The Orchestre de Paris and Elim Chan perform Gershwin’s Concerto in F, with Lucas Debargue as soloist, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.
With his Concerto in F, Gershwin asserts his place within the European classical tradition while retaining a strong American identity. Classical forms coexist with rhythms and styles drawn from jazz, blues, and the Charleston. The work reflects the energy, nocturnal poetry, and rhythmic vitality of modern America. Like Rhapsody in Blue, the Piano Concerto in F stands out for its memorable themes, proving that Gershwin far surpasses the confines of Broadway music without renouncing his improvisational and free-spirited genius.
Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, composed in 1940 in the United States shortly before his death, were originally conceived around the different stages of life, as a kind of musical testament. The first movement blends rhythmic energy, orchestral modernity, and Russian nostalgia, notably through a striking melody on the saxophone. The second movement, a dark and unsettling waltz, evokes a ghostly world and memories of the past. The finale is a spectacular synthesis of the composer’s style, juxtaposing two major religious themes—the Dies irae and an Orthodox chant—in a conclusion of dramatic power emblematic of this composer.