| Debussy, Claude (1862-1918) | Prelude à l'après-midi d'un faune | |
| Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937) | Klavierkonzert in G-Dur | |
| Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937) | Ma Mère l'Oye | |
| Debussy, Claude (1862-1918) | La Mer |
| Philharmonia Orchestra | |
| Pablo Heras-Casado | Musikalische Leitung |
| Pierre-Laurent Aimard | Klavier |
The hazy afternoon of Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune leads to a portrait of the ever-changing faces of the sea. Sketched from an imagination and ‘countless reminiscences’ that to Debussy, ‘matter more than a reality’, La mer captures the play of light on the water and the rhythmic pitter-patter of sea spray ‘to create a mysterious harmony between nature and the imagination’.
Channelled by pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Ravel’s own ‘mysterious harmony’ infuses rich textures of jazz, blues and the Basque influences of his homeland. Buzzing from its percussive opening bars and rapid-fire arpeggios, the second movement opens out onto a deceptively simple, gorgeous lullaby before returning to an incredible finale, filled with percussive pyrotechnics from both piano and orchestra.
General booking opens 8 February 2017 9:30 am
