Debussy’s work Three Nocturnes was inspired by Whistler’s Nocturne’s series of impressionist paintings: the movements – Clouds, Festivals and Sirens – depict a specific programme, and the composer wrote a description of it for the premiere as well. We will also hear Francis Poulenc’s concerto for two pianos and orchestra, with the soloists for the evening performing this piece that proved to be a turning point in the composer’s career: the summary and culmination of an exciting period in his work. The libretto for Stravinsky’s ballet The Firebird is based on elements drawn from classical Russian (and European) folktales. The story is one of a duel between the darkness and evil of the underworld and a bright and beautiful fiery goodness. Audiences got their first encounter with the piece in 1910, in Paris, and it immediately brought the young Russian composer world renown. A year later, Stravinsky composed an orchestral suite from the ballet music, which he would go on to rework twice. What we will hear at this concert, however, is the original ballet music.

Presented by: Hungarian Radio Art Groups