Brian Wright introduces the 2016/17 season

Thanks to the generosity of the Friends, there’s a very welcome return for our President, the great pianist John Lill, playing his favourite Beethoven Concerto, No.3. Elsewhere we’ve four superb young prize-winning soloists, starting with a brilliant Russian, Alexander Panfilov, in Shostakovich’s popular 2nd Piano Concerto. We’ve a Kiwi, New Zealander Benjamin Baker, playing Bruch’s much-loved 1st Violin Concerto, and a Bulgarian, Michael Petrov, in Dvořák’s wonderful Cello Concerto. There’s also a MSO first in my experience, with a concert featuring the bassoon. Amy Harman is the virtuoso Principal bassoonist of the Philharmonia Orchestra.