Kleine Suite nach der Oper "Der Wind in den Weiden"

With Der Wind in den Weiden (The Wind in the Willows), premiered in 2021, Elena Kats-Chernin created the first adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's famous book for the opera stage.

Modelled on classic wind band music or ‘Harmoniemusik’, this little suite for wind ensemble brings together some of the play's catchiest numbers, introducing the protagonists: the Voices in Nature in the opening Waltz, the cheerful Rat in The River is My Friend, the boastful Toad, imprisoned by the humans, in the lament Oh, poor, poor Mister Toad, Rat, Mole and Badger's search for him in Where Is Toad, and the festive final chorus.

All four instruments are shown to advantage, equally and in accordance with their sound characteristics, with the cor anglais, playing throughout in place of the oboe, providing a special colour.