Arjan Woudenberg in Debussy, Beethoven's Pastoral Sixth Symphony

The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra breaks through the barren winter and conjures up musical spring landscapes. Like Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, the 'Pastoral', and Debussy's colourful Rhapsodywith Arjan Woudenberg on clarinet.



Beethoven

The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra breaks through the barren winter and conjures up musical spring landscapes. Like Beethoven's Sixth Symphony, the 'Pastoral'. Nobody loves nature as much as I do', wrote the composer, who loved walking through forests and along meadows. In his Sixth Symphony, he depicts the countryside, with babbling brooks and singing birds. Where people use the sun as a clock, and adapt their lives to the elements. Mark Elder conducts the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.



Arjan Woudenberg in Debussy

Debussy's Rhapsodie came into being as an exam piece for young clarinettists. Dreamy, full of mercurial accents and special colours, it allows all the special aspects of the instrument to shine. Arjan Woudenberg, first clarinettist of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, is the soloist in this lyrical work. He also has a striking role, that of cuckoo, in Delius' On Hearing the first Cuckoo in Spring. Inspired by a Norwegian folk song, Delius portrays the awakening nature.