Debussy and Massenet Salute

A Celebration of French Music:
Claude Debussy and
Jules Massenet

For her 22nd exercise in honoring composer anniversaries with concerts by NEC faculty, student, alumni, and guests, Tatyana Dudochkin of the NEC Preparatory School piano faculty celebrates anniversaries of French composers Claude Debussy (1862–1918) and Jules Massenet (1842–1912). While their lives and active years overlapped, the music of these composers could not be more different. Massenet is associated primarily with the high drama of French opera, while Debussy's often gentle music has been termed "impressionist" to highlight his kinship with such painters of the outdoors as Monet.

Guests include Boston Symphony Orchestra violinist Tamara Smirnova and opera stars Yelena Dudochkin, Yegishe Manucharian, and Mikhail Svetlov.

WGBH "Classical New England" radio host Ron Della Chiesa is master of ceremonies.

works by Debussy

Général Lavine - eccentric and Feux d'artifice from Préludes, Book II
George Li, piano

Sonata
Nina Barwell, flute
Elisabeth Christensen, viola
Rebecca Bogers, harp

Clair de lune
Tamara Smirnova, violin
Tatyana Dudochkin, piano

Révérie
Sam Ou, cello
Rebecca Bogers, harp

Arabesque No. 1
Timur Rubinshteyn, marimba

Qui reste à sa place: Avec emportement from En blanc et noir
Tatyana Dudochkin and Roberto Poli, piano duo

Danse profane
Miriam Izmaylova and Ronen Zinshtain, Julia Rudyak and Jason Sydorchenko, dancers

Nuages and Fêtes from Three Nocturnes
Marche écossaise
NEC Youth Symphony, Steven Karidoyanes, conductor

works by Massenet

"En fermant les yeux" from Manon
"Pourquoe me réveiller" from Werther
Yegishe Manucharian, tenor
Tatyana Dudochkin, piano

"Quand apparaissent les étoiles" (Serenade) from Don Quichotte
Elégie
Mikhail Svetlov, bass
Tatyana Dudochkin, piano

Meditation from Thaïs
Yuki Beppu, violin
"Suis-je gentille ainsi? … Obéissons, quand leur voix appelle" from Manon
Yelena Dudochkin, soprano
with NEC Youth Symphony, Steven Karidoyanes, conductor
and NEC Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, Erica Washburn, conductor