Symphony to perform works by Debussy, Ravel

Nel

The Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra will welcome pianist Anton Nel to the capital city for the first time as soloist for its Entergy Masterworks VI concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, in the Baton Rouge River Center Theatre for the Performing Arts, 275 St. Louis St.

The world-acclaimed pianist has been called “uncommonly elegant” by The New York Times, and both “ravishing” and “brilliant” by the Dallas Morning News. The concert will feature music by Claude Debussy, Manuel de Falla, Jennifer Higdon and Maurice Ravel.

The concert begins with the quintessential work of musical impressionism — Debussy’s dreamlike “L’aprés-midi d’un faune,” inspired by the work of symbolist poet Stéphane Mallarmé.

This work is followed by Spanish Impressionist Manuel de Falla’s charmed nocturne for piano and orchestra, “Noches en los Jardines de España.”

“Blue Cathedral,” composed by Jennifer Higdon, carries the tradition of the musical impressionists into the 21st century, incorporating novel instrumentation, including the glass harmonica and Chinese bells. The evening finishes with Ravel’s jazz-inspired “Piano Concerto in G Major,” a product of inspirations from Ravel’s travels in the United States.

Highlights of Nel’s nearly four decades of concertizing include performances with the Cleveland Orchestra, and the symphonies of Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit and London. He has an active repertoire of more than 100 works for piano and orchestra.

Nel, an acclaimed Beethoven interpreter, has performed the concerto cycle several times, most notably on two consecutive evenings with the Cape Philharmonic in 2003. He also was chosen to give the North American premiere of the newly-discovered “Piano Concerto No. 3 in E Minor” by Felix Mendelssohn in 1992.

Ticket holders also are invited to the concert hall an hour prior for a pre-concert discussion with Music Director Timothy Muffitt.

This feature allows patrons to gain insight into composers’ lives, historical background of pieces, and other pieces of musical knowledge.

The discussion is included at no charge with a concert ticket.

Also, a string trio from the Louisiana Youth Orchestras will provide lobby entertainment prior to the concert. These violin, viola and cello students call themselves “The Foto Sisters.”

The Louisiana Youth Orchestras are under the direction of the symphony’s assistant conductor, David Torns.

Masterworks VI also is marking the second installment of Symphony 101 this season. Have you ever wondered what happens behind the music? At 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the Baton Rouge River Center Theatre for Performing Arts, participants will engage Muffitt and symphony Executive Director Alan Hopper in a session concerning the production of events, the composers and the music.

The discussion is followed by a Masterworks rehearsal, during which Symphony 101 participants sit on stage next to the orchestra musicians.

Enrollment is limited. Tickets are $35/person and $15 for season subscribers and include a free ticket to the Masterworks VI Concert on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Concert tickets are $25-$55.

For tickets or more information, call [phone], ext. 100, or visit http://www.brso.org.

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra