Imagine music that sings without words; multiplying and unfurling like some endlessly blossoming tree. That鈥檚 the image that inspired Henri Dutilleux to write his beautiful Violjn Concerto, and tonight it鈥檚 the heart of a concert filled with fantasy and sonic wonder, whether Debussy鈥檚 shimmering dreamworld, or Ravel鈥檚 delirious vision of a world waltzing on the brink.
It鈥檚 music that could have been written for our French-born guest conductor Lionel Bringuier 鈥� an artist who鈥檚 been praised for the 鈥渟ubtlety of his musical imagery and the absolute mastery of his craft鈥�. But dark emotions flow beneath the gorgeous surface of these French masterpieces, and with Akiko Suwanai as violin soloist in L鈥檃rbre des songes, expect this performance to tug at the heart as well as ravish the ears.
