Mel Bonis 1858 –1937
Trois Femmes de Légende for Orchestra
Camille Saint-Saëns 1835–1921
Cello Concerto Nr. 1 in A minor op. 33
Richard Strauss 1864–1949
Symphonia domestica op. 53
Julia Hagen cello
Thomas Guggeis conductor
buy tickets for this concert HERE
10am pre-concert talk in the main auditorium by Ulrike Kienzle
Works by wonderful female composers feature in this season's series of symphonic concerts. Salome, Ophelia and Cleopatra are the French composer Mel Bonis' Femmes de Légende, plucked from her piano cycle of the same name, written more than 50 years ago, which draws an arc from French romanticism to impressionism, and orchestrated. Her real name was Mélanie, but she published her works under the pseudonym Mel, because it wasn't deemed fitting for women to compose in those days.
Richard Strauss' wife is the heroine in his symphonia domestica. As with Ein Heldenleben, which was premiered in a Museum Concert, this symphony has autobiographical touches, including visiting relatives, arguments and strife within the family, which are reconciled in the end.
The wonderful cellist is Julia Hagen, from Salzburg, making her debut in our concert series. Saint-Saëns' work is regarded as a jewel among cello concertos. Composers including Shostakovich and Rachmaninov thought it the best one ever written.
