Debussy’s landmark La Mer captures the shimmering mysteriousness and power of the sea, and Englishman Ralph Vaughan William’s Sea Symphony is an epic masterpiece blending the poetry of Walt Whitman with a transformative voyage of the human spirit.
Masterworks V is sponsored by Engel & Völkers, Chase Bank, Gill’s Point S Tires, and Rena & Art Bumgardner
“Behold the Sea will be a stunning performance of two exceptional masterpieces, Debussy’s La Mer, and Vaughan-Williams’ The Sea Symphony,” explains Director of Development & Communications Cameron Betchey. “Beautiful and massive, this performance will be moving and will reflect the voyage of the human spirit.”
VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS’ THE SEA SYMPHONY
“Originally titled Songs of the Seas and then Ocean Symphony, A Sea Symphony occupied Vaughan Williams’ efforts for six years, during which he composed several other works and studied with Maurice Ravel in Paris,” explains Maestro Allan R. Scott. “While critics often cite clumsiness and awkwardness in the Sea Symphony, it remains an extraordinary, moving work. Its nobility and visionary qualities, its largeness of conception and execution, its reflection of the composer’s own personality, generous and humane, and its broad expressive range all combine to make the work a spiritual and musical experience of remarkable intensity and satisfaction.”
CLAUDE DEBUSSY’S LA MER
“In addition to his landmark Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Debussy is most recognized for the tone poem La Mer (The Sea). In many ways La Mer has become the work most connected with the composer. It is astonishing that La Mer is only Debussy’s seventh major orchestra work, as is a sophisticated, well-constructed three movement staple of twentieth century music,” says Maestro Allan R. Scott.
La Mer was not well-received at its premiere performance, partially because the orchestra was under rehearsed and partially because Parisians were publicly outraged at Debussy for leaving his wife for a singer. Critics also did not praise La Mer, saying the work was “rubbish,” “cacophonous,” and it was a “symphonic pictures of seasickness.” “Despite that Debussy was often only admired exclusively for his harmonies, it was his images that were guided by clear melodic passages that contributed to his popularity,” says Maestro Scott. “Many of Debussy’s works were criticized as being ‘boneless tonal vibrato,’ yet his music was capable of powerful, but controlled eruptions when needed. La Mer remains one of the greatest tone poems in all of music today, picturing the peaceful, turbulent, uncontrolled, all-consuming, reflective, shimmering, dramatic, endless motion of the mysterious ocean.”
