Henrique Oswald: Symphonie op. 43

Henrique Oswald was perhaps the most European of all Brazilian composers, because he spent a large part of his life in Italy and also absorbed influences from France and Germany. Oswald's music always maintains a lyrical character with a particular elegance and radiance, which can also be heard in the Sinfonietta. The expressive "Elegia", originally composed for cello and piano, is dedicated to the memory of a friend. With its contrasts between darkness and light, the symphony is regarded as Oswald's greatest orchestral success and as one of the most important works in Brazilian orchestral literature. The Philharmonic Orchestra of Minas Gerais was founded in 2008 and has developed into one of Brazil's most successful cultural institutions. Under the leadership of its artistic director and chief conductor Fabio Mechetti, the orchestra has received numerous distinctions and awards, including the Grande Premio Concerto 2015, and has made an important contribution to the series "The Music of Brazil", including symphonies by Lorenzo Fernandez on an album that was praised by Diapason for its "intense sonic energy". Fabio Mechetti has been artistic director and chief conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Minas Gerais since its founding. Under his leadership, the orchestra has received countless awards, recorded nine albums and toured South America. In 2014 he was appointed chief conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. In the US, Mechetti led the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for 14 years, of which he is now conductor emeritus.