A concert that dances - from the tango inspiration of Argentina to the ballet music of Imperial Russia.
"Macho, cool and dangerous" - that's how Osvaldo Golijov's Last Round begins. It's a sublimated tango, inspired by the great Piazzolla. Hot passion becomes pure pattern, violin bows fly in abstract choreography and the whole thing ends with a sigh.
Manuel de Falla shifts the setting from Argentina to old-world Spain for a set of symphonic impressions in which a solo piano dances with the orchestra in a fragrant atmosphere of nostalgia.
The dancing continues with Tchaikovsky in highlights from two of his great ballets: Nutcracker with scenes from the Kingdom of the Sweets and the glorious Waltz of the Flowers, and the haunting, turbulent world of Swan Lake.
GOLIJOV Last Round
FALLA Nights in the Gardens of Spain
TCHAIKOVSKY Nutcracker: Highlights from Act II
TCHAIKOVSKY Swan Lake: Highlights
Andrew Grams conductor
Steven Osborne piano
Pre-concert talk by Yvonne Frindle in the Northern Foyer, 45 minutes before each performance.
AUDIO PLAYER LISTING
Track 1 - GOLIJOV Last Round: II Lentissimo - Muertes del Angel
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Spano
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 4776426
Track 2 - FALLA Nights in the Gardens of Spain: II Danza lejana
Track 3 - FALLA Nights in the Gardens of Spain: III In the Gardens of the Sierra Córdoba
Alicia de Larrocha (piano) with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
DECCA 466 128-2
Track 4 - TCHAIKOVSKY Nutcracker: Tea - Chinese Dance
Kirov Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev
PHILIPS 462 114-2
Audio kindly supplied by Silver Partners Universal Music