New Symphony Orchestra

　This year marks the 10th year since we began collaborating with Hikotaro Yazaki, a conductor based in Paris who is active on the world stage and whose intelligent baton is full of rich colors. This time, they will perform Debussy's masterpiece "The Sea," which has been programmed mainly with French orchestral works.

Debussy's two symphonic paintings.
　Debussy (1862-1918), a leading French Impressionist composer, composed his symphonic poem "The Sea" in 1905. It was also the time when his opera "Pelléas et Mélisande" was a success and established his status as a composer. The work consists of three movements, "From Dawn to Noon on the Sea," "The Play of the Waves," and "Dialogue with the Wind and Sea," in which scenes of the sea are depicted over time. The cover of the first edition of the score features "Fugaku Sanjurokkei Kanagawaoki Namiura" by Katsushika Hokusai.

　The symphonic suite "Spring" was composed in 1887, when Debussy was studying in Rome after winning the Grand Prix de Rome. It is said that he was inspired by Botticelli's famous painting "Primavera (Spring)," which depicts the breath and joy of spring. Unfortunately, the score was destroyed in a fire, but the chorus and piano versions have survived and were newly orchestrated by Büsser at Debussy's direction.

Dvořák's authentic symphony.
　The other piece will be a symphony by Dvorak at the request of Yazaki.
　Dvořák (1841-1904), a leading composer of the Czech National Music School, gained international fame and was elected an honorary member of the London Philharmonic Society in 1884. The commission that resulted was his Symphony No. 7. The composer was 43 years old when he completed it, the same age at which Debussy composed "The Sea. Both are representative works of their mature period.
　Dvořák is best known for his "New World" Symphony, but this Seventh Symphony is the most German Romantic of the nine symphonies, with a strong absolute musical character and a classical structure in form. It is said to be strongly influenced by Brahms' 3rd Symphony, but it is a charming piece with Dvořák's unique simple and warm sound and folk elements.
　We hope you enjoy it!