Falla / Debussy / Stravinsky

Falla, Debussy and Stravinsky represent three outlooks on modernity as it stood at the turn of the 20th century, with Paris as the centre of cultural and aesthetic exchange. In The Three-Cornered Hat, written for Diaghilev’s famous Ballets Russes, Falla transformed popular Spanish rhythms and melodies—such as fandangos, jotas and farrucas—into a ballet of dazzling dynamism, not without a touch of humour. In La mer, Debussy, eschewed an explicit narrative to create three “symphonic sketches” in which unstable harmonies and changing tones suggest the evolving nature of the sea, captivating both the impressive oceanic aurora and the dialogue between wind and waves. Lastly, The Firebird by Stravinsky, the composer’s first major success, brings together the exotic nature of a Russian tale of fantasy and an exceptionally refined use of instruments. Lucas Macías will again conduct the Basque National Orchestra in this triple offering of great orchestral virtuosity.