Michael Schønwandt & Fazıl Say

This vibrant program celebrates nature’s beauty and its profound impact on humanity. Czech composer Bedřich Smetana opens the evening with 'Vltava' from his symphonic poem Má vlast, a tribute to his Bohemian homeland. One of the most evocative pieces in the symphonic repertoire, it vividly depicts the flowing waters of the Moldau River.

Turkish composer and artist-in-residence Fazıl Say follows with his concerto Mother Earth, a musical journey that gives voice to the climate crisis, blending a call to action with admiration for nature’s wonders.

The concert concludes with Jean Sibelius’ Lemminkäinen Suite, inspired by the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic. Originally conceived as an opera, this symphonic poem paints distinct musical tableaux rather than narrating a continuous story, bringing myth and landscape to life.

Created with the support of the Belgian Tax Shelter through Casa Kafka Pictures.