Yannick Nézet-Séguin conductor Melvyn Tan piano Ronald Brautigam piano*
Ravel Daphnis et Chloé, Suite 2 Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos Debussy Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune Debussy La Mer
Fin-de-siècle Paris: a particle accelerator of creative ideas; an artistic universe in itself. In the 1890s the city was edging toward musical revolution. But when that revolution came, it wasn’t a Beethovenian firebrand nor a Stravinskian iconoclast who delivered it. It was Claude Debussy who, in his seminal portraits of a mythical faun and the changing textures of the sea, discovered a whole new orchestral language. Suddenly the orchestra was a medium of exotic, luxurious beauty and colour; one of otherworldly magic rather than Romantic angst; one of suggestion and free thought rather than command and explanation. Musical impressionism was born.
FREE 6.15pm–6.45pm | Royal Festival Hall Yannick Nézet-Séguin introduces the evening’s programme.
Nézet-Séguin speaks about his approach to French repertoire:
*Ronald Brautigam has recently received a prestigeous MIDEM Classical Award 2010 for his recording of Beethovens piano concertos Nr. 2 & Wo04
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra in December 2008, and music critic David Patrick Stearns wrote about the rehearsal sessions. You can read the article here: www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/
CONCERT: Ravel, Debussy and Poulenc Saturday 13 February 2010 Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a programme of Ravel, Debussy and Poulenc More information >
CONCERT: Ravel, Schumann and Brahms Friday 12 March 2010 Gunther Herbig conducts works by Ravel, Schumann and Brahms
