Robert Schumann is in love! Newly married to Clara Wieck, he finds that ideas for his First Symphony flow effortlessly. The “Spring Symphony” reflects the vibrant optimism of the time, capturing his sense of a new beginning. In contrast, Alban Berg’s moving Violin Concerto stands as a musical memorial to Manon Gropius, who died tragically young. Gil Shaham performs the solo part. The evening begins with Antonín Dvořák’s tone poem The Wood Dove, which tells a story of death and guilt. Conductor Petr Popelka, making his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker.