Pablo Heras-Casado begins Schumann Symphony cycle with the Münchner Philharmoniker

Mar 12, 2019

This month, Pablo Heras-Casado begins his Schumann cycle with the Münchner Philharmoniker, where he will conduct all four of the composer’s symphonies at the Philharmonie im Gasteig. On March 16 he will lead a public dress rehearsal, with a subscription concert on March 17 and a final performance on March 18, as part of the orchestra’s Youth Concert series. For the program, Heras-Casado conducts Schumann’s First Symphony, known as his “Spring” symphony, and his Third Symphony, the “Rhenish” symphony. Next month, he will return to conduct the remaining two symphonies on April 25, 26 & 27.

Schumann’s wife, Clara, greatly encouraged the composer to write symphonies, and following their marriage in 1840, he composed his first symphony in early 1841 in just four days. His Third Symphony has special significance for the composer because it was his last of the four to be written, and it was his first for which he conducted the premiere.

Heras-Casado regularly performs with the Münchner Philharmoniker, and in Autumn of 2016 he conducted a Hungarian-themed program of Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and his Piano Concerto No. 3 with pianist Javier Perianes. The performance was recorded live and released in 2018 receiving critical acclaim. More information and links to purchase the album are available via Pablo’s Recordings.