Brussels Philharmonic & Michel Tabachnik

In Don Juan, Richard Strauss portrays the ultimate seducer in all his glory and tragedy: restless, yearning, and ultimately — inevitably — confronted by his own limitations. A vibrant symphonic poem full of youthful energy and reckless seduction, ending in a pregnant silence. This stillness is broken by the massive soundworld of Iannis Xenakis: in Empreintes, he makes the orchestra sound like an overwhelming force of nature, creating a fascinating listening experience that pushes known musical boundaries.

Then, Ludwig van Beethoven dots the i's, bringing the essence of the symphony back to the fore — albeit with a mischievous wink. His Eighth Symphony is an ode to vitality and is packed with musical wit. Although Beethoven was struggling with personal setbacks during this period, he delivered a compact, energetic, and upbeat symphony. A powerful shot of energy to close the evening.