One musical depiction of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers towers above them all. When Serge Prokofiev’s ballet score was first heard in 1940, audiences can’t have been in any doubt as to the characters and events the composer was describing. His score is one of the most remarkable renderings of character, mood and circumstance in musical history - its iconic Dance of the Knights depicting a stand-off between the Montagues and the Capulets with ground-shaking brilliance.

Before excerpts from Prokofiev’s story in music, Honorary Conductor Edward Gardner conducts pieces of contemporary music that will feel very close to home. Ketil Hvoslef’s The Godfather salutes the composer’s own godfather, Harald Heide, who conducted the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra for over 40 years. After that, international star and local treasure Leif Ove Andsnes takes to the piano stool for a major premiere: a new Piano Concerto from our composer-in-residence, Ørjan Matre.