Debussy La Mer

All the subtlety and color of French music comes together in this concert — the music of visionaries. Messiaen’s deeply held religious faith inspired music of great spirituality, which he captured in this early work — a meditation on sacramental offerings both given and received. Lili Boulanger’s poignant work came just before her tragic death at age 24 and feels full of foreboding. Debussy conjures every possible play of light on the seemingly infinite sea in all its moods. And we are thrilled to welcome the truly poetic Tabea Zimmermann for the first Seattle Symphony performances of Bartók’s Viola Concerto — in which he draws inspiration from Hungarian folk traditions.