Much has changed since the age of Romanticism, yet its evocative sound world and profound emotional expressiveness continue to captivate audiences. César Franck’s symphonic poem Les Éolides takes its title from the daughters of Aeolus, god of the winds, and depicts the gentle breezes that caress the natural world. With its shimmering orchestral colours, the work even foreshadows the musical language of Impressionism.
On the other side of the world, the Chinese composer Xian Xinghai (1905–1945) created the Yellow River Piano Concerto, a work that combines the lyricism of Grieg, the wit of Paul Dukas, and the virtuosity of Rachmaninoff. This rarely performed masterpiece will be interpreted by Tim Zhang, who appeared as soloist on the MÁV Symphony Orchestra’s 2025 tour of China.
The concert concludes with Franck’s best-known orchestral work, the Symphony in D minor, a powerful composition that reflects the artistic legacy of both Beethoven and Wagner.
The evening is conducted by Omar El Jamali, winner of the 2021 Antal Doráti International Conducting Competition.
César Franck: Les Éolides, FWV 43
Xian Xinghai: Yellow River Piano Concerto
César Franck: Symphony in D minor, FWV 48
