The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Bruckner 4 – The Romantic

The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents masterpieces by Bruckner and Ravel and a Victorian premiere by Australian composer Elliott Gyger.

This concert, given by the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, culminates in Bruckner’s Symphony No 4. Written in 1874 and nicknamed The Romantic by the composer, it was revised many times. The University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will perform the 1878/80 version. There is evidence that Bruckner wrote this as a programmatic piece, depicting life, prayer, and, most notably in the third movement, a hunt in the forest.

The concert begins with Ravel’s ballet Daphnis et Chloé (Suite No. 2). The story at this point in the narrative follows Chloé and her imminent reunion with Daphnis. After a musically spectacular sunrise, and as a tribute to Pan (who has just rescued Chloé from pirates), the two re-enact the mythological story of Pan and Syrinx.

Just before the interval, the ensemble will perform the Victorian premiere of Elliott Gyger’s Concerto for Orchestra. Like the Bruckner, Gyger’s structure is a marriage of beauty, balance, and symmetry.