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成人快手 NOW - Debussy, Ravel, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky

Steven Osborne (piano), 成人快手 NOW/Thierry Fischer. Debussy: Le martyre de Saint Sebastien. Ravel: Piano Concerto. Mussorgsky: Night on the Bare Mountain. Stravinsky: Firebird Suite.

Live from the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.

Presented by Catherine Bott.

The 成人快手 National Orchestra of Wales makes its annual appearance at the Swansea Festival with music from Russia and France under the baton of Principal Conductor Thierry Fischer.

Debussy's score for the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian is considered one of his finest late works. The original play by the Romantic author Gabriele d'Annunzio, lasted over five hours at the first production, and Debussy's shimmering music is intensely dramatic, full of impressionist colours. He arranged four symphonic fragments for concert performance from this mammoth spectacle, lasting just 25 minutes. Ravel's piano concerto in G requires spectacular agility. It's infused with jazz - Ravel had just returned from a concert tour in North America - but it's also inspired by Mozart, the composer claimed his model for the haunting tune in the slow movement was the Clarinet Quintet. Steven Osborne is highly regarded for his performances of Ravel, he's just released the complete works for solo piano on CD.

Mussorgsky's Night on the Bare Mountain is a terrifying musical picture of devilry, as a band of witches awaits the arrival of their master - Satan. In this concert we hear Rimsky Korsakov's full-blooded orchestration. Another Russian folk tale, Stravinsky's Firebird closes the concert. Blazing orchestral colour abounds in this dramatic concert suite.

Debussy: Le martyre de Saint Sebastien - fragments symphoniques.
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G.

20:25 - Interval

20:45 - Part Two
Mussorgsky: Night on the Bare Mountain (arr. Rimsky-Korsakov)
Stravinsky: Firebird Suite (1919).

Steven Osborne (piano), Thierry Fischer (conductor).

2 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Claude Debussy

    Le martyre de Saint Sebastien - fragments symphoniques

    Performers: 成人快手 National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer (conductor)

  • Maurice Ravel

    Piano Concerto in G

    Performers: 成人快手 National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer (conductor), Steven Osborne (piano)

  • Modest Mussorgsky

    Night on the Bare Mountain (arr. Rimsky-Korsakov)

    Performers: 成人快手 National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer (conductor)

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Firebird Suite (1919)

    Performers: 成人快手 National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer (conductor)

Broadcast

  • Thu 13 Oct 2011 19:30

New Music on Radio 3

New Music on Radio 3

A chance to listen to recent broadcasts of new music - including premieres - on Radio 3.