The Croatian Ivan Repušić took over from Ulf Schirmer as chief conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra in 2017. In this capacity, he made his cpo debut in 2023 with works by the Swede Gunnar de Frumerie. Now, at the helm of "his" orchestra, he is devoting himself to one of those classics that take second place to the undisputed masters of the era: Johann Wilhelm Wilms, who came to prominence as a composer, organist and flute player in Amsterdam. Two years younger than Beethoven, he was a faithful admirer of Joseph Haydn, whose spirit lent a peculiar flair even to the later of the seven symphonies. The dramatic tone, which also characterizes long stretches of his overtures, never turns into the fateful and inevitable - and it is precisely this balancing act that gives the music of the man from Leichlingen in the Bergisch-Gladbach district its special charm.