Prom 44: Debussy, Ravel & Boulanger – 15.08.18

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

19:30
Royal Albert Hall

Claude Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Lili Boulanger: Psalm 130 'Du fond de l'abîme'
Claude Debussy: Nocturnes
Maurice Ravel: Boléro

Justina Gringytė mezzo-soprano
CBSO Youth Chorus
CBSO Chorus
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot conductor

The CBSO and Ludovic Morlot mark two major centenaries in this all-French programme. In the centenary of his death, Debussy is celebrated in the languorous beauty of Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, as well as the Nocturnes with their shifting, shimmering play of musical light.

Lili Boulanger, whose death in 1918 at the age of just 24 cut short a career of extraordinary promise, is represented by her powerful setting of Psalm 130 - a musical howl of grief composed at the height of the First World War.

Ravel's Boléro closes the evening with its hypnotic Spanish dance rhythm and swirling orchestral colours.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Looking forward to the Boulanger in particular ...

... and I like Ravel's Bolero.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... and I like Ravel's Bolero.

So do I!

[Bryn]

So do I!

Me too, especially with Bobby McFerrin waving his stick at the Wiener Philharmoniker.

[Beef Oven!]

So do I!

Me three/four!

And although I return from my short summer break in the early hours of the morning, I intend to get along to this concert in the evening.

[Andrew Slater]

On another subject, the Boulanger is extraordinary - it was performed last week at the Three Choirs Festival. It definitely benefits from a live hearing, and I would encourage anyone who can to attend this concert.

[cloughie]

I had not heard of Ludovic Morlot - a French conductor who has been in charge of SeattleSO since 2011, and on checking has made some interesting recordings of French music. I look forward to hearing the concert though the B work is there!

[Bryn]

Not hear of Ludovic Morlot? You have clearly not been paying attention to jlw's positive reviews of his Dutilleux and Ives recordings.

[cloughie]

Not hear of Ludovic Morlot? You have clearly not been paying attention to jlw's positive reviews of his Dutilleux and Ives recordings.

Obviously not! Must try harder!

[edashtav]

Obviously not! Must try harder!

Me, too.

[BBMmk2]

Looking forward to this Prom!

[jayne lee wilson]

Morlot's latest release is very enterprising, again....

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/berio-sinfonia-boulez-notations-i-iv-ravel-la-valse-m-72-roomful-of-teeth-ludovic-morlot-seattle-symphony-orchestra/sb3ccwwre5xxa

Maybe they'll play a Notation as an encore...

[BBMmk2]

Morlot's latest release is very enterprising, again....

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/berio-sinfonia-boulez-notations-i-iv-ravel-la-valse-m-72-roomful-of-teeth-ludovic-morlot-seattle-symphony-orchestra/sb3ccwwre5xxa

Maybe they'll play a Notation as an encore...

I wouldn’t have thought to put that programme together! Must put that on sometime . Be a great listen!

[edashtav]

Morlot's latest release is very enterprising, again....

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/berio-sinfonia-boulez-notations-i-iv-ravel-la-valse-m-72-roomful-of-teeth-ludovic-morlot-seattle-symphony-orchestra/sb3ccwwre5xxa

Maybe they'll play a Notation as an encore...

Yes, a Notation would be a sensational choice in this Boulez-free Season.

[Bryn]

Morlot's latest release is very enterprising, again....

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/berio-sinfonia-boulez-notations-i-iv-ravel-la-valse-m-72-roomful-of-teeth-ludovic-morlot-seattle-symphony-orchestra/sb3ccwwre5xxa

Maybe they'll play a Notation as an encore...

So good to see that rarely heard masterpiece La Valse included.

I will keep an eye open for its appearance on QOBUZ.

[Ah. I did not originally use the link but tried searching QOBUZ for "Morlot". No hits for this new 'disc'. I will now set about listening to it.]

[[Having now listened to this most recent release, I was most taken aback by the relative prominence of the electronic instruments in Sinfonia. I don't think I have ever. heard those timbres given such highlight before. The 4 (no number VII) Notations were presented with great aplomb, as was La Valse. All in all a very worthwhile presentation.]]