V17

Thursday, 01 March 2012

7.30 pm, Concert in the Anhaltische Theater Dessau

„From Paris into the World“

Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 83 in G minor (“La Poule“)
Kurt Weill: Concerto for Violin and Wind Orchestra, Op. 12
César Franck: „Les Éolides“
Claude Debussy: „La Mer“

Conductor: Antony Hermus
Violin:Hae Sun Kang
Anhaltische Philharmonic Orchestra Dessau


„Kurt Weill's Concerto for Violin and Wind Orchestra was the most remarkable piece of the evening, as here the unusual combination of sounds was clearly based on a strong and independent musical imagination. Although we were reminded of Stravinsky, I believe that Weill stands firmly on his own two feet.“ This was the comment of music critic Adolf Weißmann regarding the concerto's triumphant performance in Zurich in 1926, one year after its premiere on 11 June 1925 in Paris. This important work has been frequently performed at the Kurt Weill Festival, each time providing fresh evidence of the strength of Weill's music. Thus, it is not merely due to this year's motto „Hommage à Paris“, in which we honour the second important stage in the Dessau composer's life, that compels us once again to let audiences hear this brilliant concerto.
But it was not just Kurt Weill who found inspiration in Paris. Long before his day this pulsating centre of music exerted its influence far outside the borders of France, when a commission from Paris or success there could pave the way to an international career. Even Joseph Haydn saw it as a great honour when asked in 1784 to write six „Grandes Symphonies“ for the „Concerts de la Loge Olympique“ in Paris. The invitation to do so came while the composer was still employed at the court of the Esterházys. The great popularity which these works found with Parisian concertgoers is indicated by the nicknames they subsequently bestowed: the G minor Symphony, for instance, quickly became known as „La Poule“ (“The Hen“) due to its „clucking“ second subject.
The concerts conducted by Antony Hermus and performed by the brilliant Anhaltische Philharmonic Orchestra offers audiences at the Kurt Weill Festival a taste of French symphonic music with its sensuous and rich colouring. Even if César Franck and Claude Debussy belong to different generations, the two works programmed here share the aim of translating impressions of the natural world into music, without descending into mere imitation. Franck's tone poem „Les Èolides“ (1876) gives an atmospheric portrayal of the wind, while in Debussy's tremendous symphonic sketch „La Mer“ (1905) the listener is cast onto heaving and storm-tossed seas.


In cooperation with the Anhaltisches Theater Dessau

With kind support of the Stadtwerke Dessau


Ticket Prices in €

	Cat.1	conc.	Cat.2	conc.	Cat.3	conc.	Cat.4	conc.
V17	26,50	20,50	21,00	16,00	17,00	13,50	13,00	10,50