Gergely Madaras Conducts... by Debussy, Mason, C., Franck, Ó (2024/2024), Seoltóir Gergely Madaras, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Shimmering ambiguity and transparent harmonies glisten with faintly Eastern inspired melodies, subtle nuance and sheer beauty in Debussy’s ground breaking Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, depicting the dreams and encounters of a mythical faun. Inspired by Whistler’s set of paintings of the same name, we then explore light and shade in his Nocturnes – From the sky to the sea we experience airily luminous melody alongside rustic rhythmic drive, and swirling water eerily interrupted by the songs of sirens at sea, a radiant thread added to the already exquisite tapestry of sound. Using the flute in a mellifluently uninhibited style, reflective of Debussy’s l’après-midi, Christian Mason’s flute concerto Thaleia was written for Noemi Gyori as part of her ‘Contemplation of the Nymph’ project, with the characteristics of Thaleia, a Naiad-nymph of Mount Etna, taking the focal role. We’re delighted that Noemi will join BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Gergely Madaras for the works UK premiere, before the BBC National Chorus of Wales join the forces for the finale of this enchanting concert - Le Jardin d’Eros from Franck’s symphonic poem Psyché, set to words by Sicard and Louis de Fourcaud and inspired by Apuleius ' Metamorphoses .