A German Requiem by Brahms in Toulouse, Xavier de Maistre at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées, and Jonathan Fournel at the Arsenal in Metz
Romantic sacred music, the famous harp concerto by Boieldieu and an eclectic piano recital mixing Mozart, Franck, Brahms and Szymanowski: here is Radio Classique’s selection of concerts not to be missed this week
October 15: A German Requiem from Brahms to Toulouse
This is the great sacred work of Brahms: A German Requiem. One of the monuments of the repertoire as well. A work all the more moving, as it draws its origins from the death of Brahms’ mentor, Robert Schumann, and especially from the disappearance of his mother. This german requiem was designed to be intended for the concert and not for the liturgy. It is also a tribute to German poetry and romanticism. It will resound in the hall of Halle aux Grains, with the soprano Sunhae Im, the baritone Edwin Crossley-Mercer, the Orchestra and the Chœur du Capitole de Toulouse under the direction of David Reiland.
Practical information: A German Requiem, by Brahms. The Halle aux Grains, Toulouse. Saturday October 15 at 8 p.m. Broadcast on Sunday, November 6 on Radio Classique at 9 p.m. www.onct-toulouse.fr
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October 17: Xavier de Maistre’s harp in the spotlight at the TCE
One of the most brilliant French harpists is in Paris, at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées! Xavier de Maistre plays one of the jewels of the harp repertoire, François-Adrien Boieldieu’s Concerto. A work of great elegance, which sufficed, with the opera The White Lady, to ensure the posterity of Boieldieu. Xavier de Maistre will be accompanied by the Orchester de Chambre de Paris, conducted by the Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci, who has just made her debut at the Paris Opera. It should also be noted that Xavier de Maistre will be the exceptional guest of the Grand Concert de Noël Radio Classique, on December 16 and 17, at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
Practical information: Concerto for harp by Boieldieu, Xavier de Maistre, Orchester de Chambre de Paris, Speranza Scappucci. Champs-Élysées Theater, Paris. Monday, October 17 at 8 p.m. www.theatredeschampselysees.fr
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October 18: Jonathan Fournel in Metz
Jonathan Fournel will be in his Moselle lands, for this concert in Metz. The young pianist, revealed to the general public last year when he won the First Prize of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, is indeed a native of Sarrebourg. In the excellent acoustics of the Arsenal, one of the best in France, he will play a particularly varied program, mixing the classicism of Mozart, the romanticism of Brahms, César Franck’s homage to Bach with Prelude, Fugues and Variationsand the early 20th century music of Karol Szymanowski.
Practical information: Recital Jonathan Fournel. Arsenal of Metz. Tuesday, October 18 at 8 p.m. www.citemusicale-metz.fr
Jean-Michel Dhuez