At London’s Royal Albert Hall, conductor Simon Rattle leads the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra in an all-Schumann programme featuring several “problem” works, with violinist Isabelle Faust as soloist. The concert includes the overture to Schumann’s opera Genoveva, Schumann’s Violin Concerto, and a late symphony associated with the composer’s depression.
Reviewers describe Rattle and the period-instrument ensemble bringing clarity and detail to music that can be challenging to stage or interpret. One recurring point is that the venue’s acoustic is not especially suited to the soft sonorities typical of period performance, yet the ensemble is said to overcome any disadvantages. The overture is portrayed as drawing listeners through musical storytelling and distinctive orchestral colour rather than sheer loudness.
Across coverage, Faust is presented as a spirited and graceful presence in the Violin Concerto. The overall programme is framed as tackling works that are less commonly performed and sometimes viewed through a critical lens—such as historical concerns about the concerto—while still aiming for a coherent evening built around expressive contrasts.
