Cap sur l'Écosse

As a prelude to The Turn of the Screw, this evening transports us into the fantastic atmosphere of Henry James' short story. Let's head north to Scotland, to its highlands and lakes bathed in light, where legends seem to be spared by civilisation.

Scottish composer David Horne's The Turn of the Tide (2006) is based on a painting by John Duncan - a white lady fascinated by the sea and who in turn fascinates us. A lover of Celtic legends, labelled a madman by some and a mystic by others, Duncan confessed to painting the melodies of the fairies he secretly heard. From his painting, Horne draws a music as tumultuous as the waves crashing on the rocks.

The concerto opus 61 was composed in 1806 by Beethoven for the virtuoso violinist Franz Clement, who created it at the Theater an der Wien. 1806 was the year of the composer's unofficial engagement to Therese von Brunswick. As a result, posterity perceives a form of romantic fullness and serenity in this concerto which creates a harmonious dialogue between soloist and orchestra, without opposing them. Disliked by the critics, this concerto, which celebrates the instrument's virtuosity, took its time to find its rightful place among Beethoven's masterpieces.

Mendelssohn's Third Symphony (1842) is among his best-known works. The composer found his chiaroscuro inspiration during a trip to Scotland, where he contemplated the ruins of Mary Stuart's castle, overgrown with ivy and brambles. For one evening, let us call Scotland this country where Nature regains its rightful place over History.

The concert Cap sur l'Écosse has been recorded and will be broadcasted on:

• 8 and 15 April at 6 pm on Radio Fajet | 94.2 FM
• 12 April at 8 pm on Radio Campus | 99.6 FM
• 25 April at 11 am on RCF Lorraine | 93.7 FM
• 13 May at 6 pm on Accent 4 | 96.6 FM in Strasbourg, 98.8 FM in Sélestat et 90.4 FM in Colmar