08/03/2013 - Marseille (France), Opéra - Thomas Leleu (tuba), Orchestre de l'Opéra de Marseille, Jonathan Webb (conductor)
I wrote this suite with the idea of evoking an "imaginary story" in which the tuba has the lead role.
Throughout the work, the string ensemble establishes a background that is sometimes "impressionistic" (Miroir, La Partition déchirée) or sometimes purely "rhythmical" (L'étrange Promeneur, La Toupie).
In the last movement, the tuba converses, instead of saying competes, with the violin.
Still, though familiar with the instrument's technical possibilities, particularly when in the hands of a great virtuoso like Thomas Leleu, I kept its initial role of a low orchestral instrument.
In Miroir and La Partition déchirée, the tuba blends with the double basses and celli to enrich the unison low parts, while in L'étrange Promeneur and La Toupie, it literally takes the lead until the free improvisation of the "Cadenza".
Listeners as well as musicians, when hearing or playing this work, will I hope, imagine an intimate chimeric story around this somewhat unusual, or even strange musical encounter.
Richard Galliano
January 2013
