Migros-Culture-Percentage-Classics 180°

In 2025, the Aurora Orchestra celebrates its 20th anniversary. Founded by Nicholas Collon, Robin Ticciati and members of the National Youth Orchestra, it has committed itself to nothing less than a new approach to classical music: by playing standing up and without sheet music, through unconventional projects and innovative concert formats. Awards such as the Echo Klassik and several Music Awards from the Royal Philharmonic Society prove that this concept has worked. The London orchestra has also initiated a number of educational programmes, organises workshops and storytelling concerts and works with school classes. It has also been a regular guest at the Proms, in 2014 with the spectacular premiere of Benedict Mason's "Meld" and in recent years with works by Beethoven and Stravinsky.

Even in his early 40s, Nicholas Collon can still be counted among the young guns of the classical music business. Twenty years ago, as a violist with the National Youth Orchestra, he founded his own ensemble, the Aurora Orchestra, together with Robin Ticciati and a few other musicians - and quickly took it to the top of the European scene. The charismatic Brit soon attracted attention in other countries, too; in 2018, the Dutch Residentie Orchestra appointed him as its chief conductor, and in 2021 he moved to the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in the same role. Collon has also conducted in Berlin, Cologne, Munich and Bamberg. His CD recordings have won numerous prizes, including the Diapason d'Or for works by Thomas Adès and the Echo Klassik with the Aurora Orchestra.

Anyone interested in recordings of French piano music cannot avoid Alexandre Tharaud. He made a name for himself with recordings of Rameau and Couperin, later adding Chabrier, Poulenc, Roussel and the complete works of Ravel. To interpret this music, "you need sensuality and a sense of humour", says the pianist, who was born in Paris in 1968; in a word: "you have to love life". Albums such as "Swinging Paris" and "Cinéma" prove that he himself likes to look beyond the classical music genre. In 2012, Tharaud took on a role in Michael Haneke's Oscar-winning film "Amour", naturally as a pianist. Incidentally, he had his first lessons with a pupil of Marguerite Long, the dedicatee and premiere soloist of Ravel's G major Piano Concerto.

A work in the spirit of Mozart and Saint-Saëns - this is how Maurice Ravel characterised his Piano Concerto in G major from 1931. The compositional foundation is indeed the same: classical form, sparkling virtuosity and an enormous sensuality of sound. Added to this are melodies from Ravel's Basque homeland as well as jazz "finds" that he had brought back from his successful tour of the USA. While the outer movements whirl this material around in a circus-like, over-excited form, the slow movement is an oasis of calm, a wonderfully simple "song without words". The G major concerto was to remain Ravel's last great composition.

Igor Stravinsky was 27 years old when he created his first major ballet score. Sergei Diaghilev, the bustling impresario of the Ballets Russes in Paris, had recognised the young man's talent and entrusted him with the composition of a specifically Russian ballet, freed from the ballast of Western traditions. The fairy tale of Tsarevich Ivan, who breaks the power of the evil sorcerer Kashtchei with the help of a miracle bird, immediately fascinated French audiences. The costumes, decorations and dance performances all played their part, as did Stravinsky's colourful, imaginative and incredibly vivid music.