Dutilleux: 20th century remembered. Video of Valery Gergiev describing what drew him to Dutilleux's music; soundclips Debussy La Mer
04 LSO Season 09/10
Valery Gergiev
describes what drew
him to the music of
Henri Dutilleux
After working with the Orchestra on
Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Mahler
symphonies I was looking for something
that would be a step forward – not
something safe, that we know
is wonderful, like Mozart, Beethoven
or Brahms. With Henri Dutilleux I think
we will enjoy something quite different.
I came across Dutilleux by happy coincidence,
when I was conducting at the Paris Opera four
years ago, and friends said – ‘you must meet
Dutilleux’. In a few hours I was sitting in front
of Mr Dutilleux and he started to talk. I was
thrilled and honoured, and very curious.
At 93 [22 Jan 2009] he is one of the few men
alive who actually witnessed developments
in 20th-century music, from the 1930s until
today. You can talk to him about Stravinsky,
Ravel, Prokofiev or Debussy, and he
remembers! He is a living legend who can
link us to the history of music in the 20th
century. His experience and his advice,
and especially his guidance on how the
face of classical music was changing
in the 20th century, has been invaluable in
forming these programmes with the LSO.
I think his music will suit the LSO very well –
they are like a chameleon, in a good sense
of the word – if they are playing Russian
repertoire they become a Russian orchestra,
or if it’s French music today they become
a good French orchestra.
Dutilleux’s writing is very meticulous, very
detailed. But what I respect, even if the
sonorities are very complex, is that you still
cannot let it become disorganised or chaotic.
That is the first sign of a really good, a really
important composer – every note counts.
His music provokes the imagination, not
so much on the score, which looks quite
complicated, but once you start rehearsing.
When you hear the combination of brass,
or percussion, or strings, whispering very,
very quietly – he is a master at writing
for any section to do something on the
borders of audibility – then suddenly there’s
a sharp, explosive attack from another
part of the orchestra. It’s like flashes of
energy, or flashes of fantasy. And when the
performance is over you come away with
this strange and pleasant combination of
the mysterious and the very ‘in-your-face’
brilliant attacks. People may think it is a risky
idea to make Dutilleux the centre of this
programme, but it is an absolutely incredible
opportunity to hear music that has its
own importance in his life, but also in the
development of the musical scene in France
and Europe.
20 Sep 09 Debussy La mer
24 Sep 09 Ravel Daphnis and Chloé
13 Dec 09 Ravel Boléro
18 Dec 09 Dutilleux Symphony No 2
11 Feb 09 Strauss Ein Heldenleben
13 Feb 10 Ligeti Atmosphères
12 May 10 Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms
13 May 10 Messiaen TurangalÎla Symphony
19 May 10 Ravel Piano Concerto
20 May 10 Dutilleux Métaboles
Listen to Debussy La mer
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