Impressionist and Romantic

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor
Yue Bao, conducting fellow

In this versatile program, the Curtis Symphony Orchestra’s virtuosity springs to life through the evocative colors and nuance of Ravel’s Une Barque sur l’océan; the steely grays and dusky impressionism of Claude Debussy’s Nocturnes; and the sweeping majesty of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9.

Of Interest…

Une Barque sur l’océan

• Debussy and Ravel started out as friends, but Ravel, who was twelve years younger, saw himself as a different sort of composer than Debussy, who had initially mentored him. Their relationship grew strained and critical, ending in the first decade of the 1900s. 
• Ravel’s Une Barque sur l’océan is an orchestrated version of the third movement of Miroirs (Reflections), a five-movement suite for solo piano he composed in 1904 and 1905.

Nocturnes

• In 1880, when Debussy was just 18, Tchaikovsy’s patron, Nadezhda von Meck, hired him to teach piano to her children. While in Russia, he gained exposure to Russian composers who would later influence his own compositions.
• The title Nocturnes was inspired by a series of impressionist paintings by the American artist James Whistler.

Symphony No. 9 in D minor

• Bruckner revised his Symphony No. 9 many times after finishing the score in 1874; scholars recognize at least seven authentic versions!

Orchestral concerts are supported by the Jack Wolgin Curtis Orchestral Concerts Endowment Fund. 
Guest conductor appearances for each Curtis Symphony Orchestra performance are made possible by the Gustave and Rita Hauser Chair.