Daniele Gatti is conducting three works all connected by the theme of nature and embodying the great musical changes taking place around 1900: Claude Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and La mer and Igor Stravinsky’s Le sacre du printemps. After they had been first performed by the Concertgebouw Orchestra, all three immediately struck a chord with audiences and critics alike thanks to their exceptionally beautiful and inventive orchestration, and quickly found their way into the standard repertoire. Four years before his death, in 1914, Debussy himself led the Concertgebouw Orchestra in his Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune and was met at the stage door by an applauding crowd after the performance. Stravinsky made his first guest appearance with the orchestra in 1924, after which he returned regularly. He conducted his Sacre twice in a single day in 1926 to long and loud ovations. Under the baton of Maestro Gatti, the orchestra is performing these three groundbreaking classics on the same programme for the very first time.
“What a mesmerizing playing level! The RCO was again incredibly good, with a level of detail and refinement that no other conductor achieves.” (Het Paarol)
“Here was an array of beautiful music, all written at a time when boundaries and conventions were being demolished and everything seemed to be possible. Credit must be given to the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Gatti, performing this music with such beauty and unmatched quality. A truly memorable performance.” (Bachtrack)

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PROGRAM
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
La mer
IGOR STRAVINSKY
Le sacre du printemps