“The apotheosis of the dance” – Wagner coined this phrase to describe Beethoven’s Seventh, the most joyful and optimistic of his nine symphonies. In the early years after its premiere, however, not everyone was quite so impressed. One contemporary was reported as having reacted to Beethoven’s bold and innovative writing by declaring him “ripe for the madhouse”, while a British critic felt the composer had “indulged in a great deal of disagreeable eccentricity … Altogether [the symphony] seems to have been intended as a kind of enigma – we had almost said a hoax.” The work has stood the test of time, however, and today the Seventh is rightly considered one of the undisputed gems of our musical heritage. All of Mendelssohn’s music exudes vitality and positive energy. His Violin Concerto, op. 64 is a highlight of the Romantic repertoire, along with those of Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky – a beautiful and brilliant work in which the soloist starts playing in the very first bar. Joshua Bell, one of today’s most exceptional violinists, has performed the concerto at many of the world’s leading venues, and will once again reveal its beauty – not to mention the virtuosity it demands – as he conducts the Filharmonia from the violin.