Manacorda, Saadi & Bruckner Orchestra Linz

Two highly anticipated debuts are on the program for the seventh concert of the Great Orchestras series in the 26–27 season: The Italian-French conductor Antonello Manacorda, who has recently made waves internationally with his complete recordings of the symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, will take the stage alongside rising star Yamen Saadi – concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic – to present Mendelssohn's famous Violin Concerto in E minor. This work, which oscillates between lush melodies and ghostly, playful virtuosity, will be contrasted in the second half with Gustav Mahler's 7th Symphony, also revolving around the key of E minor, fittingly marking the seventh concert of the series. The fascination of this symphony arises similarly from the juxtaposition of shadowy "night music" and splendidly extroverted sound eruptions, including some instrumental peculiarities like guitar, mandolin, or herd bells. This orchestral masterpiece will be brought to life by the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, which continues its series of Mahler symphonies with this performance.