The French Connection

This program is going to explore a French connection, between composers who are mostly not French! The concert will open with the Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, a very descriptive symphonic poem by Claude Debussy. Following that, we will perform Astor Piazzolla’s Concerto for Bandoneon “Aconcagua”. This Argentinian composer, also referred to as “The King of Tango”, was the first composer to infuse tango into classical music. Aconcagua is the highest mountain peak in South America, and the title was given to the concerto by the publisher, as a tribute to the magnitude of the work. It is full of some of the most exotic and heart wrenching melodies, combined with intoxicating rhythms. To close the program, the orchestra will perform Mussorgsky’s famous Pictures at an Exhibition. This is a suite in ten movements for piano, each describing a different painting. It is so descriptive in nature, and very colorful, especially because it was orchestrated by the master of orchestration, Maurice Ravel.