Anklänge an François Couperin is the first of a cycle of six works for solo piano. The whole cycle, entitled Erinnerungsspuren, will be written for the pianist Florian Hölscher.

Following a commission by the Orchestre national de Belgique to write a piece on the theme of the First World War, Benoît Mernier, with whom we started a collaboration in 2013 for his opera La Dispute, has completed his first concerto for violin.

The Gewandhausorchester will present the world premiere of Fabio Vacchi’s Der Walddämon under the baton of Riccardo Chailly on January 29, 2015 (additional performances on 30 and 31).

French composer Pascal Dusapin’s 60th birthday on May 29, 2015, will be celebrated with numerous performances throughout the world.

In 2015, Ultraschall Berlin has a special focus on Sergej Newski, including a world premieres by ensemble recherche. Another highlight will be the concert of Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin with works by Pascal Dusapin and Philippe Manoury. Additionally, Nikolaus Brass’ stage work Sommertag will be repeated in Berlin after its recent success in Munich. Also, the festival features premieres by Oscar Bianchi, Samir Odeh-Tamimi and Enno Poppe.

Pascal Dusapin introduces his orchestra piece Reverso (solo no.6).

In 1966, Italian composer Nino Rota wrote the ballet La strada drawing on the subject of Federico Fellini’s film of the same name (for which Rota had also written the soundtrack). The ballet was commissioned by the Teatro alla Scala and enjoyed enormous success over the following decades. This January, the ballet will be performed in Strasbourg, Mulhouse and Colmar by Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and Ballet de l’Opéra national du Rhin.

On December 11, New Music Concerts will present the Canadian premieres of two pieces by guest composer Marco Stroppa at the Music Gallery in Toronto. Conductor Robert Aitken will lead the ensemble in From Needle’s Eye for trombone, double wind quintet and percussion, with trombonist Benny Slutchin, and …of Silence for saxophone and chamber electronics, with saxophonist Wallace Halladay.

Edgard Varèse died on November 6, 1965 in New York at the age of 81. To honour the 50th anniversary of his death, the Filarmonica della Scala, conducted by Fabio Luisi, will perform Ameriques on January 12 in its first concert for 2015. January will also see several other performances of works by Varèse, including Tuning up in Paris with the Orchestre de Paris. Get more information about Varèse in this text.

"From our Repertoire" is a blog category featuring knowledgeable commentary on works from our diverse catalogues. We will introduce you on a regular basis to not only the best-known compositions but also to niche works that we think deserve a little more attention. This time:  Messiaen’s Poèmes pour Mi.