Philippe Herreweghe & Basel Chamber Orchestra
Romantic symphonies: Felix Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 2 and Emilie Mayer Symphony No. 5
Emilie Mayer, a contemporary of Mendelssohn, was highly acclaimed in her time and was widely regarded as the “female Beethoven”. She left behind eight symphonies, which unfortunately – as is so often the case with works by female composers – fell into oblivion. Philippe Herreweghe and the Basel Chamber Orchestra juxtapose her 5th Symphony with two works by Mendelssohn Bartholdy, thus reviving an opus that is well worth hearing. Following performances with his Orchestre des Champs-Élysées and Collegium Vocale Gent, this is an opportunity to experience the conductor with another orchestra with whom he has enjoyed a fruitful collaboration and with whom he is currently devoting himself to the performance and recording of all of Mendelssohn’s symphonies.