Airlines

Film composer Alexandre Desplat is renowned for the rich inventiveness of his soundtracks, several of which have been transformed here into dazzling concert pieces for flute and orchestra. Having studied the flute as a child, he knows exactly how to write for the instrument: In The Shape of Water suite, soloist Emmanuel Pahud is put through his paces with virtuosic flourishes and beautiful, floating melodies, evident too in the iridescent Girl with a Pearl Earring suite and the brooding “Lust, Caution”. Alongside the film themes sit two concert works for flute and orchestra: The symphonie concertante Pelléas et Mélisande displays Desplat’s dramatic flair, while the title solo work is a sparkling showcase for Pahud’s incredible technical skill.