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London Symphony Orchestra - Debussy, Berlioz

Michael Tilson Thomas leads the LSO at the Barbican, London. Debussy, Colin Matthews: Preludes (excpts). Debussy: Fantaisie (Nelson Freire: piano). Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique.

Michael Tilson Thomas returns to conduct the LSO in music by Debussy, in this his 150th anniversary year. The enigmatic quality of Debussy's piano Preludes has been magically captured in these orchestrations by Colin Matthews. The piano Fantaisie has an intriguing history, as Debussy withdrew it from publication just before the first planned performance. It was revived after his death, and deserves to be better known.

The work concluding the concert is by a Frenchman dramatically different in style to Debussy - Berlioz. His Symphonie fantastique recounts the doomed love affair of a man who has poisoned himself with opium, causing hallucinations of a masked ball, the countryside, a march to the scaffold and finally a witches' Sabbath.

Debussy, orch. Colin Matthews: Preludes (selection)
Debussy: Fantaisie for piano and orchestra

20:10
Interval: Interval Music

20:30
Part 2:
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

Nelson Freire (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra
conductor Michael Tilson Thomas.

2 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Claude Debussy

    Preludes, orch. Colin Matthews [orig. for piano]

    Conductor: Michael TILSON THOMAS Performer: London S O.

  • Claude Debussy

    Fantaisie for piano and orchestra

    Conductor: Michael TILSON THOMAS Performer: Nelson FREIRE - Piano Performer: London S O.

  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie fantastique Op.14

    Conductor: Michael TILSON THOMAS Performer: London S O.

Broadcast

  • Tue 24 Jan 2012 19:30

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