Haydn discovers a symphony in a barnyard fowl, Brahms builds on his violin concerto, and Mendelssohn finds inspiration in Scotland—each embodies a theme celebrated at this concert. They are honoured guests of this musical gathering.

We can hear the reality of each composer through the imagination that emerges in their music. Haydn wrote the Paris symphonies, including the piece called The Hen, for the largest orchestra he had ever worked with. At the premiere, he made the Parisian orchestra consisting only of aristocrats cluck. The Violin Concerto was a major undertaking in Brahms's career, but now we can admire Lazić's imagination as the work is transcribed for Brahms's "original" instrument. Mendelssohn grew into an adult on a European study trip. This defining experience, which also added colour to the Scottish landscape for him, he captured in a symphony.