Richard Wagner – Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Premiered: 1868 | Duration: ~10 minutes

Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg opens his only mature comic opera with grandeur and warmth. In contrast to his often dark and mythic music dramas, Die Meistersinger celebrates human creativity and civic pride through the story of a singing contest in 16th-century Nuremberg. The Prelude introduces key musical themes with clarity and jubilance, from the noble Mastersingers’ chorale to the lyrical “Prize Song.” Wagner’s rich orchestration and contrapuntal mastery shine here, balancing majestic brass fanfares with intricate inner voices. The piece is a self-contained overture that not only sets the stage for the opera but also stands proudly on its own as a concert favorite.

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Lili Boulanger – D’un soir triste
Composed: 1917–18 | Duration: ~10 minutes

Swing is technically a “mash-up”, a term usually used in popular music to describe when two recordings are combined in some way. In this case, the composition begins with several re-harmonisations of the African-American spiritual Swing Low Sweet Chariot by William Wallis. This gives way to a fast jazz swing section, where the melody of Sweet Chariot gradually evolves into Duke Ellington’s It Don’t Mean a Thing (if it ain’t got that Swing). This composition was originally commissioned by Ellen Whittle for the East London Community Band to celebrate Bob Whittle’s 80th birthday. 

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Samuel Coleridge-Taylor – Bamboula, Op. 75
Composed: 1910 | Duration: ~8 minutes

British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor drew on his African heritage and wide-ranging musical influences to craft works that were both innovative and accessible. Bamboula, a dance piece written for piano and later orchestrated, is inspired by the rhythms and energy of Creole folk music from the Caribbean and New Orleans. The title refers to a traditional drum and dance style of African origin. In this lively work, syncopated rhythms, colorful orchestration, and folk-inflected melodies come together in a jubilant celebration of cultural fusion. Bamboula reflects Coleridge-Taylor’s mission to elevate Black musical traditions within the European classical canon, resulting in a work that is vibrant, spirited, and historically significant.

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Igor Stravinsky – Petrushka (1947 version)
Composed: 1911; revised: 1947 | Duration: ~35 minutesStravinsky’s Petrushka is a ballet bursting with color, folklore, and rhythmic vitality. Originally composed in 1911 for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and revised in 1947 for a smaller orchestra, the work tells the story of Petrushka, a puppet who comes to life, loves, and ultimately meets a tragic end during a Russian Shrovetide fair. The 1947 revision maintains the work’s vivid theatricality while streamlining its orchestration for concert use. Stravinsky’s innovative use of bitonality (such as the famous C major/F-sharp major clash in the Petrushka theme), folk song quotations, and bustling fairground scenes mark a turning point in 20th-century music. Petrushka remains a landmark of early modernism—at once a narrative ballet and a dazzling orchestral showpiece.​​