NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / Vilde Frang / Antonio Méndez

Despite his young age, the up-and-coming Spanish conductor Antonio Méndez has already worked with world-famous orchestras such as the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and the Staatskapelle Dresden. He has chosen Rachmaninov’s deeply emotional Symphony No. 2 for his debut with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. With this work the composer finally overcame a creative crisis that had befallen him after the premiere of his First Symphony. It was worth the wait: the Second Symphony has enjoyed long-lasting success and is Rachmaninov’s most popular symphony. Composed shortly after the famous Piano Concerto No.2, it shares that piece’s lyrical cadence.

Championing seldom-performed works and with a humble and authentic air, Vilde Frang has played her way to the top of the international violin scene over the last few years without a shred of celebrity hype. On her return to the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, the Norwegian – who was taught by legendary violinists such as Ana Chumachenco and Anne-Sophie Mutter – will play Béla Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1, which is unfairly neglected in favour of the composer’s Second Violin Concerto.