Jaap van Zweden and Gautier Capuçon
As the newly appointed chief conductor of the Orchestre Pilharmonique de Radio France, Jaap van Zweden is coming to Amsterdam with his ensemble. The collaboration was born out of love at first sight: from the very first rehearsal, it was clear to the orchestra members that they had found their new chief conductor. Joining them is fellow countryman and cellist Gautier Capuçon, who recently ventured into the French Alps with his cello and on skis, sitting on a mountaintop to play and draw attention to the fragility of nature. His Dvořák playing has been described in the press as 'carefully considered, relaxed, and cheerful.' Naturally, the Frenchman has performed with the radio orchestra from Paris before.
Dvořák and Berlioz
An old man, sick with homesickness, and a young man who wants to conquer the music world. In 1830, Berlioz turns his Symphonie fantastique into one grand theatrical piece. In the New York of 1894, Dvořák reveals all the emotions of the instrument in his Cello Concerto . Their two masterpieces share the same background motif: the woman. Dvořák's sister-in-law Josefina, his true great love, dies; he includes her favorite song in his concerto. Berlioz's maddening love for actress Harriet Smithson resonates throughout his fantastic symphony. Perfect music, full of passion and sorrow.