
Halle - Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Stravinsky
Halle/Eduardo Portal. Dvorak: Legends (excpts). Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme (Philip Higham: cello). Debussy: Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune. Stravinsky: Firebird.
The Hallé Orchestra, conducted by Eduardo Portal, performs works including by Dvorak and Debussy, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite and Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations with cellist Philip Higham.
Live from The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester
Presented by Stuart Flinders
Dvorak: Legends (selection)
Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
8:20 Interval
8:40
Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite (1945)
Hallé Orchestra
Eduardo Portal (conductor)
Philip Higham (cello)
'It is a delightful piece, and the fresh, joyous and rich invention of the man is simply enviable', enthused Brahms after hearing Dvorák's wonderfully poetic Legends. Equally delightful is Tchaikovsky's tuneful tribute to the composers of the eighteenth century. His 'Rococo Variations' are performed by rising star of the cello, Philip Higham. Then for the exotic, erotic atmosphere of Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune in which a faun dreams of two beautiful nymphs and wonders how best to savour the memory.
Glowingly orchestrated and replete with Stravinsky's characteristic rhythmic drive and sense of colour, The Firebird - a setting of a popular Russian fairy tale - established him as the major new voice in twentieth-century music.