About the Concert

Repeating a sentence of a symphony in a concert? During Beethoven's lifetime, this was not uncommon, and the audience loved the second movement of his Seventh Symphony so much that it had to be played again regularly. Today, this is unusual, but the symphony has not lost its appeal. It was also referred to as an "apotheosis," a deification of dance, which is not surprising, as rhythm plays an important role in all four movements. Whether Richard Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll" had to be repeated after its first performance is unknown. It is possible, however, as he composed it as a gift for his wife Cosima, and it was premiered on her birthday on the grand staircase of the family's residence. The title refers to Siegfried, their son, and also to Wagner's opera hero. Mozart's Violin Concerto in A major is also known as the "Turkish Concerto," probably because of the surprising, exotic-colored finale. Mozart himself was an excellent violinist and could incorporate his precise knowledge of the instrument into the concerto, which convinces with virtuosity, charm, and wit.