Bolton Symphony Orchestra, Variations

Three composers, three very different visions of the same musical idea: variation.Margaret Bonds's powerful Montgomery Variations draws on spirituals and freedom songs to create a deeply expressive portrait of African American life and the struggle for civil rights.

Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations turns to elegance and virtuosity, offering a graceful series of transformations for solo cello and orchestra.

And finally, Elgar's much-loved Enigma Variations takes a simple theme and transforms it into a vivid musical gallery of friends, personalities and characters.From Bonds's profound reflections on history and identity, through Tchaikovsky's lyrical brilliance, to Elgar's wit, warmth and mystery, Variations explores how a single musical idea can become something entirely new in the hands of three extraordinary composers.Margaret Bonds: Montgomery VariationsTchaikovsky: Rococo VariationsElgar: Enigma Variations