Belgian National Orchestra, Schønwandt & Queyras

About the Event

Experience the sublime melodies of classical compositions by Richard Strauss, Carl Nielsen, and Charles Ives in the illustrious Palais des Beaux‐Arts in Brussels, a venue celebrated across the globe. Carl Nielsen’s Second Symphony is uniquely structured around the four temperaments: choleric, phlegmatic, melancholic, and sanguine, originally identified by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. These temperaments have influenced numerous artistic expressions, including a woodcut observed by Nielsen in a local Danish tavern, which provided the inspiration for his symphony.

Richard Strauss's symphonic poem, dedicated in 1897 to Cervantes's complex character Don Quixote, portrays the “sanguine melancholic” through captivating orchestral interpretation. Utilizing the cello to represent the main character, Strauss masterfully encapsulates the escapades of this beloved literary figure in his musical narrative.