Italian Symphony
A sun-drenched concert full of joie de vivre and southern warmth.
‘This is Italy!’ Felix Mendelssohn wrote home when he had just arrived there for the first time. ‘And now has begun what I have always thought to be the supreme joy in life.’ He would later turn the impressions of his trip into music in his sun-drenched Italian Symphony. The other works in this programme also bask in the southern sun, with Poulenc’s heart-warming Concert Champêtre as its radiant centrepiece.
Programme & performers
Debussy
Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
Poulenc
Concert Champêtre
Rossini
Ouverture Il barbiere di Siviglia
Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 4 'Italian'
An hour prior to the concerts on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 April there is a concert introduction in the Van Cappellenzaal. On Sunday 23 April there is an introduction in the Grote Zaal.
Farewell 1st concertmaster Igor Gruppman
Concertmaster Igor Gruppman retires; after nineteen years in Rotterdam he will play his last concert with our orchestra on Sunday 23 April. In order to let this farewell not pass unnoticed, we are organizing a special programme this afternoon, free of charge for all visitors to this Sunday matinee. Prior to the concert, our artistic manager Floris Don will talk to Igor Gruppman. This interview will take place in the Grand Hall from 1.15 PM to 2.00 PM and replaces the regular concert introduction. After the concert, all visitors are welcome in the Foyer of the Grand Hall, where we raise a glass to Igor.
Mendelssohn's travel impressions
Truly exciting… the inspirational conductor, Maxim Emelyanychev, is a man on springs.
All play dates of Italian Symphony
Watch, listen and marvel:
