The Virtuoso and the Storm

HEROLD Zampa Overture

BRUCH Violin Concerto - Soloist Raistlin Chan

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No 4

Conductor: Willem Van der Vis

Celebrating the Romantic orchestra at its most expressive: theatrical, lyrical, and bold. Each work reveals a different facet of nineteenth-century musical drama, culminating in the powerful emotional arc of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony.

A brilliant curtain-raiser from Hérold’s opera Zampa, the sparkling Overture blends dark intrigue with high-spirited theatrical flair capturing both the drama and wit of French
Romantic opera. Then one of the great Romantic violin concertos, Bruch’s First, which is cherished for its soaring lyricism and emotional warmth from the rhapsodic opening to the radiant Adagio and the vigorous, folk-inspired finale. The violin sings with generous,
heartfelt intensity.

The concert finishes with Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. It is a gripping journey through struggle and resilience. Marked by the recurring idea of “Fate,” the symphony moves from turbulence and introspection to a triumphant, folk-infused finale that affirms life’s vitality in the face of adversity.