Irish Chamber Orchestra
Jörg Widmann Principal Conductor/Clarinet
Elisabeth Leonskaja Piano

KEY WORKS

Weber Concertino for Clarinet in E flat Major, Op. 26
Mendelssohn String Symphony No. 13 in C minor Sinfoniesatz
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, KV 488
Widmann Fever Fantasy for Piano, String Quartet and Clarinet
Schumann Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61

Weber’s pioneering Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra broke new ground, giving the clarinet a new measure of prominence and displaying its wide-ranging capacity for both expressivity and virtuosic display. Mendelssohn’s Sinfoniesatz in C minor is the last of a series of 13 sparkling string symphonies composed between the ages of 12 and 14. Grande dame of the piano, Elisabeth Leonskaja performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 – a work full of mercurial wit and humour. The Concerto features all the hallmarks of Mozart’s mature Concerti: themes are constantly interchanged between soloist and orchestra, Mozart expertly guides the listener through unexpected key changes, and the work speeds to a playful conclusion. Elisabeth Leonskaja’s also joins the ICO in Widmann’s Fever Fantasy, inspired by Schumann. Taking a schizophrenic approach, Widmann explores the motion of Schumann’s melodies which are like fever curves and conjures up a wealth of sound spectrums. Finally, Schumann’s 2nd Symphony is something quite magnificent, engulfing the listener with musical images of delightful originality and beauty. Mendelssohn conducted and premiered this work with its wonderful themes, imposing melodies, harmonies and rhythms.