An affair of the heart, a passionate declaration of love for French music: this is how to understand Betrande de Billy's programme, which the Parisian conductor, known for being a passionate supporter of the French repertoire, brings to the Wiener Symphoniker this season. To mark the 100th birthday of Henri Dutilleux, whose work de Billy has championed like no other conductor, the concert opens with his highly poetic and atmospheric Second Symphony, before a performance of Saint-Saëns' "Egyptian" Piano Concerto No. 5 with another Frenchman in the role of soloist, the wonderful Jean-Yves Thibaudet. There's a Spanish flavour to the finale: Ravel’s famous Bolero, an often underrated jewel of exceptional musical refinement and unfolding sonic invention. Unfortunately Jean-Yves Thibaudet had to cancel his participation in the concerts with the Vienna Symphonic scheduled for 5 and 6 March 2016 due to illness. We thank Bertrand Chamayou who will take over the Saint-Saens piano concerto.