Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Daniel Harding, conductor

PROGRAMME

Beethoven & Sibelius

Ludwig van Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 / Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60 / Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63 / Pelléas et Mélisande Suite 

In its debut at the Torroella Festival, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, under the baton of Daniel Harding, proposes an exercise of comparison between two symphonies that occupy the same place in their composers' catalogue. Separated by a century, Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 was performed for the first time in 1806 and Sibelius' Symphony No. 4 was premiered in 1911. The two have a similar orchestration, but while Beethoven's Fourth moves away from the agitation of his third symphony to speak of feelings and moods (obsession, love, happiness, fun and wit), Sibelius' Symphony No. 4 is a work of intense drama that comes less easily to the audience than Beethoven's symphony, but is more rewarding.