Covent Garden Chorus – Symphony of Psalms – 7:30pm

About this event

Igor Stravinsky

Symphonies of Wind Instruments

Written in memory of Claude Debussy, this vibrant and energetic explosion of sound and rhythm was not directly inspired by the sounds of the famous French composer’s music, but was rather a homage to the composer, written in Stravinsky’s own unique language.

Maurice Ravel

Trois Chansons

One of the only works written by Ravel for unaccompanied choir, the Trois Chansons are simultaneously satirical, gymnastic, and profoundly beautiful.

Lili Boulanger

Vieille Prière Bouddhique

The ‘Old Buddhist Prayer’ is a daily prayer for the whole universe. Scored here for tenor, mixed choir and large orchestra, it took composer Lili Boulanger four years to finish, over the course of the Great War.

Igor Stravinsky

Symphony of Psalms

Symphony of Psalms is an extraordinary work, which continues to fascinate because it so thoroughly plays against expectations. The Symphony of Psalms was a commission to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1930. The orchestra wanted something symphonic, and Stravinsky’s publisher wanted something popular. Stravinsky gave them both – but not in the way either party could possibly have envisaged! The work is scored for very unusual orchestral forces, with a heady concentration of certain sounds (flutes, trumpets, and pianos) and complete omission of others (clarinets and high strings). Hearing it should be on every music-lover’s bucket list!

with

Conductor: Tori Longdon

Assistant Conductor: Robert Brooks

and

The orchestra of the Academy of St Mary-le-Bow