Poem of Ecstasy

Kenneth Young Dance
Scriabin The Poem of Ecstasy
Debussy Syrinx
Sibelius Luonnotar
Ravel Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2

Scriabin’s 1908 Poem of Ecstasy was described by the composer as “The Joy of Liberated Action […] a Divine Play of Worlds.”

While Scriabin indulged his taste for cosmic scope, Jean Sibelius kept things a little more grounded in Luonnotar, his 1913 tone poem for soprano and orchestra. Here the golden-voiced Madeleine Pierard embodies the mythological Finnish goddess of nature.

We start and end with dance. Firstly, with NZ composer Ken Young’s Dance, and lastly, with Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2.

Nestled in this concert’s heart is Debussy’s solo flute piece Syrinx. Debussy’s enigmatic, harmonically adventurous works provided the key to unlocking the creativity of contemporaries like Scriabin, Sibelius and Ravel, allowing them to then create their own distinctive sound worlds.

Gemma New’s role as the NZSO’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor is kindly supported by the NZSO Foundation – which is made possible by the extraordinary generosity of the Orchestra’s donors.