SINFONY CONCERT No. 3

Soloists: Wilfried Strehle, viola

David Geringas, violoncello

Conductor: Alexander Merzyn

Richard Strauss: "Don Quixote"

Fantastic variations on a theme of chivalric character op. 35

Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 in D minor op. 70

Two top-class musical legends can be heard in Richard Strauss' "Fantastic Variations on a Theme of Knightly Character": Cellist David Geringas slips into the role of Don Quixote, who is given an ironic, tongue-in-cheek theme. His squire Sancho Panza is characterized by a peasant theme, which is represented by violist Wilfried Strehle. Richard Strauss' tone-painting composition, written in 1897, is based on Miguel de Cervantes' famous novel "Don Quixote de la Mancha".

After the interval, Antonín Dvořák's pugnacious 7th Symphony will be heard, which was already celebrated during the composer's lifetime. Composed for the Royal Philharmonic Society, the work had its premiere in London in 1885.

Alexander Merzyn, who has been GMD at the Staatstheater Cottbus since 2020, will guest conduct the concert.