Berliner Philharmoniker II

The result? A folkloric sonic fireworks display in an idealized Iberian national idiom, presented by Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic.

Following the world premiere of Cathy Milliken’s *why feather yellow* for English horn and orchestra, Leoš Janáček’s symphonic triptych *Taras Bulba*, based on Nikolai Gogol’s novella of the same name, takes us on a journey into the vast expanses of Russia: with catchy, rhapsodic music that oscillates between introspective lyricism and gripping drama, culminating in a resonant chorale.

It was the brilliant impresario Sergei Diaghilev who persuaded Manuel de Falla to adapt his pantomimic farce *El corregidor y la molinera* for the Ballets Russes and to compose additional dances as well as a vocal interlude for mezzo-soprano—all without drawing on authentic folklore. The music “without authenticity” (de Falla) ultimately led to the two-act ballet El sombrero de tres picos (The Three-Cornered Hat), for whose celebrated London premiere both Léonide Massine (choreography) and Pablo Picasso (set design, decorations, and costumes) were engaged. The music and staging, which also incorporated ideas from the young Spanish flamenco dancer Felix Fernandes García, became one of the most famous productions of the Ballets Russes.

Following the concert performance of this sun-drenched comedy, in which Rinat Shaham takes on the mezzo-soprano solo part, the program features the premiere of the English horn concerto by oboist, composer, and music educator Cathy Milliken, who served as director of the Berlin Philharmonic’s education program from 2005 to 2012.

This is followed by Leoš Janáček’s evocative orchestral rhapsody *Taras Bulba*, based on Gogol, which deals with the Ukrainian wars of liberation against Polish occupation in the 17th century. Although the Cossack captain, after whom the work is named, suffers a catastrophic defeat in the end, the third and final movement (The Prophecy and Death of Taras Bulba) concludes with a resonant chorale that, accompanied by organ music and the ringing of bells, becomes a symbol of a vision of freedom.