"My life is a novel which interests me very much", Hector Berlioz allegedly once said to a friend. For this reason, in 1848 – at the age of 45 – he began writing his memoires. When the work was published posthumously in 1870 the public was astonished by the candour and literary prowess with which Berlioz described the course of his life.

Vesselina Kasarova was born in Stara Zagora (Bulgaria) and began playing the piano at the age of four. After training as a concert pianist and gaining her diploma, she studied singing with Ressa Koleva at the Music Academy of Sofia, and was already, as a student, singing major roles at the National Opera. She has given concerts and recitals throughout Europe, the USA and Japan. Vesselina Kasarova holds the title Kammersängerin of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich as well as of the Vienna State Opera.

Ivor Bolton is chief conductor of the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, with whom he has appeared annually at the Salzburg Festival since 2000, and on tour (including at the 2006 BBC Proms in London), and with whom he has already built up an extensive discography, including a critically successful series of Bruckner Symphony recordings. He takes up the position of Music Director of the Teatro Real Madrid in September 2015 and is also Chief Conductor of the Dresden Festival Orchestra.

The Sinfonieorchester Basel is one of the oldest and most important orchestras in Switzerland. It is rooted in the north-west of Switzerland but enjoys a regional as well as international prominence. The Sinfonieorchester Basel is renowned for the consistent quality of its performances.