The Belle Époque, that era at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, produced inspirational artistic currents and forms. The charisma of Romanticism, the sensuous images and symbolism, the flourishing veneration of artists, virtuosity on the one hand and the dawn of a new era or a new artistic self-image on the other hand - all of this inspired the composers of the fin de siècle. Camille Saint-Saëns, Franz Waxman and Sergej Rachmaninoff give a face and tone to three exciting facets of these years.
If a work stands for the typical Rachmaninoff sound, it is his 2nd symphony, which premiered in St. Petersburg in 1908. In this large symphonic work, the Russian composer already shows an individual and mature personal language in his early 30s. The second combines rapturous arcs of melody with fiery cascades. It is not only a milestone in Rachmaninoff's work, but also a highlight of the symphony of the early 20th century. The wide field of virtuoso bravura pieces reflects Saint-Saëns' "Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso" and the "Carmen-Fantasie" by the German-American Franz Waxman, which are interpreted by the soloist Nancy Zhou.
