Widmann, Strauss & Beethoven: Con Brio

ICO’s latest offering Con Brio, showcases Jörg Widmann as soloist, conductor and composer. Widmann’s Con brio premiered in 2008, pays homage to Beethoven and in particular, his Seventh Symphony. As Principal Conductor and Artistic Partner of Irish Chamber Orchestra, Widmann has included the aforementioned Symphony No.7, which holds a special place among the most grandiose works of Beethoven; he considered the second movement to be one of his finest compositions.  This symphony was penned in 1812, when deafness was taking its toll on him and the Napoleonic Wars were raging in Russia. Richard Strauss was in his twilight years when he composed his final instrumental work, the Duett-Concertino for clarinet and bassoon with string orchestra and harp, in 1947.