Marc-André Hamelin joue l'empereur

Richard Strauss's Don Juan heroically opens this concert, which is set under the theme of conquest. The composer was barely 24 years old when he embarked on this symphonic poem, which also became his first major success. Inspired by Mozart's Don Giovanni, Strauss revisited the myth while affirming the German Romantic ideal, showcasing his inspired fervor and his remarkable talent as an orchestrator.

Renowned concert pianist Marc-André Hamelin, the last of four Quebec pianists invited this season, offers his interpretation of another triumphant work: Beethoven's Emperor Concerto. Its martial rhythms, triumphant themes, and visionary spirit transcend the bounds of the classical concerto, as the composer responds to the tide of Napoleonic conquests.

Finally, we turn to the “king of the Viennese waltz,” Johann Strauss II, for another imperial evocation. His celebrated Emperor Waltz combines romantic flights, symphonic music, and military march rhythms into an irresistible invitation to dance.

Duncan Ward: Conductor
Marc-André Hamelin: Piano