| In Brief Composer Notes: Synopsis Text: |
Abstract Elegance, exoticism, and wit are the hallmarks of this programme of 20th-century French and Polish music. From Poulenc, that most Gallic of composers, we present Gloria — urbane, joyous, and imbued with the composer’s unique mixture of sophistication and jazz. Contrasted with the work of his countryman is FaurŽ’s gentle and comforting Requiem, the most personal of the composer’s works, and full of his intimate lyricism. Following the huge success of our performance of Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater in 1995, we present the first New Zealand performance of his Symphony No. 3. This setting of poetry by the medieval Persian mystic Jebal ad-Din Rumi, sub-titled Song of the Night, celebrates the intoxicating beauty and mystery of an Eastern night. Scored for soprano, choir, and a vast orchestra, this symphonic cantata is a heady “blend of ecstasy and languor”. |
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