Voices of Nature: Debussy, Haydn, & Dvořák

Gabriel Martins, cello

Valery Saul, conductor

This program invites audiences to experience the beauty and mystery of the natural world through music. From moments of quiet reflection to passages full of energy and movement, the concert highlights how composers across eras have drawn inspiration from nature’s landscapes, moods, and rhythms.

PROGRAM

Claude Debussy - Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Joseph Haydn - Cello Concerto in C

Antonín Dvořák - Symphony No. 8

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun / Claude Debussy
b. Saint-Germain en Laye, France / August 22, 1862 - March 25, 1918

Delicate textures, colorful timbres, and fleeting moods are all hallmarks of the French impressionist movement led by Claude Debussy. His works became defining pieces of the Impressionist sound, and Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun is often seen as a turning point in music history, often cited as the beginning of “modern music.” As soon as listeners hear the opening notes of this revolutionary piece, they will be transported to a sensual and hazy landscape, shimmering like a dream, and floating just beyond reach.

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Cello Concerto in C / Joseph Haydn
b. Rohrau, Austria / March 31, 1732 - May 31, 1809

Composed around 1761, Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C was lost for nearly two centuries before being discovered in a private collection in Czechoslovakia. It is thought to be one of young Haydn’s best works. Magnificent exchanges between soloist and orchestra combined with the lovely and rich sound of the cello that sings unabashedly throughout.

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Symphony No. 8 / Antonín Dvořák
b. Nelahozeves, Czechia / September 8, 1841 - May 1, 1904

Songful, warm, and optimistic–these are just a few of the words used to describe Antonín Dvořák’s 8th Symphony. Unlike his past works, which were dramatic and stormy, this symphony feels like a sunny walk through the forest in summertime - simply bursting with the joy of being alive.