The concert of the German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra from Saarbrücken-Kaiserslautern, conducted by Josep Pons, the renowned Catalan conductor, will begin at the Saarbrücken Congress Hall with one of the most expressive creations of the late Renaissance - Lachrimae antiquae by John Dowland. This piece is part of the collection of seven instrumental works Lachrimae, or Seaven Teares, published by the English composer in London in 1604. It is characterized by a predominantly descending melodic line, symbolizing "the falling of a tear," accompanied by slow, austere harmonies of haunting beauty.

The evening of November 7th, dedicated to "Music at the European Courts," will continue with a Beethoven masterpiece - the Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61, with Frank Peter Zimmermann as soloist. The German violinist, born in 1965, is admired for his profound musicality and impeccable technique. Joseph Joachim, the most famous violinist of the 19th century, was the first to highlight the lyrical depth of this concerto, treating it not as a mere "virtuosic showpiece," but as a symphonic work in which the violin is fully integrated-pointing out that in Beethoven's music, the orchestra is a second protagonist, not just a simple accompanist.

In the second part of the concert, we will hear a Suite from the lyrical tragedy Dardanus by Jean-Philippe Rameau, and we will rediscover the splendor of the court of King Louis XV. French composers of that era did not usually publish orchestral suites as such, even though dance music was clearly suitable for concert performance. However, with the 20th-century rediscovery of Rameau's works, great conductors began extracting concert orchestral suites from his operas, now regarded as a synthesis of French Baroque genius.

The concert "Music at the European Courts" from Saarbrücken will conclude with "Le Tombeau de Couperin" by Maurice Ravel -a tribute to the French Baroque. Originally composed for piano and later orchestrated by Ravel himself, the suite carries a deeply commemorative meaning, each movement being dedicated to one of the composer's friends who fell in World War I.

We therefore invite you to Radio România Muzical for a new journey through time to the European courts, on Friday evening, November 7th, 2025, at 9:00 p.m.