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Transfigured Night

Jac van Steen and the ±«Óătv National Orchestra of Wales perform the world premiere of Stephen McNeff's The Celestial Stranger with tenor Gavan Ring, plus Schoenberg and FaurĂ©.

The ±«Óătv National Orchestra of Wales are joined by conductor Jac van Steen to perform three exceptionally powerful pieces of music. They begin with the world premiere of a ±«Óătv commission by Stephen McNeff, The Celestial Stranger. It was inspired by newly rediscovered poetry by Thomas Traherne, and alongside two of his poems, also features poetry by Walt Whitman, Dylan Thomas, and Queen Lydia Kamakaeha Lili’uokalani. The tenor Gavan Ring will join the orchestra to tell the tale of the titular alien who discovers our earth, revelling in its beauty and, eventually, its imperfections. On either side of the interval are two deeply moving tales of love. First is FaurĂ©'s PellĂ©as and MĂ©lisande — music which he wrote for a play which follows the ill-fated lovers of the title to their doom at the hands of MĂ©lisande's husband. Then, after the interval, there is another love triangle in Schoenberg's ravishing Verklärte Nacht or Transfigured Night. That was inspired by a poem in which the third party is never seen, but whose presence is felt, and ends with a transcendent accord between the lovers.

Presented by Ian Skelly in Cardiff's ±«Óătv Hoddinott Hall on the 16th of May.

Stephen McNeff: The Celestial Stranger
Fauré: Pelléas and Mélisande, Op 80
Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht, Op 4

Gavan Ring (tenor)
±«Óătv National Orchestra of Wales
Jac van Steen (conductor)

2 hours, 14 minutes

Last on

Mon 8 Jul 2024 19:30
±«Óătv Radio 3

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Recipes

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Music Played

  • Stephen McNeff

    The Celestial Stranger

    Singer: Gavan Ring. Orchestra: ±«Óătv National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jac van Steen.

  • Gabriel FaurĂ©

    Suite from Pelléas et Mélisande, Op 80

    Orchestra: ±«Óătv National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jac van Steen.

  • Mel Bonis

    Femmes de Legende, Op 109 (No 1, 'MĂ©lisande')

    Performer: Mengyiyi Chen.
    • Mel Bonis: Complete Music for Solo Piano.
    • Toccata Classics.
    • 3.

  • Stephen McNeff

    4 Van Gogh Chalks (No 3, 'L'Échorché)

    Ensemble: Kokoro.
    • Strip Jack Naked.
    • Prima Facie.
    • 6.

  • Arnold Schoenberg

    Transfigured Night, Op 4

    Orchestra: ±«Óătv National Orchestra of Wales. Conductor: Jac van Steen.

  • Nino Rota

    Nonetto

    Performer: Daishin Kashimoto. Performer: Joaquín Riguelme García. Performer: Claudio Bohórquez. Performer: Emmanuel Pahud. Performer: Paul Meyer. Performer: François Meyer. Performer: Gilbert Audin. Performer: Benoît de Barsony. Performer: Olivier Thiery.
    • Nino Rota: Chamber Music.
    • Alpha.
    • 7-11.

Broadcast

  • Mon 8 Jul 2024 19:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 3