Boston Symphony Orchestra: Ravel, Debussy, Stravinsky April 23, 2009

BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
SUSANNA MÄLKKI, conductor



RAVEL Le Tombeau de Couperin
STRAVINSKY Pulcinella Suite
DEBUSSY Petite Suite
STRAVINSKY Symphony in C

Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki conducts the BSO in Stravinsky’s revered Symphony in C. A representation of his neo-classical period, the 30-minute, 4-movement work is composed as two halves; the first, more traditional, and the second, involving fantastic use of chromatic changes. The remainder of the program takes a more carefree route. Debussy’s early, short Petite Suite for piano four-hands was orchestrated colorfully by Henri Büsser in “Debussy style” in 1907. Ravel—one of history’s most gifted orchestrators—made his own orchestrations of his piano suite Le Tombeau de Couperin, an homage to the French Baroque composer Couperin. Stravinsky’s Pulcinella ballet, written just a few years later, takes some of its music from Pergolesi and refashions it in purely Stravinskian good humor.

All ages are welcome!

Official Website: www.bso.org