Fanny Hensel's "Das Jahr" Becomes an Orchestral Work

The Dresden Philharmonic continues to break new musical ground: Together with the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonic has commissioned an orchestral arrangement of Fanny Hensel’s 1841 piano cycle “Das Jahr” (The Year). The composer of the work, Detlev Glanert, will also be in attendance at the German premiere on October 31 at the Kulturpalast in Dresden, the Philharmonic announced. Israeli conductor Bar Avni will make her debut in Dresden at the concert.

A Trip to Italy as Inspiration

Fanny Hensel-Mendelssohn (1805–1847) was a German Romantic composer. The sister of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy also made a name for herself as a pianist and conductor and was married to the painter Wilhelm Hensel. Her piano cycle “Das Jahr” (The Year) comprises twelve character pieces, each dedicated to a different month. The work was inspired by a trip to Italy; it blends experiences of nature, the seasons, and impressions from the journey.

The second part of the concert evening, which will be repeated on November 1, features Johannes Brahms’s Violin Concerto, a central work of the Romantic era. The soloist is Vadim Gluzman.