Music has the power to move us — literally! Artistic Partner David Roberston leads a rhythmic program full of music created expressly for movement and dance. First up are two pieces by Chopin — a Parisian-style waltz and a graceful nocturne — arranged by the dance-minded Stravinsky for Diaghilev’s ballet Les Sylphides. Diaghilev also commissioned ballet music from Debussy, who responded with the unpredictable music of Jeux (“Games”); in the ballet, a young couple play with a tennis ball like children until suddenly, “Surprised and alarmed, the young man and the girls disappear into the nocturnal depths of the garden.” Ravel composed his lush 1912 ballet Daphnis et Chloé by request of (no surprise!) Diaghilev; it tells the story of a romance between Daphnis the goatherd and Chloé the shepherdess, with appearances by Pan, nymphs, and even pirates.

How you’ll feel: tempted to begin pirouetting in the aisles

What to listen for:

In Ravel’s "choreographic symphony” Daphnis et Chloé, a shepherd and shepherdess fall in love. When Daphnis discovers that Chloé has been abducted by pirates, he begs the god Pan — the god of shepherds— to help return his love, and a band of nymphs joins in the plea until Pan intervenes and the lovers are reunited.
The longer scenario behind the ballet Jeux is as follows: “The scene is a garden at dusk; a tennis ball has been lost; a young man and two girls are searching for it. The artificial light of the large electric lamps suggests the idea of childish play: they play hide and seek, they quarrel. The night is warm, the sky is bathed in a pale light; they embrace. This spell is broken when another tennis ball mysteriously appears. Surprised and alarmed, the young man and the girls disappear into the nocturnal depths of the garden.”

Movement & Melody

Start Time

conductor

Milwaukee Symphony Chorus

Chorus Director

Chopin/orch. Stravinsky

Chopin/orch. Stravinsky

Debussy

Ravel

CONCERT DETAILS

ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE

MEET THE MUSIC

Food & Beverage Service featuring Staccato Bites

MEET THE MUSIC

Food & Beverage Service featuring Staccato Bites

MEET THE MUSIC

Food & Beverage Service featuring Staccato Bites

Support

Start Time

conductor

Milwaukee Symphony Chorus

Chorus Director

Chopin/orch. Stravinsky

Chopin/orch. Stravinsky

Debussy

Ravel