大象传媒

Franz Schmidt's musical virtuosity was legendary - he was an excellent pianist, and for fifteen years he was a cellist with the renowned Vienna Philharmonic. He was also a conductor, and composer of four symphonies, two operas and various orchestral and chamber works. He fell out of favour for a time due to an apparent association with Hitler and his entourage, although in reality he counted many Jews as his friends and had no sympathy with the Nazis. Schmidt's music is expansive and complex, influenced by Mahler and Richard Strauss. His sombre and melodic Fourth Symphony was inspired by his grief at the death of his only daughter, who died in childbirth. Kirill Petrenko conducts the Berlin Philharmonic.