Lahti Symphony Orchestra: Sankarin säkeet

Hypnotic. An artist in a class of his own. A master storyteller. One of the most celebrated cellists of our time, Nicolas Altstaedt returns to Lahti after eight years. The lyrical concerto by Robert Schumann is Altstaedt’s signature work: his unforgettable performance of it in Lucerne in 2010 marked the explosive launch of his international career.

The ‘Eroica’ Symphony, dedicated ‘to the memory of a great man’, was completed after Ludwig van Beethoven emerged from the deepest crisis of his life. As well as depicting his personal struggles, the ‘Eroica’ stands at the watershed of classicism and romanticism, a historical landmark that modern critics have voted the best symphony ever written. The orchestra’s former principal guest conductor, Anja Bihlmaier, renowned for her profound performances of German music, is back on home turf.