A CHART-TOPPING 'superstar pianist' is playing a special Beethoven tribute concert in Bromsgrove tonight (Friday, January 31).

The English Symphony Orchestra is launching its ‘Beethoven 250’ celebrations in Bromsgrove, with Isata Kanneh-Mason playing at the Routh Hall at Bromsgrove School.

The concert will begin the ESO's year-long celebrations of composer Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th Birthday.

Kanneh-Mason will be performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3, coupled with a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 and Ruth Gipps’ string orchestra impression, Cringlemire Garden.

Kanneh-Mason, the sister of acclaimed cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, had a breakout year in 2019; her debut recording for Decca topped the charts for several months and was proclaimed as one of the highlights of the year in the New York Times and on Classic FM.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Isata,” said Kenneth Woods, the ESO’s Artistic Director and Conductor.

“I can’t imagine a more uplifting way to begin our ‘LVB 250’ celebrations; it will be particularly exciting to hear an artist of her already impressive stature in this intimate setting and a rare opportunity to hear her up-close.”

The concert begins at 7.30pm with tickets available online and on the door.

They cost £20 (or £18 for ESO Friends), with under-18s admitted for £5.00

See https://www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk/whats-on.aspx or https://www.eso.co.uk/kannehmason-bromsgrove2020/ for more information.

The concert also marks the ESO’s debut in the recently completed Routh Hall at Bromsgrove School.

“We’re very excited to be partnering with the School for this new series of concerts in Routh Hall," said Mr Woods.

“Our work together goes beyond concerts – we have held our summer youth orchestra course here for the last two years, and it’s also where Isata will be giving a masterclass during her visit.

"Concert venues in our part of the country are a real problem; between Birmingham and Bristol, which is really the ESO’s home territory, there is hardly a single purpose-built concert hall, which is a national scandal.

"Routh Hall, with fantastic sightlines and wonderful acoustics, has the potential to be a fantastic resource for the whole area," he added.