‘Belgian National Orchestra, Hermus & Andsnes’

In this opening concert, chief conductor Antony Hermus gives you a glimpse of the Belgian National Orchestra's new season. A few symphonic excerpts from L’amour des trois oranges, an absurd opera by Sergei Prokofiev, act as a foretaste of the Prokofiev Festival to be held in early February. Gustav Mahler's funeral march Totenfeier serves as a prelude to the complete Mahler works that the Belgian National Orchestra, Bozar and La Monnaie will be performing in Brussels over the next two years. The Belgian National Orchestra then pays tribute to the recently deceased Wim Henderickx with the world premiere of his latest composition, Rejoice! (Hymn for New Times). Ever since Norwegian star pianist Leif Ove Andsnes recorded all of Beethoven's piano concertos for the prestigious Sony Classics label (The Beethoven Journey) some 10 years ago, he has been regarded as a Beethoven authority. In the opening concert, he plays the fifth, last and perhaps most impressive piano concerto.