Dvořák: Cello Concerto, Op. 104 –⁠ Franck: Symphony in D Minor, FWV 48 (Live)

Big emotions boldly expressed are the irresistible stuff of Dvořák’s Cello Concerto and Franck’s Symphony in D minor in this exclusive concert given by the Vienna Philharmonic featuring star solo cellist Gautier Capuçon. Both works arouse heartfelt feelings in performers and audiences alike with their impassioned themes, intense harmonies and lightning-fast shifts of mood. Dvořák, a homesick Czech resident in New York while composing his Concerto, weaves nostalgic strands of folksong and dances from his native Bohemia into its music, adding light and shade to a score tinged with tragedy and troubled thoughts. And Franck’s only symphony is like an opera without words, a glorious combination of French melodic flair, Germanic seriousness and the Belgium-born composer’s personal flair for creating dramatic tension The Vienna Philharmonic has lived with both works for well over a century, with each generation of its players bringing something fresh to their performance. Lara Kusztrich, one of the orchestra’s first violins, was spellbound by Capuçon’s solo artistry in Dvořák’s Concerto, and by the work’s allusions to the composer’s most famous opera. “You can really hear these typical beams of light or sense the magical underwater world from Rusalka,” she says, adding that the French cellist’s playing “showcases not only impeccable technical brilliance but is also extremely rich in expression.” Lara and her colleagues, under the charismatic direction of French conductor Alain Altinoglu, were inspired by the majestic power of Franck’s orchestral writing and the sheer beauty of his tunes. “It’s a fantastic work of art!” To hear violinist Lara Kusztrich’s commentary on this exclusive concert, head to the final track.