Repertoire

Octavi Rumbau: Tesselle (2022) 20′ – World premiere, work commissioned by Barcelona ‎Creació Sonora
Bohuslav Martinů: Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, H 337 (1952) 21’‎
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, “The Rhenish”, Op. 97 (1850) 32’‎

Artists

Barcelona Symphony Orchestra (OBC)‎
Sara Ferrández, viola
Cristian Măcelaru, conductor

Program

A symphony able to capture moments of joy in a life dominated by depression.In Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 3, associations were soon made with the agreeable nature of Rhineland and its inhabitants, washed by the waters of the Rhine: a river “born free” in the words of Hölderlin. An extroverted piece, with popular roots and an innovative narrative structure in five movements, it managed to capture moments of joy in a life dominated by depression. Its premiere, conducted by Schumann himself, was a triumphant success, with a fourth movement (“Feierlich”) considered to be one of the most inspired examples of his symphonic work.

Rhapsody-Concerto for Viola and Orchestra is a work by a composer more closely rooted in the traditions of Czech music, alongside figures such as Dvořák and Janáček, than mid 20th century avant-gardism. A composer with a distinctive personality, in this work from his late period, Bohuslav Martinů envelops the viola in calm, lyrical sounds. This is one of the most famous viola concertos by one of the Czech composers with the greatest talent and personality of the time.