Zemlinsky's 'The Mermaid': James Conlon, Nelson Freire

About the Event

Revel in the re‐emergence of a composer — and a work — lost to the horrors of the Second World War. James Conlon continues his championship of composers whose careers, and often lives, were cut short, with a complete performance of Zemlinsky's tone poem.

Zemlinsky wrote 'The Mermaid' following a tempestuous youthful affair with the future Alma Mahler. As in Hans Christian Andersen's story, themes of transformation and transfiguration abound, leaving the listener in no doubt of Zemlinsky's symphonic genius. Equally gifted in thematic reinvention — albeit primarily pianistic — was Brahms. Brazilian master pianist Nelson Freire provides the second half of this concert with the popular Second Piano Concerto.