From the website of the Bremen Philharmonic Orchestra:
Of women and men
7th Philharmonic Concert
She was one of the most promising female composers of her generation, and yet for a long time she only ranked in the category of “insider tip”: Melanie Bonis. Her engaging “Suite en forme de valses” breathes the character of the light muse, but with its originality and elegance goes far beyond shallow salon music. A charming prelude to the 7th Philharmonic Concert on International Women’s Day, with Jessica Cottis, of course, a woman at the podium of the Bremen Philharmonic. And there is another woman who deserves attention in this concert programme, Clara Schumann. As Robert Schumann’s wife and closest confidante, it was she who did not allow the publication of his last violin concerto after his death. We can only speculate about the reasons. It is tragic, however, that the premiere did not take place until almost 100 years after Schumann’s death, at a Nazi propaganda event. However, this should in no way diminish the importance of the work. With Frank Peter Zimmermann, it is in exactly the right hands. From stories about a work to history in a work: in Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, the famous Pastoral, the composer shows himself to be a lover of nature, but, in his own words, “leaves it to the listener to find out what the situations are”. For, according to Beethoven, “Whoever ever receives even an idea of country life can think for himself what the author wants without many headings.”
Program:
Melanie Bonis (1858-1937)
Suite en forme de valsesop.35-39
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor WoO 1
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Symphony No. 6 F major op.68
Conductor: Jessica Cottis
Violin: Frank Peter Zimmermann