Alexandre Bloch conducts Mark Simpson

In Romanian, "A-ti lua inima în dinti" means facing your fears and moving forward with courage. The works performed here by Simpson, Beethoven and Sibelius all revolve around inner fears and personal challenges, but especially the courage to face them. Tailor-made for violist Timothy Ridout, Mark Simpson's concerto bears the literal translation of the Romanian proverb as its title - "Hold your Heart in your Teeth". It was this powerful statement and the emotions it contains that inspired the British composer to write this work.

Prometheus from Greek mythology also strides forward with courage and rebels against the rule of the gods for the good of mankind - in keeping with Beethoven's enlightened ideas in his ballet music "The Creatures of Prometheus". Sibelius, on the other hand, wrestles with very personal, existential fears in his fourth symphony: he composed his fourth symphony after a difficult period in his life full of anxiety due to a tumor. The work is the result of many personal and compositional struggles, as none of his other compositions are as harmonically advanced and modern. At the same time, however, he opposes the music of his contemporaries Schönberg and Webern, which prevailed in the 1910s, and expresses his fears and doubts about the innovations and fashions of his time in his music.

Program:
Ludwig van Beethoven - Overture to the ballet music "The Creatures of Prometheus", op. 43
Mark Simpson - "Hold Your Heart in Your Teeth" for viola and orchestra, commissioned work, Swiss premiere

PAUSE

Jean Sibelius - Symphony No. 4 in A minor, op. 63