The National Youth Orchestra (NJO), conducted by regular guest director Antony Hermus, brings a programme to the stage around the revolutionary Le Sacre de Printemps by Igor Stravinsky. Originally written as a ballet in which pagan offering rituals are central: the coming of spring is celebrated with a ritual dance in which a virgin girl dances until she dies. Composer Bram Kortekaas has written a piece which is both a prelude and an hommage to Stravinsky’s masterpiece, especially for the NJO, which premieres this tour.

After the world premiere of Kortekaas and Le Sacre du Printemps, the NJO plays Les offrandes oubliées by Olivier Messiaen and the Second Suite from Daphnis et Chloé by Maurice Ravel. With these works, the orchestra underlines the theme of offering, although the offerings in Messiaen have a catholic and devout meaning, as well as the musical tradition of Stravinsky in which conventions were broken ánd Les Ballets Russes experienced its glory days.

Program:

Messiaen – les offrandes oubliées

Ravel – Daphnis et Chloé Suite 2

Bram Kortekaas – L’Élue, Prélude pour orchestre (commissioned by the NJO)

Strawinsky – Le Sacre du printemps