Meet a downsized symphony version of the ONL! Schumann’s First symphony, Spring, composed in four days in 1841, makes up the programme of the season’s last Flash concert. Premiered under the baton of Mendelssohn at Leipzig’s Gewandhaus, the symphony was greeted with great acclaim by the audience. Schumann, who was leading a calm and happy life his wife, Clara, had hitherto restricted his compositions to Lieder and works for the piano. Though apprehensive, the composer took the plunge and attempted his first symphony. Supported by Clara in his search for new forms of expression and motivated by the idea of sizing himself up against his friend, Mendelssohn, the Spring Symphony turned out to be the composer’s most spontaneous and a truly uplifting hymn to Spring!