Grüsse aus Wien

Harmony | Dialogue | Lyricism

With his fourth piano concerto, Beethoven revolutionised that particular form of music. At the premiere, the composer amazed the audience by beginning the concerto without an introduction from the orchestra and going directly into the solo, which here is taken on by Joseph Moog, who already has a Grammy nomination to his name. This celebrated German pianist constantly transfixes audiences with his passionate musicality and multi-facetted sound aesthetics.

The concert begins with Gustav Mahler’s «Blumine», a work that was originally composed for a play at the Hoftheater in Kassel. Mahler later transplanted it into his first symphony, only to remove it again later. “Blumine” now stands on its own two feet and is a magical way to open the evening.

The concert concludes with music by Alexander Zemlinsky, who wrote his first symphony at the age of 20 as the final part of his composer studies in Vienna. Despite being his inaugural orchestral piece, the symphony is amazing in its depth, as Zemlinsky masterfully explores various tonal extremes to create a work that is replete with emotion and refinement.