Debussy's La Mer

The BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sakari Oramo in Debussy, Coll, and Britten's sparkling sea interludes. Senja Rummukainen is soloist in Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No 1.

“I have slandered the sea” said Debussy, after finishing 'La mer', but posterity has disagreed, and Debussy’s vibrant energy and ravishing colours find powerful echoes in Britten’s wave-lashed portraits of the North Sea. And what better complement for Britten than the First Cello Concerto by his great friend Shostakovich?

It’s the sort of music that finds the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor Sakari Oramo in his element, and in this opening concert of the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s new season, he’s joined by Senja Rummukainen – a cellist praised for her “unbelievable power and intensity”. In her hands, Shostakovich’s concerto will make a powerful counterpart to Britten’s British classic and the rolling, rapturous seascape of 'La mer' - inspired by the art of Japanese master Hokusai and written (at least in part) on the Sussex coast.

Recorded earlier this month at the Barbican London, and presented by Martin Handley.

Benjamin Britten: Four Sea Interludes from ‘Peter Grimes’
Dmitry Shostakovich: Cello Concerto No 1 in E flat major
Francisco Coll: Elysian (UK Premiere)
Claude Debussy: La mer

Senja Rummukainen (cello)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo (conductor)

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