Munich Philharmonic: Ravel / Poulenc / MartinAlain Altinoglu (conductor)
This event is in the past.
With this concert, the Munich Philharmonic will present three works written under the cloud of the world wars. Under the baton of French conductor Alain Altinoglu, they will perform Maurice Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, Francis Poulenc’s Figure humaine and Frank Martin’s oratorio In terra pax.
This event is in the past.
With this concert, the Munich Philharmonic will present three works written under the cloud of the world wars. Under the baton of French conductor Alain Altinoglu, they will perform Maurice Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, Francis Poulenc’s Figure humaine and Frank Martin’s oratorio In terra pax.
Intending Le Tombeau de Couperin to be a celebration of the music of France Maurice Ravel conceived it in a lively, optimistic vein. As World War I raged during its completion, Ravel took the title, Tombeau, as a cue to dedicate each of the movements to a fallen soldier from among his circle of friends.
Francis Poulenc wrote Figure humaine in 1943 in anticipation of the day of liberation, on which the oppressive occupation of France would end. This hymn to “liberté” – an impressive masterpiece for 12-part a cappella choir – will be performed by the Munich Philharmonic Choir.
Frank Martin, too, had the end of war in mind when composing In terra pax in 1944, during World War II. Emotions ranging from grief and fear to exuberant joy and relief are the topics of this oratorio, which was premiered on 7 May 1945.
Programme
- Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin
- Francis Poulenc: Figure humaine for two mixed choirs a cappella
- Frank Martin: In terra pax, oratorio breve for soloists, two mixed choirs and orchestra
With
- Véronique Gens, soprano
- Nora Gubisch, mezzo-soprano
- Julien Dran, tenor
- Stéphane Degout, baritone
- Laurent Naouri, bass
- Munich Philharmonic Choir; Andreas Herrmann, rehearsal
- Munich Philharmonic
- Alain Altinoglu, conductor
