Saint-Saëns with the Orchestre Nationale de France in Paris and Germany

Seong-Jin Cho reunites with conductor Cristian Măcelaru and the Orchestre Nationale de France in Paris, embarking on a tour to Dortmund and Mannheim afterward. Cho and Măcelaru are no strangers to collaborative success, having garnered acclaim, including at the BBC Proms, where their “total synchronisation” (Bachtrack) was praised.

Cho takes center stage for Saint-Saëns’ dazzling Piano Concerto No. 5, nicknamed “Egyptian.” This virtuosic work infuses French Romanticism with exotic flair, depicting a vibrant sea voyage through its blend of Javanese, Spanish, and Middle Eastern influences.

The programme continues with Lili Boulanger’s poignant tone poems “D’un matin de printemps and “D’un soir triste” capturing fleeting emotions with rich orchestration. Finally, Debussy’s masterpiece, La mer, immerses the audience in the full spectrum of the ocean’s moods, from playful ripples to crashing waves.

Dates

April 25 – Maison de la Radio et de la Musique, Paris
April 28 – Konzerthaus, Dortmund
April 29 – Rosengarten, Mannheim

Photo: Christoph Köstlin / Deutsche Grammophon