One of the most fascinating works of the orchestral repertoire, the Turangalîla-Symphonie makes relatively rare appearances on concert stages: an 80-minute musical feast that demands numerous extra hands in the orchestra and extra stamina in general. Among its sonorous innovations is the inclusion of the ondes-martenot, an electronic instrument first introduced in the late 1920s.

My presentation will focus on orienting listener to the layout of this musical world, touching on sonic landmarks such as the 4 “cyclic themes,” the sounds of birds, the nods to Stravinsky, and the overall theme of Love. Depending on the performance date, I will also have the pleasure of interviewing acclaimed ondist Cynthia Millar and conductor Simone Young.