Don Quixote Rides Again

Vladimir Jurowsk conducts Strauss’ Don Quixote and Mozart’s Symphony No.40 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 1605, when Cervantes’s tragicomic hero first rode out in search of his impossible dream, the figure of Don Quixote has inspired artists, idealists, and – naturally – composers. Richard Stauss’ spectacular, symphonic retelling complete with sorcerers, knights, windmills that look like giants, and a whole flock of bleating sheep. But first, we open with one of the most well-known pieces in history: Mozart’s dark and stormy Symphony No. 40. This concert was captured on 22 April 2023 at Royal Festival Hall Program: Symphony No. 40 - Mozart Don Quixote - R. Strauss