4th Symphony Concert

The 4th symphony concert features works that engage with heritage and tradition, creatively engaging with past styles and bygone eras. Gustav Mahler's 4th Symphony and Thomas Adèsʼ "Couperin Studies" from 2006 both explore new sound worlds emerging from old ones. Adès' work builds upon three harpsichord movements by Couperin, adding new effects to the basic structure and allowing the orchestra to dance to the original fragments. Mahler's Fourth departs from the romantic pathos of the 19th century and displays both classical and modern influences. The finale features a delicate poem from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn", tailor-made for soprano Alyona Rostovskaya, a member of the opera ensemble of the Wiesbaden State Theatre.

Composed between 1914 and 1920, Maurice Ravel's suite "Le tombeau de Couperin" also draws inspiration from Couperin, while the Piano Concerto in G major, premiered in 1931, picks up on the harmonies and jazz rhythms which the composer became acquainted with during a tour of America in 1928. British pianist Steven Osborne is one of the most sought-after performers of our time, well-known for his excursions into jazz improvisation. In 2017, he performed the Ravel Piano Concerto in an acclaimed recording with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.