Maestro 6: La Mer

From gentle tides to stormy swells, this concert captures the ever-shifting moods of the sea. Opening with a delightful Debussy favourite, Petite Suite, Australian pianist Stefan Cassomenos then brings warmth and wit in Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No.2, a personal gift to his son that shows his more playful side. Australian composer Paul Stanhope offers a contemporary response to the sea with Ocean Planet, a powerful reflection on the beauty and fragility of our oceans. We then hear Ravel’s Une Barque sur l’ocean, an ode to the serenity yet stormy unpredictability of the ocean. At the heart of this concert is Debussy’s La Mer, a vivid portrait of water in motion inspired by Monet’s seascapes and The Great Wave off Kanagawa. Let the tides of music wash over you in this stunning concert, with guest conductor Eduardo Strausser. Queensland Symphony Orchestra is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council.