Animalia concert: The Enchanted Birds

Conceived in collaboration with the École normale de Musique de Paris – Alfred Cortot, this concert forms part of the ‘Animals in Music’ series, designed to complement the exhibition ‘Animalia. Bestiary from the Al Thani Collection’.

For centuries, animals have fuelled the imagination of composers. Their songs, their movements, their evocative power and their symbolic significance have inspired works of great richness, blending poetry, fantasy and virtuosity.

The first concert in this series will be devoted to the voice and to the way in which composers have, through song, brought the animal world to life in music.

Featuring: 

• Catherine Moss, Soprano
• Kitae Song, baritone 
• Samuel Bach, piano

‘The Enchanted Birds’

Catherine Moss,soprano; Kitae Song,baritone; Samuel Bach, piano

Liza Lehmann (1862–1918)

Bird Songs

The Woodpigeon — The Wood Pigeon

The Starling — The Starling

The Yellowhammer — The Yellowhammer

The Wren — The Wren

The Owl — The Owl

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)

Natural Histories

The Peacock

The Cricket

The Swan

The Kingfisher

The Guinea Fowl

Claude Debussy (1862–1918)

Preludes, Book II — excerpts

Ondine

The Fairies are exquisite dancers

Pauline Viardot (1821–1910)

The Titmouse

The Little Bird, after Chopin

Great White Birds

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)

‘Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja’ —Papageno’s aria from*Die Zauberflöte* (The Magic Flute), K. 620

‘Pa-pa-pa-pa… Papageno!’ — duet between Papageno andPapagena, *Die Zauberflöte* (The Magic Flute), K. 620

‘Là ci darem la mano’ — duet between Don Giovanni andZerlina, *Don Giovanni*, K. 527

The École Normale de Musique de Paris – Alfred-Cortot is a private higher education music institution founded in 1919 by the renowned pianist and teacher Alfred Cortot. Located in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, it trains musicians of the very highest calibre, including concert performers and teachers. It is one of the world’s most prestigious institutions for higher music education and welcomes nearly 600 students, 70 per cent of whom are international, from nearly 50 different countries. Its 120 teachers are renowned musicians and educators, ranked amongst the best in France.

The School’s teaching of the highest standard is recognised worldwide, making it an ambassador for French culture abroad. The École Normale de Musique de Paris also boasts a magnificent concert hall, the Salle Cortot, built in 1929 by the architect Auguste Perret, which can seat 400 people; recognised as having ‘some of the finest acoustics in Paris’, it hosts numerous concerts each year featuring the greatest musicians of our time.

For several years now, the École Normale de Musique de Paris has been partnering with major museums and heritage institutions to develop concert series linked to their collections and exhibitions. This project has three objectives: to foster dialogue between the artistic disciplines, to support the professional integration of young musicians, and to reach out to new audiences.

These regular events invite visitors to discover the works from a fresh perspective, through the dialogue between music and the visual arts. They enable the School’s musicians to perform in prestigious venues, whilst offering museums a high-quality, bespoke musical programme.