The Northern Dutch composer Willem Stoppelenberg is turning 80, a good reason to put his Microkosmos on the lecterns. Concertmaster Eeva Koskinen and principal violas Christophe Weidmann then shine in Mozart’s lively Sinfonia Concertante. The genre, a cross between a symphony and a concerto, came over from Italy and was very popular for a short time. Mozart’s version belongs to the absolute outside category: virtuoso and sensitive at the same time, very original and of an unprecedented beauty.

Schumann’s Fourth Symphony is romantic through and through: sultry, exciting and full of beautiful melodies. Schumann shows his most revolutionary side here: the four movements merge almost seamlessly and the multicolored music seems to flow organically from the beautiful opening notes. From the dramatic first movement and the lyrical Romanze – with a beautiful violin solo – to the compellingly energetic final movement.

Program

Stoppelenburg – Microkosmos
Mozart – Sinfonia concertante in Es gr.t. KV 364
Schumann – Symphony no.4 op.120 in d kl.t.