Guests of Debussy’s La mer are in for treat: During the program on March 8, 9 & 10, ticket holders can enjoy a special performance of two chamber music selections.
Les citations by Henri Dutilleux kicks off the presentation of chamber music, followed by Maurice Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet. While Ravel (1875–1937) was a contemporary of Debussy’s, the piece by Dutilleux (1916–2013) brings the evening of music by French composers ahead to the late 20th century.
Read on as Jonathan Fischer, oboe; Robin Kesselman, double bass; and Matthew Strauss, percussion, discuss the quartet performance, which is rounded out by Scott Holshauser, harpsichord.
How would you describe this piece to someone who’s never heard it before?
Matthew Strauss: Impressionist composers, as painters, are known for vibrant colors and a wide range of timbres. It’s my personal feeling that Henri Dutilleux’s music is an extension of that. If Debussy were alive for another 50 or 60 years, you’d have seen him going in that direction.
Robin Kesselman: It’s virtuosic for each of the four players. The textures Dutilleux links together are incredibly interesting, vibrant, and really colorful: it’s sort of like tapestry woven together to create thick fabric, but each individual strand is incredibly intricate.
This piece features a unique combination of instruments. How do they balance each other out?
Robin: The instruments don’t compete and dominate each other. They’re all four really individual voices. what’s nice is that the instruments stay individual—you can pick out every person at all times.
What you do hope that audiences take away from the performances of “Les citations”?
Jonathan Fischer: It’s an opportunity to hear these instruments up close: very exposed and transparent. You get to hear a lot of different colors and extended techniques that we don’t normally do in the orchestra.
Robin: It’s an opportunity to hear an incredible piece that audiences rarely hear live. It’s such a monumental force to put together, to have the time and commitment to the music and to the score.
Get tickets for Debussy’s “La mer” to enjoy the chamber music performances on March 8, 9 & 10.
