I love the whole symphony but from the second movement two favorite moments, two details, spring to mind. First, the recapitulation when the solo violin takes flight, like a buzzing bee around a flower, and then accidentally finds itself in a wonderful modulation to E major. The second is the ending. The flowers, that move and dance elegantly against the wind, suddenly expose their Tristan-like soul. From the vast first movement I would choose the huge, yawning creature’s (Pan’s?) first appearance.

Sarah Àlainn originally from Sydney, began studying the violin from the age of 5. She studied under Perry Hart, the star pupil of Szymon Goldberg who at the age of 20 became the concertmaster for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.