Le Concert Olympique . Jan Caeyers

"Away with the stale, nineteenth-century image of the classical orchestra" is a motto that guides conductor Jan Caeyers and Le Concert Olympique in clothing the Viennese classics in contemporary, but historically informed, garb. That they have been extremely successful in this was also recognized by Klara and the Flanders Music Centre, which proclaimed Jan Caeyers 'Music Personality of the Year 2010'. The thread running through Jan Caeyers' project is formed by the works of Beethoven, whose ballet music 'The Creatures of Prometheus' - more particularly the Overture and several excerpts - are featured in this concert. Beethoven completed this work in 1801, having being commissioned by the Vienna Burgtheater to compose it. He based himself on a libretto by the famous ballet-master Salvatore Vigano. Music by Mozart and Mendelssohn gives the programme a historical perspective, with violinist Daniel Sepec demonstrating the speed of his fingering in Mozart's Fifth Violin Concerto. The work is also known popularly as 'the Turkish Concerto', on account of the Turkish march music in the final movement. A fine Indian summer beckons with the bright sound of Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony.