Following the excitement of the First Night, presenters Petroc Trelawny and world-renowned soprano Danielle de Niese kick off the regular Friday night slot with Beethoven's much-loved 6th Symphony. This lyrical paean to the renewing powers of nature is conducted by David Zinman in his final appearance as chief conductor of Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, in a concert that also includes Richard Strauss's sparkling tone-poem Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche and Dvorak's Violin Concerto in A minor. This Romantic masterpiece is performed by its champion, German violinist Julia Fischer, who says it has 'the greatest beginning of any violin concerto'.