May 2 – Classical III
Ravel, Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2
Debussy, Danse for Harp and Strings
Ginastera, Panambi
This is our 60th Season “closing concert extraordinaire!” This evening will be an atmospheric excursion into the exotic: both Ravel and Ginastera create an otherworldly experience for their ballets from which their two suites come. Ravel’s masterpiece Daphnis and Chloe was his great ballet set in ancient Greece. It opens with one of the best depictions of a sunrise in all of music (and there are many, many examples of sunrises in music!). You might not remember the Argentine composer Ginastera, but we program pieces by this South American great as often as possible and his ballet Panambi is a tour de force in early 20th century music ideas. It is his first ballet and actually his first published work and is the telling of a supernatural legend about a chief’s daughter, two men who love her, and a sorcerer who controls events. Just as Ravel’s piece has a sunrise, Ginastera’s includes a passage of moonlight.
Debussy’s Danse for Harp and Strings is two short movements for solo harp with string orchestra accompaniment. Wonderful harp soloist Naoko Nakamura, who has played many times with us, will join the SSO for this beautiful work.
Does all of this sound intriguing? Don’t miss this concert!