With this pairing of Schumann and Richard Strauss, the NDR Sinfonieorchester and Christoph von Dohnányi explored the relationship between poetic ideas and ‘abstract’ harmony through the power of programmatic suggestion in 19th century music. The image and work of Beethoven acted as a powerful stimulus upon both composers, and Strauss maintained that it was impossible to imagine Beethoven having composed without poetic inspiration. He was happy to make the story of Ein Heldenleben explicit, whereas Schumann suppressed a programmatic narrative when preparing his ‘Spring’ Symphony for publication, and retained only its title.