At the New York Philharmonic premiere of Connesson’s “Les cites de Lovecraft”… Icelandic pianist Vikingur Olafsson impresses in his New York Philharmonic debut…

Connesson is one of the most widely performed French composers today. His ‘Les cites de Lovecraft’ was a co-commission of the Orchestre National de Lyon and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, which premiered it in 2017. The work was inspired by the writings of American author H.P. Lovecraft … Deneve led the NY Philharmonic in a performance of this scintillating music that was stunning for its textural clarity and brilliance. Wave after wave of sound, ranging from brass fanfares to shimmering cascades from the harp and celesta, swept over the audience. It is music that is obviously close to Deneve’s heart, as he cradled the score in his arm and patted it when acknowledging the audience’s applause.

Lovecraft would no doubt have been rather amused to learn that symphonic paeans to his work would one day be rolling through a major New York concert hall.