In the organizer's words:

Even without any maritime experience, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy succeeded in giving musical form to the dynamics of stasis and movement in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poems of the same name in the concert overture "Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt". While he lets his ship sail happily into the harbor, Odysseus only reaches the safe shore in Mario Venzago's "Ulisse" after resisting the sirens and defying Scylla and Charybdis - audibly preserving his trust in God. The following "Choral Variations" offer meditative contemplation before "Ascent" traces the arduous path upwards and culminates in airy clarity - a struggle reminiscent of Anton Bruckner's difficult path as a composer. However, Mario Venzago steers the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra through the equally popular "Romantic" Fourth Symphony in the second part of the concert, rather than the Seventh Symphony, which is prominently quoted in it.

Program

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy:
"Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt", concert overture op. 27

Mario Venzago:
Three orchestral pieces
"Ulisse"
"Choral Variations" for 11 instruments
"Ascent"

Anton Bruckner:
Symphony No. 4 in E flat major ("Romantic"; 2nd version)

Performers

Jena Philharmonic Orchestra
Mario Venzago, conductor