Stéphane Denève conductor
Piotr Anderszewski piano

Fauré Suite, ‘Pelléas et Mélisande’
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20, K466
Debussy ‘La mer’
Ravel ‘La valse’

Some of the most descriptive works in the classical repertoire paint musical pictures in this concert. Fauré’s suite of music telling the story of Pelléas and Mélisande’s doomed love opens the programme, followed by Debussy’s ‘La mer’ conjuring the sea in all its varied moods.

Ravel’s ‘La valse’ describes whirling dancers in a waltz that, despite its classical form and references to the imperial court, somehow seems to show the changing world of the early twentieth century and implies a more decadent undertone. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 balances the twentieth century flavour of the programme.

6.15pm Free pre-concert talk
Conductor Stéphane Denève in conversation with John Florance

“Anderszewski has no fear of capitalising on the full range of the piano's sonority… This was a recital to make you glad to be alive.” Daily Telegraph