Classic Sunday: Français / Prokofjev / R. Strauss / Connesson

Matinees presenting chamber music in many different formats, from the traditional classical canon to the cutting edge and experimental.

Doors open 13:30
Event start 14:00
Duration: about 1 hour
Seated

Chamber concert with the Oslo Philharmonics

Jean Françaix: L’heure du berger (1947) 
Sergei Prokofiev: Quintet op. 39 (1924) 
Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel – Differently, For Once! (1894–5) 
Guillaume Connesson: Sextour (1998) 

Trond Magne Brekka – flute 
Min Hua Chiu – oboe 
Fredrik Fors – clarinet 
Abel Pérez Armas – horn 
Brage Sæbø – violin 
Arthur Bedouelle – viola 
Cécile-Laure Kouassi – double bass 
Gonzalo Moreno – piano 

Chamber music inspired by (among other things) café life, circus artists and a legendary folk trickster, by Jean Françaix, Sergej Prokofjev, Richard Strauss and Guillaume Connesson. 

The neoclassical music of Jean Françaix (1912–97) is full of charm and good humour. Françaix wrote L'heure du berger (subtitled ‘Brasserie Music’) in 1947, as background music for a famous restaurant in Paris. He takes a humorous look at various café characters: ‘Ageing Dandies’, ‘Pin-up Girls’ and ‘The Little Terrors’.

Sergei Prokofiev (1891−1953) was living in Paris when he was asked to write ballet music for a travelling dance troupe. The ballet was based on a simple plot taken from life at the circus, but the music is some of the most radical Prokofiev wrote. The composer reworked the material into the Quintet op. 39, which is played here.

Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks by Richard Strauss (1864–1949) was based on the tales of one of the most colourful and unpredictable characters from medieval German folk poetry. The ‘Differently, For Once!’ version played here is a shorter version for five musicians, arranged by Austrian composer Franz Hasenöhrl.

Guillaume Connesson (b. 1970) grew up in a suburb of Paris, where he studied composition and conducting. He draws inspiration from, among other things pop and film music, Olivier Messiaen, Steve Reich and John Adams. With Sextour, Connesson wanted to write music with a festive, entertaining flavour.  

Classic Sunday offers you an enchanting selection of classical music pieces from any and all historical periods, chosen and performed by musicians from the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra.