At A Glance
In Richard Strauss’s early symphonic poem Don Juan, the orchestra narrates the tale of the notorious libertine through various episodes that underscore the plot with remarkable specificity.
Gustav Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer is a youthful song cycle set to four lovesick poems written by Mahler himself. He was inspired by a tumultuous love affair with the soprano Johanna Richter, and the composer is no doubt the protagonist of the set.
Anders Hillborg is a Swedish composer who wrote Rap Notes for the Swedish Radio Orchestra and “the three most dangerous Swedish rappers.” In tonight’s version, two rappers square off with AI-generated embellishments. And look out for the coloratura soprano making a surprise appearance with a well-known aria.
Maurice Ravel’s Boléro is an experiment in orchestration and dynamics, using a repetitive theme in a growing crescendo of about 15 minutes. It was originally written as a ballet with a simple premise: “In a Spanish tavern, people dance beneath a brass lamp hung from the ceiling. Cheered to join in, a woman leaps onto the long table and her steps become more and more animated.” Ravel described his score as “orchestral tissue without music,” though the incessant snare-drum beat and catchy tune make it almost overwhelmingly memorable.
Gustav Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer is a youthful song cycle set to four lovesick poems written by Mahler himself. He was inspired by a tumultuous love affair with the soprano Johanna Richter, and the composer is no doubt the protagonist of the set.
Anders Hillborg is a Swedish composer who wrote Rap Notes for the Swedish Radio Orchestra and “the three most dangerous Swedish rappers.” In tonight’s version, two rappers square off with AI-generated embellishments. And look out for the coloratura soprano making a surprise appearance with a well-known aria.
Maurice Ravel’s Boléro is an experiment in orchestration and dynamics, using a repetitive theme in a growing crescendo of about 15 minutes. It was originally written as a ballet with a simple premise: “In a Spanish tavern, people dance beneath a brass lamp hung from the ceiling. Cheered to join in, a woman leaps onto the long table and her steps become more and more animated.” Ravel described his score as “orchestral tissue without music,” though the incessant snare-drum beat and catchy tune make it almost overwhelmingly memorable.
