Aivis Greters
Truls Mørk Arne Nordheim
Witold Lutosławski
Hector Berlioz

Nordheim: Adieu: In memoriam Witold Lutosławski

Arne Nordheim (1931–2010) wrote Adieu: In memoriam Witold Lutosławski as part of his grieving process following Lutosławski's death. Nordheim and Lutosławski were both close friends and colleagues, and Nordheim regarded Lutosławski as one of the most gifted composers of his time.

Adieu was first performed at a memorial concert for Lutosławski in September 1994. The work expresses the emotions of losing someone close: sadness, emptiness, and grief. It is scored for strings and bell instruments.

Lutosławski: Cello Concerto

Witold Lutosławski (1913–1994) was an internationally renowned Polish composer. The Cello Concerto was composed in 1969–70 on commission from the Royal Philharmonic Society in London and is dedicated to the cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. It is rich in emotional moments and striking contrasts. Throughout the work, there is a dramatic dialogue between the soloist and the orchestra.

The evening's soloist is the acclaimed cellist Truls Mørk. Lutosławski's cello concerto has become a central part of his contemporary concert repertoire.

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

Symphonie fantastique tells the story of a young musician so heartbroken he poisons himself with opium. This sends him into a state in which he experiences terrifying visions. Throughout the piece we hear a recurring theme representing his unrequited love. The theme returns in various forms across all five movements.

Symphonie fantastique was revolutionary when Hector Berlioz (1803–1869) composed it in 1830. It is an "opera without words"; the narrative is dramatic, the orchestration is bold, and Berlioz uses the instruments in a way that conveys the emotions of the story with particular vividness.