Ponte, Britten e Schumann

Like many other works inspired by the sea, La Mer Soulevée by Ângela da Ponte, a commission by Casa da Música premiered on 8^th July 2011. According to the composer’s own words, this works aims to pay homage to the Atlantic sea which bathes the beautiful Azorean coasts. Born in Ponta Delgada in 1984, Ângela da Ponte bases her short piece on a poem by Antero de Quental, an illustrious poet also born in Ponta Delgada.

The Concert for Piano and Orchestra in D minor, op.120 by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) is the sole concert written by this composer. A brilliant pianist, he premiered it as soloist at the Promenade Concert, in London, in 1938, the same year of its composition. Britten reviewed the work later in 1945, being this version the one performed these days.

The Symphony N.4 in D minor, op.120 by Robert Schumann (1810-1856), a composer renowned for his piano works, firstly completed this symphony in 1841. It was premiered in Leipzig on the same year, but Schumann heavily revised the original score it in 1851. This is his last symphony which confirms his highly individual sense of formal design and harmonic substance, main characteristics in Schumann’s symphonies which will influence later symphonists such as Brahms or Tchaikovsky.

Piano | Artur Pizarro 

Conductor | Rune Bergmann

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Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa
Principal Conductor | Joana Carneiro

Ângela da Ponte | La Mer Soulevée

Benjamin Britten | Concert for Piano and Orchestra in D minor, op.13

Robert Schumann | Symphony nº 4 in D minor, op. 120