7th Symphony Concert

With Maurice Ravel’s imaginativeorchestral piece *Ma mère l’oye* (“My Mother, the Goose”), originally composed as a piano piece for four hands intended for children, a poetic fairy-tale world unfolds at the beginning of the 7th Symphony Concert. Drawing inspiration from “Sleeping Beauty, ” “Tom Thumb,” and “Beauty and the Beast,” Ravel crafted music of impressionistic radiance that invites the listener to dream.

Claude Debussy’s Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra builds on this and surprises with its free, imaginative style. The fact that the composer was initially at a loss regarding the saxophone—which he derisively referred to as a “reed beast”—is by no means apparent in the music; rather, it captivates with its elegance and a touch of Parisian nonchalance.

The sound of the saxophone leads beyond Debussy directly into the colorful world of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition in Maurice Ravel’s famous orchestration. For example, melancholic saxophone notes shape the atmosphere of the movement “The Old Castle.” Originally composed as a piano cycle and inspired by paintings by Viktor Hartmann, the work feels like a musical tour through an imaginary exhibition.

Featuring Asya Fateyeva—who received an OPUS KLASSIK Award in 2025 and captivates audiences with her expressiveness and stylistic versatility—the concert welcomes one of the leading saxophonists of her generation. French conductor Ariane Matiakh, principal conductor of the Württemberg Philharmonic Orchestra Reutlingen, will lead a program reflecting French musical culture and Impressionist influences.