a brilliant group of players in Basel,” observes Dennis Russell Davies.

“The city has a long tradition of making music. The Basel Symphony Orchestra has always played contemporary works but we have expanded our range to include more mainstream compositions.

“They can handle anything written over the past 120 years and, for instance, really hold the intensity demanded by Glass and Pärt. It’s time now to introduce the orchestra to a wider audience, which is why I’m so looking forward to our appearances in the UK.”

Tickets priced £26 (includes £1 booking fee), are available from the box office on 01256 844244, or log on to anvilarts.org.uk.