Scriabin's Poem of Ecstasy was a fitting climax to Friday's BBC Philharmonic concert. It's finale, an orgasmic orchestral crescendo, accompanied by the the thundering of the Bridgewater Hall's organ, left one emotionally spent.
This is especially so as it followed the languorous sensuality of Claude Debussy's Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un Faune, based on Mallarmé's erotic and savage poem*.
Of stifling heat that suffocates the morning
Save from my flute, no waters murmuring
I adore you, wrath of virgins - fierce delightThe concert was recorded and will be broadcast on Radio 3. There is no date yet; listen out for it. The earth might move for you too.
Of the sacred burden's writhing naked flight
From the fiery lightning of my lips that flash
With the secret terror of the thirsting flesh
*Click on page 38 for the full English translation next to the original French text.
1 comment:
Well I'm not going to be temted by clicking on those links. The Poem of Extasy deserves a quite interruption-free hour or so of concentration (and perhaps a bottle of red to go with it). Thanks for the tip-off, I'll keep an eye out for the broadcast date.
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