Icons of the 20th Century: Spanish Nights & Firebird presented by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra tickets

Allow your imagination to catch fire and melt between spectacular sound worlds of the early 20th century.

The first is one dominated by brass and percussion, where the entire first movement rings as a militaristic fanfare. Which is exactly as Janáček intended with his Sinfonietta, a piece brimming with Czech pride. The Sinfonietta builds and builds, until a finale scored for an unholy flourish of brass instruments almost literally blows you away.

Spanish stars, our own Jaime Martín and the exciting young pianist Martín García García, come together to deliver the impressionistic Nights in the Gardens of Spain by Manuel De Falla. The composer described each movement as “evocations in sound.” So close your eyes and sense what comes to you: a warm evening breeze, the scent of jasmine, a distant dance that goes long into the night – the possibilities are enchanting and endless.

The Firebird turned an unknown Igor Stravinsky into an overnight sensation. Drawing on Russian folklore centred on the symbol of beauty and rebirth, a firebird, the music is everything from sensual to spooky, terrifying to triumphant. Rarely heard in full on the concert stage, this is the opportunity to experience all that set Paris ablaze those many years ago.