Laurence Equilbey & Orchestre de Chambre de Paris: David

About the Event

Félicien David composed his 'symphonic ode', The Desert, in 1844. Berlioz gave an enthusiastic account of the premiere in the Journal des débats that December: 'A great composer has appeared on the scene', he exclaimed; 'a masterwork has just been unveiled'.

The score is the fruit of a voyage that David, involved in the Saint‐Simonian movement, undertook to Egypt in 1833. Half a century later, Saint‐Saens also traveled to Egypt, resulting in the composition of his Piano Concerto no. 5, dubbed 'The Egyptian'.