Mitsuko Uchida plays Beethoven

Abo C
Bamberg, Konzerthalle, Joseph-Keilberth-Saal
20:00 Uhr

The visionary Beethoven believed that "Freedom alone – to go further– is the purpose in the world of art as it is in all great creation." His last piano concerto was written in 1809, when Europe was embroiled in the Napoleonic Wars, and Beethoven is reported once to have said that he would put proper pressure on the enemy if only he knew as much about cannons as he did about counterpoint. In the English-speaking world, the concerto was given the epithet "Emperor” because of its heroic tone, but it also has peaceful moments. We will also play the Strauss’s magnificent tone poem "Also sprach Zarathustra", which he wrote in 1896 inspired by Nietzsche's ideas and is especially famous for its introductory musical rendering of the sunrise. In the imaginative sections that follow, Strauss uses an array of memorable motifs in an attempt to convey "the idea of the development of the human race from its beginnings through various stages of development, both religious and scientific, to Nietzsche's idea of the superman" – after all, the philosopher had broken with the Church and argued for the ideal of human beings who overcome and perfect themselves in a creative act. Our concert’s brand-new work likewise was inspired by the fascination with another creative master. It was written by the internationally successful Austrian composer Bernd Richard Deutsch, whose music is characterised by “a seemingly inexhaustible wealth of vivid musical characters, situations, and gestures”. His creation for orchestra was inspired by Gustav Klimt, whose vibrant paintings with titles like "The Kiss" or "The Tree of Life" are a veritable feast for the senses – and we can’t wait to experience their musical rendering!

Jakub Hrůša Conductor
Mitsuko Uchida Piano

Bernd Richard Deutsch »Phantasma« für Orchester (Uraufführung, Auftragskomposition der Bamberger Symphoniker mit dem Cleveland Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra)
Richard Strauss »Also sprach Zarathustra«
Ludwig van Beethoven Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 5 Es-Dur op. 73