Gewandhausorchester & Daniel Barenboim

Mendelssohn wrote his 'Italian' Symphony in 1830 as a young man, inspired by his southern journey. A work that transforms the warmth of the Mediterranean, the exuberance of Roman carnival nights, and the glow of a world full of beauty into music. Who could conduct this more authentically than Daniel Barenboim, who shares a special connection with Mendelssohn: as a Jewish artist, he stands in direct succession to a composer for whom the Gewandhaus became a second home. After the interval, Beethoven's Seventh Symphony will be performed. The symphony, which Richard Wagner once called 'the Apotheosis of Dance,' is a rhythmic natural phenomenon that creates an independent tension arc across four movements. Together, the two works offer insight into different approaches to form, dynamics, and orchestration in the early 19th century, from Mendelssohn's cheerful, clearly structured sound to Beethoven's powerful, driving energy.