French with Soustrot

Marc Soustrot was Chief Conductor of MSO until 2019 and is now the orchestra’s Honorary Conductor. Here, he makes his much-awaited return with a completely French programme. We begin proceedings with the overture to Fauré’s Homeric opera Pénélope, after which we are treated to the orchestral version of Ravel’s well-known piano piece Pavane for a Dead Princess. Dutilleux’s Mystère de l’Instant provides an invigorating contrast with its unusual sounds, which are achieved, among other things, with a hammered dulcimer, an instrument reminiscent of a zither but played with small hammers. Poulenc then creates harmony again with his light and vibrant Sinfonietta.