Fairy Tales
Weaving stories and musical dreams
A magical journey through enchanting narratives, woven through the artistry of composers, these works reimagine classic tales through a fresh lens and celebrate music’s power to transport listeners to other imaginary worlds. Each work becomes a sonic tapestry, blending narrative with the composer’s unique musical language.
Leoš Janáček (1854-1928): “Pohadka” (1910) [11’]
- Con moto – andante
- Con moto – adagio
- Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): 7 Variations on Mozart’s theme “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen”, WoO 46 [10’]
Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Sonata in d minor for cello and piano [11’]
- Prologue: Lent, sostenuto e molto risoluto
- Sérénade: Modérément animé
- Finale: Animé, léger et nerveux
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957): Malinconia, Op. 20 [12’]
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971): Suite Italienne, from “Pulcinella” [18’]
- Introduzione
- Serenata
- Aria
- Tarantella
- Minuetto e Finale
Leoš Janáček’s Pohádka, which tells the story of Tsar Berendey and his trials through lyrical music, is the keystone of this program. The work captures moments of realization and emotional revelation during this story of a tragic promise made by a tsar to an evil sorcerer. Janáček’s music undergoes many transformations, uncovering the hidden layers at the heart of the tale, and musical changes, moving between mystery to clarity, reflect the prince’s discovery of his fate and the story’s continuation—full of love and magic.
In the spirited and humorous variations on Mozart’s Magic Flute, Beethoven takes the famous love duet “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen” (of men who feel love), sung by Papageno and Pamina. This duet, at once full of life, humor, and tenderness, celebrates the power and beauty of love. It evokes the connection between characters, highlighting how love brings joy and mutual support, enriching their existence.
Debussy’s Sonata adds its whimsical and mythical charm from the commedia dell’arte, with its subtitle “Pierrot is angry with the moon,” coming to life through fluid and mysterious music.
Sibelius’s Malinconia, inspired by the Finnish epic Kalevala, is a deeply introspective piece where cello and piano express emotions of haunting intensity, evoking a wild and melancholic beauty as well as a dramatic atmosphere.
The playful energy of Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne also draws from the commedia dell’arte through Pulcinella, transforming Pergolesi’s Baroque airs into a series of movements full of humor, wit, and vivacity, captivating listeners with their striking contrasts.