Imagination with Ravel and Mussorgsky
Ravel was a master orchestrator, transcribing his piano suite Ma mère l’Oye for the orchestra and creating a masterpiece in the process. The series of musical miniatures, which is based on the 17th- century fairytales of Mother Goose, attests to his incredible imagination. But we also owe the magnificent orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an exhibition to Ravel. The composer succeeded in connecting the pictures with the music in the most virtuoso way: note how the Grand Gate of Kiev opens with the sound of bells ringing. Édouard Lalo’s superb Cello Concerto is perhaps less well known to music audiences. The French composer lets the cello take centre stage in this expressive, colourful concerto.
Program
Ravel Mother Goose (five children's pieces)
Lalo Concerto for Cello in D minor
Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition (orchestration Maurice Ravel)
