Auckland Philharmonia

Copland Appalachian Spring
Saariaho Aile du Songe
Copland Quiet City
Ravel Mother Goose (complete ballet)

Auckland Philharmonia
Flute Ana de la Vega
Conductor Elena Schwarz

The Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho is particularly fond of the flute, and in her 2001 concerto Aile du Songe the soloist is like ‘a lone, high flying bird whose shadow forms different images’. Outstanding Australian flautist Ana de la Vega soars in this delicate, ethereal music.

Copland’s meditative Quiet City, and especially his evergreen Appalachian Spring, are hymns to an America of open air, small towns, wide horizons.

Ravel’s fairytale ballet is a seamless flow of enchantment, finishing with a rapturous vision of a magical garden.