Mahler, Titan

Russian and German literature are the source of the two scores on this program, where Gautier Capuçon's bow joins Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider's baton. If Lera Auerbach's concerto is a discovery, "Titan" belongs to the pillars of the symphonic repertoire and is an ideal gateway to Mahler's universe.

Music speaks, and to speak even better, draws on the treasures of literature. Inspired by Titan, a novel by the writer Jean Paul, the First Symphony does not describe the ancient gods fighting their fathers, but a man caught up in the torments of a changing German nation. It blends youthful memories and human comedy, borrowing splendid images from old poems: a joyous day filled with the sounds of nature, the blue eyes of a beloved, an animal funeral march. We even hear Frère Jacques, treated as a masterly canon. Contradiction being the essence of Mahlerian music, joy and sadness mingle intimately here, witnessing a more personal love story. But the work remains, by its composer's own admission, greater than the sentimental adventure behind it. For her cello concerto, Lera Auerbach chose Nicolas Gogol's Diary of a Madman, a madman who proclaimed himself King of Spain, a victim of ambition and love. This concerto reveals the sonic universe of Lera Auerbach, gifted pianist, composer and conductor, whose moving, colorful music has both the logic and the madness of the finest Russian short stories.

Avant-scène concert at 7pm
Young talents from the CNSMD de Lyon offer a musical prelude one hour before your concert. Grande salle, free admission and seating on presentation of concert ticket (duration: 20 minutes).