Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra II

What's it about?

Cyrano de Bergerac is the titular hero of Edmond Rostand's verse novel of the same name. The Dutch composer Johan Wagenaar created a monument to the poet with the large nose portrayed therein, in the form of a romantic overture for large orchestra. This triumphant, almost fifteen-minute heroic epic in tones is followed by one of the most beautiful instrumental concertos in music history, interpreted by one of the leading clarinetists of our time: The Swede Martin Fröst plays Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Clarinet Concerto on the instrument for which it was once intended: the darker-timbred basset clarinet. And to conclude the two-day guest performance by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra with Lahav Shani: Johannes Brahms, who loved to mislead his contemporaries with false hints about his works. He wrote to his publisher about his Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73: "I have never written anything so sad, so minor: the score must appear with a mourning border." Brahms chuckled to himself, as this sun-drenched symphony is considered a particularly intimate and radiant example of his compositional art. And so, on the evening of August 23, 2026, the most beautiful summer sounds will waft around the Wolkenturm – as a greeting from Lake Wörthersee, where Brahms's Second Symphony was composed in 1877. Note: The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra unfortunately had to cancel its participation in this concert for organizational reasons. We are pleased that the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra has taken over the guest performance in Grafenegg with a changed program. Cast Orchestra Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor Lahav Shani Clarinet Martin Fröst Program Johan Wagenaar "Cyrano de Bergerac" Overture in D major, Op. 23 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A major, KV 622 - Intermission - Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73