Description

Our chorus of sixteen voices will join the orchestra for three late Romantic French works. The sumptuous Pavane of Gabriel Fauré, usually performed by orchestra alone, will be heard in the composer’s version with chorus. The concert closes with two works by Lili Boulanger, one of the most original composers of her generation notwithstanding her tragic death at age twenty-four. These are Sous bois (“Undergrowth”) and Hymne au Soleil (“Hymn to the Sun”), presented in new orchestrations by Geoffrey Larson.

In addition, the Emerald Ensemble’s own Melissa Plagemann will feature as soloist in Maurice Ravel’s Trois poèmes de Mallarmé, one of the greatest song-cycles of the twentieth century. The orchestra will round out the concert with instrumental music by Édouard Lalo and Ravel’s masterful Suite from the ballet Ma mère l’Oye (“Mother Goose”).

We are thrilled to be the featured guest artists of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra for this concert.

Ensemble Photos

Emerald Ensemble. Photo: Bruce Weber