Richard Strauss’ (1864–1949) youthful and passionate Violin Concerto meets the colorful, five-movement Symphonie Espagnole by Édouard Lalo (1823–1892), German-Romantic soundscapes meet French-Spanish atmosphere: a musical journey through two masterpieces of Romanticism and at the same time through the cosmos of one’s own emotions.

Strauss’ radiant Romanticism unites brilliant virtuosity with melancholic depth; the five “dances” of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole each unfold their own unique character, filled with passion, rhythm, longing, and energy, creating a captivating musical narrative. Together, they form a grand “Dance of Life”, characterized by continuity and change, lightness and passion, resistance and surrender – a symbol of the eternal tides of existence. Like the sea, this music invites the listeners to immerse themselves in the flow of life and embrace change as part of it.

The Symphonie Espagnole has accompanied Franziska Pietsch since her early years on stage and was one of the first works she performed as a soloist. With this recording, a circle is closing for her: She not only returns to her artistic roots but also reflects on the challenges and formative experiences of her eventful life – her very own “Dance of Life”.

Accompanied by the passionate yet sensitively performing Orquesta Ciudad de Granada under the direction of Jonathan Pasternack, this Spanish-German-American collaboration has resulted in a recording of extraordinary authenticity and depth, a musical expression of hope, light, and joy – a homage to life!

Franziska Pietsch is one of the most fascinating artistic personalities of her generation. Her playing combines virtuosity and technical brilliance with phenomenal expressiveness and stage presence. Her performances, both in Germany and abroad, are met with great enthusiasm, as are her numerous award-winning recordings, including an ICMA Award for “Fantasque” with pianist Josu de Solaun.

The Orquesta Ciudad de Granada (OCG) is one of Spain’s most renowned orchestras. It performs in the country’s most important concert halls and festivals, and has gained international recognition through guest performances and tours in Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Austria, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Since its founding in 1990, the orchestra has received numerous awards.

Jonathan Pasternack is Artistic and Music Director of the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra (Washington, USA). He has worked with leading international orchestras, recorded over 30 opera and ballet productions, and conducted numerous world and regional premieres of new compositions. He won Second Prize at the 6th Cadaqués International Conducting Competition (Girona, Spain), and received top distinctions at the Aspen, Brevard, and David Oistrakh music festivals.

The Spanish label ARIA Classics was founded by Fernando Arias – a musician, sound engineer and producer, specialized in classical music. He has more than 20 years of experience with ARIA classics and labels such as Naxos, Warner Classics and Sony Classical. His concept of natural and warm sound quality at the highest level has become one of the label’s trademarks.