Jakub Hrůša conductor
Frank Peter Zimmerman, violin
Bamberger Symphoniker

Programme
Robert Schumann Konzert für Violine und Orchester d-Moll
Anton Bruckner Symphonie Nr. 9 d-Moll

Robert Schumann had his very own recipe for keeping his listeners’ curiosity alive: »The audience sometimes needs to be impressed. They become indifferent the moment they are made too comfortable. But if the composer throws a stone towards them now and again, or even at their heads, they will all duck in fear and sing your praises once the piece has ended.« Schumann built a few »musical stones« into his wonderful violin concerto: it was written in 1853 for Joseph Joachim, but when it was finished, Joachim complained that some passages were »rhythmically wayward« and »excruciatingly difficult« – and refused to play it. And thus the concerto disappeared from the repertoire for more than 80 years, pigeonholed as the work of a madman. Quite undeservedly so, as it is full of enchanting passages, as our soloist will demonstrate impressively: Frank Peter Zimmermann, whom we accompanied in his very first performance with an orchestra at the beginning of his career – and with whom we feel a strong artistic connection. Next, we will present Bruckner’s final symphonic sound cosmos. Bruckner’s gargantuan works likewise caused many to shake their heads, some critics even accusing him of writing the same symphony nine times. Despite this, Bruckner’s contemporaries were always curious about the works of the »church musician of the concert hall« – including, of course, the three-movement torso of the Ninth Symphony, written in 1896, the year of Bruckner’s death. First performed in 1903, the symphony is an impressive aural journey and, according to the testimony of Bruckner’s physician, dedicated to »the majesty of all majesties, dear God« – »if he wants to accept it«, as the deeply devout composer reverently added.