OBC, Nicholas Collon & Antoine Tamestit
Performers
OBC – Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Antoine Tamestit, viola
Nicholas Collon, conductor
Repertory
William Walton: Viola Concerto
Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
During the pandemic, the artistic world almost ground to a halt. Olga Neuwirth’s Dreydl was born from this crisis, at a time when – in the composer’s own words – “time stood still and no one knew what the future would bring”.
William Walton’s Concerto for Viola was received with greater optimism. Its success not only made it one of the most outstanding works for this instrument today, but the young composer was dubbed a genius and considered to be the greatest representative of British music’s present and future.
Jean Sibelius likewise became a symbol for his country. His First Symphony went on to become one of his protest works, when its writing coincided with the February Manifesto, which weakened the Grand Duchy of Finland and subordinated it to Russia. The symphony brought the composer worldwide fame, while becoming a reflection of the Finnish people’s struggle.