Rīgas festivāls. Ķelnes radio simfoniskais orķestris

The Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra is celebrating the 70^th anniversary of its establishment this year, and the orchestra is returning to Latvia after ten years to once again perform together with the elegant French cellist Gautier Capuçon, who has become one of the most distinguished and original musicians from his generation.  The orchestra and the cellist will appear together with the world-famous Finnish conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste, who has been the artistic director of the orchestra since the 2010/2011 season and is known by members of the orchestra as “their own conductor.” The Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra is known for its outstanding interpretations of contemporary music, often performing new opuses written specifically for it.  The orchestra is also known for its specialisation in the area of music from the late age of Romanticism.  The audience will hear a cello concerto by Czech national romanticist Antonín Dvořák that was composed in New York and premiered in London, as well as the third symphony by German romanticist Johannes Brahms, which was composed in Wiesbaden and debuted in Vienna.  These are two masterpieces from the late 19^th century, and they are full of heroic ambition, touching passion, dramatic tension and sincere lyricism.