6. Philharmonisches Konzert

In the organizer's words:

Claude Debussy Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Thierry Escaich Quatre Visages du temps (Organ Concerto No. 3)
Modest Mussorgsky / Maurice Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition

Imagery and sensuality of sound are the key concepts of this concert program of French music, on which the name Thierry Escaich (*1965) stands out. He is one of the crème de la crème of contemporary organists and was appointed titular organist of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris when the famous church was ceremoniously reopened in December 2024 after a devastating fire. At the same time, Escaich is one of the leading French composers of our time. With this dual talent, he is continuing a venerable tradition that goes back to the Middle Ages. We welcome him to Dortmund in this dual role: as soloist in his organ concerto Quatre Visages du temps. Escaich is above all a master of tone color, who was inspired for this large-scale four-movement work by a journey through music history from the baroque passacaglia to the disco music of our time.

The rise of French music in the 20th century would be unthinkable without the leading figures Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Debussy's first masterpiece is the famous Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, whose almost magical beginning opened the door to a new, seductive sonority.

Maurice Ravel proves to be an unparalleled orchestral magician in his orchestration of Modest Mussorgsky's piano cycle Pictures at an Exhibition , whose immense popularity is largely due to Ravel's orchestration. The work, which is laid out like a walk through an exhibition of paintings, comprises thirteen sharply contoured musical character studies, sometimes lively, sometimes abysmal, and ends with a grandiose entry through The Great Gate of Kiev.

• Please note Only bags and rucksacks up to the size of DIN A4 are permitted on the floors of the Konzerthaus. Larger bags must be handed in at the checkroom. For safety reasons, it is also forbidden to bring booster seats for children. Instead, seat cushions are gladly issued to provide a better view for children