Subscription Concerts
Programme: Lili Boulanger’s night
D’un matin de printemps (5’)
Soir sur la plaine orch. Yoann Combémorel (9’)
Faust et Hélène: episode lyrique d’après le second Faust de Gœthe (30’)
Entr’act
D’un soir triste (10’)
Psaume 130 “du fond de l’abime” (24’)
Vieille prière bouddhique (10’)
This concert offers a unique opportunity to explore the world of Lili Boulanger, one of the most brilliant and enigmatic composers of the early 20th century. Despite her short life, her music continues to resonate with rare intensity and emotional depth.
The first half of the program delves into her works she wrote to became the first women to win the Prix de Rome: Soir sur la plaine (first round) and Faust et Hélène (final round), a lyrical and poignant piece inspired by Goethe’s Second Faust, draws listeners into a dramatic and deeply emotional world.
After the intermission, the focus shifts to her later works, more intimate and spiritual side of Boulanger. D’un soir triste, the powerful Psalm 130 "Out of the Depths", and the haunting Vieille prière bouddhique highlight a profound emotional range, reflecting a search for peace and transcendence.
Boulanger’s work had a lasting impact on 20th-century composers, inspiring figures such as Nadia Boulanger, Olivier Messiaen, and many others. Her genius, though cut short, continues to influence and captivate. In many ways, she represents to me an angel fallen from the heavens.
Program C : Great again
Joan Tower- Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No.3 (5’)
TJ Cole - Death of a poet (10’)
Teddy Abrams - Piano Concerto (35’)
Entre acte
Copland - Symphony n°3 (42’)
This concert explores the vibrant landscape of contemporary American music, featuring both iconic and emerging voices.
The evening begins with Joan Tower’s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 3, a powerful tribute to strength and individuality. TJ Cole’s Death of a Poet follows, a haunting reflection on life and legacy. Next, Teddy Abrams’ Piano Concerto, a dynamic work that blends modern rhythms with classical traditions, takes the spotlight.
After intermission, the program concludes with Copland’s Symphony No. 3, a sweeping, optimistic masterpiece that captures the spirit of America, including the iconic Fanfare for the Common Man.
A celebration of bold, transformative music by some of America’s most compelling composers.
Educational Concerts (less than 50 minutes)
Nathaniel Stookey’s The Composer Is Dead, with text by the brilliant Lemony Snicket, is more than just a piece of music—it’s an adventure into the heart of the orchestra. Blending humor, mystery, and education, this work introduces audiences to the instruments and their unique roles while keeping them entertained with a witty and engaging detective story.
At a time when classical music can sometimes feel distant to younger generations, The Composer Is Dead makes it accessible, fun, and immersive. Through its theatrical narration and dynamic orchestration, it transforms the concert hall into a crime scene where every musician is a suspect. Who killed the composer? The strings? The brass? Or perhaps the percussion?
The audience becomes part of the investigation through a unique interactive presentation of the instruments and a Q&A session with the children, discovering the magic of orchestral music along the way.
This piece sparks curiosity, encourages active listening, and proves that orchestras have plenty of life—despite the composer’s unfortunate fate!
Modest Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition (Gorchakov or Ravel)
Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, later orchestrated by Maurice Ravel and Sergei Petrovich Gorchakov, is a masterpiece that transforms paintings into music. Inspired by the artwork of his late friend Viktor Hartmann, Mussorgsky composed a series of musical “pictures,” each capturing the essence of a different scene—from a mysterious castle to lively market stalls, and even a hut standing on chicken legs!
For this special educational concert, our journey begins in the classroom, where the children first discover the original piano version. Before experiencing the full orchestral brilliance, they are invited to connect with the music in a personal way: by choosing one of the “pictures” and illustrating it themselves. Their artworks will then be displayed in the concert hall and projected on a large screen when the corresponding music is played, turning the performance into a shared creative experience.
By actively participating in this process—listening, imagining, and creating—the children develop a deeper connection with the music. They become artists themselves, showing that music and visual art go hand in hand in inspiring the imagination. Let the music guide us through their very own exhibition!
George Gershwin - An American in Paris
George Gershwin - Un Américain à Paris
Gershwin’s An American in Paris is a musical postcard, capturing the energy of the city with jazz-infused melodies and colorful orchestration. From honking taxi horns to a postman’s bicycle, every sound brings the streets of Paris to life.
In this concert, we break down together the orchestration, helping audiences identify these details and imagine the scene. It’s also an opportunity to explore jazz’s influence on classical music, tracing its roots and highlighting Gershwin’s mentors, like Nadia Boulanger.
By listening, analyzing, and imagining before the full performance, we discover how music becomes storytelling. As the orchestra plays, what scenes will you picture?
Engaging the Audience
Program « Maestro Live » Virtual Reality concert
This project is based on the virtual game “maestro VR” that offers an experience of conducting a full orchestra through virtual reality. The idea is to do exactly the same, with a full orchestra in live, earring and seeing from the real conductor perspective with an orchestra live! The people with the best point get to conduct the real orchestra at the end! This project aims to connect and engage with different communities and bring a new public not in touch with classical concert through a game, and bringing awareness and explanation about a real conductor’s job.
Dvorak - excerpts from the symphony n°9
Stravinsky - Danse sacrale from the rite of spring
Haydn - last movement of symphony 45
Beethoven - Excerpt from the symphony 5
Tchaikovsky - Excerpt from the Symphony n 6
Strauss - Ainsi parlait Zarathoustra