Sensuous nights reminiscent of scenes from ‘One Thousand and One Nights’ – for centuries, the Orient has stirred the secret fantasies of Europeans. In a concert that celebrates this ecstasy and builds bridges to the East, we will attempt to trace these traditions of indulgence here tonight. At the centre of the concert is the frame drum – an instrument that almost transposes listeners into a hypnotic state. The performance will be presented by the National Youth Orchestra, a company regularly supported by Sir Simon Rattle. Comprising many of Germany’s top rising stars, the orchestra loves to be funny, outrageous and wild. Barriers between dream and insanity also fascinated Mozart, whose “Seraglio” Overture – already a celebration for percussion lovers in its original form – will be given an oriental instrumental makeover. The celebration will culminate with Ravel’s “Boléro”, an ecstatic and dramatic composition which can be defined as follows: before the listeners explode, the work explodes! Simple yet ingenious. In fact, exactly like the entire concert!

Howard Griffiths Conductor
National Youth Orchestra
Murat Cos¸kun Frame Drum

Murat Coskun
Introduction on the Frame Drum

Ahmed Adnan Saygun
Ayin Raksi (Ritual Dance) Op. 57 (1975)

Maurice Ohana
Livre des Prodiges (Book of Miracles)

Manuel de Falla
Excerpts from El Amor Brujo

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Overture “The Abduction from the Seraglio”, successive editing and manipulation

Maurice Ravel
Boléro