Star-crossed lovers

We start our evening with The Walk to the Paradise Garden; an atmospheric piece, full of emotion and imagery. It’s from the opera A Village Romeo and Juliet, but you don’t need to know the whole story to enjoy it. ). As the title of the opera suggests, the plot centres around star-crossed lovers, but the setting is 19th-century rural Switzerland, not 14th-century Verona.
The Paradise Garden of the title is the name of a country inn. The young pair, Sali and Vreli, walk hand-in-hand to The Paradise Garden where they come to realise that the long-standing feud between their two families will keep them apart forever. They resolve to end their lives together, drowning in the stream beside the inn. Tender and idyllic, The Walk to the Paradise Garden is less concerned with the tragedy to come than the emotional ties that bind the young couple.

As you listen, imagine you’re strolling through a lush, dream-like garden—a place where time seems to slow down. Delius was a master of creating these rich soundscapes, and this piece is no exception. It’s not about big, dramatic moments but more about creating a mood, a sense of place, and drawing you into a tranquil, almost magical world.

PROGRAM
DELIUS The Walk to the Paradise Garden (8’)

MUSICIANS
Conductor Eivind Aadland
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

Federation Concert Hall, Nipaluna / Hobart
31 August 2024

TAGS
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, orchestra, TSO, Hobart, Tasmania, Norway, Classical, Orchestral, violin, brass, strings, concerto,