15.11.24, 20:00, Symfonieorkest van KASK & Conservatorium, Stravinsky & Ravel

After an intensive week of rehearsals in symphonic format, the instrument classes of KASK & Conservatorium get to show their worth on the big stage. The programme includes two unmissable absolute masterpieces: Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin and Stravinsky’s Suite Pulcinella.

Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin is — contrary to what the title would suggest — not so much a tribute to French Baroque composer François Couperin himself as to the French harpsichord suite as a piece of music an sich. The original piano version has six movements, each dedicated to seven of Ravel’s friends who died in World War I (the fourth movement pays tribute to two brothers who were killed by the same shell at the same time, whoops). The orchestral version, later orchestrated for performances as ballet music, retains five friends and four movements and shows Ravel’s masterful ability to combine clarity and texture.

Stravinsky’s Suite Pulcinella, on the other hand, is — perhaps — based on the music of Pergolesi and — quite certainly — other composers of the 18th century, but is unmistakably infused with Stravinsky’s own modernist style. The suite, an adaptation of his ballet Pulcinella, consists of eight movements and demands great expressiveness and precision from the musicians. Something that, after the week of intensive rehearsals, should pose no problem at all; of course not!