Vasily Petrenko
Bertrand Chamayou Sergei Prokofiev
Maurice Ravel
Igor Stravinsky

Within just a few decades, from the final days of late Romanticism to the post-war era, some of the greatest transformations in music history took place. Composers broke with tradition, explored new worlds, and created works that still feel fresh today. This is music born of revolutions, the buzz of the metropolis, and the seductive rhythms of jazz.

This concert presents three works that each, in their own way, came to terms with the past. Prokofiev played with Classicism, Ravel let Manhattan and jazz seep into his piano concerto, and Stravinsky bid a definitive farewell to the Romantic orchestra.

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1

Sergei Prokofiev's (1891–1953) first symphony has earned the nickname "Classical." The short symphony, lasting around fifteen minutes, is Prokofiev's reinterpretation of the style of Haydn and Mozart.

The symphony was written in 1917 and premiered the following year. It is regarded as one of Prokofiev's most popular works and is both optimistic and catchy. Over time, Prokofiev's music grew increasingly serious in character, but Symphony No. 1 is entirely carefree and filled with youthful joy.

Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) was a colourful composer, pianist, and conductor. He was often inspired by the places he travelled to, and in 1927 and 1928 he toured North America. The very next year he began work on his Piano Concerto in G major, and one can hear the brisk tempo and drama he encountered in the United States.

Ravel was also inspired and influenced by American jazz. This can be heard both rhythmically and melodically. The Piano Concerto in G major is playful and brisk.

Stravinsky: Petrushka (1947)

Igor Stravinsky's (1882–1971) ballet Petrushka was first premiered in 1911. The ballet was a great success and one of the first works in which Stravinsky explored a path away from late Romanticism and dared to pursue entirely new ways of composing.

In the revised version, premiered in 1947, this style is well established. The music is colourful, full of contrasts, and rhythmically challenging. The concert version of Petrushka is a work that truly showcases Stravinsky's distinctive voice.