The Maastricht University Orchestra closed the season with Dances of the World, an evening full of rhythm, color, and the joy of movement. The orchestra took the audience on a musical journey across centuries and continents, from the grandeur of 17th-century France to the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires.

The concert began with Jean‑Baptiste Lully’s Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs. A small historical anecdote adds a touch of irony: Lully famously conducted by striking the floor with a wooden staff, and during one performance, he accidentally injured his own foot with it – a misstep that would later prove fatal. We honored his music safely, with precision, energy, and a hint of playful remembrance.

From Lully’s stately march to Bartók’s lively Romanian Folk Dances, the concert carried us across time and continents. Bernstein’s jazzy On the Town brought the energy of New York, Elgar brought a moment of calm and lyrical beauty, and Grieg’s Symphonic Dances swept us into dramatic Nordic landscapes. The evening closed with Márquez’s vibrant Danzón No. 2 and Piazzolla’s fiery Libertango, leaving the place full of energy. Performed over two magical nights, first under the summer trees of Hof van Tilly and then in the cozy Greune Zaol, the concerts were a celebration of music, rhythm, and shared joy, ending sweetly with ice cream for everyone.

The programme was as follows:

• Jean-Baptiste Lully – Marche pour la Cérémonie des Turcs (arr. R. Spons)
• Béla Bartók – Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 68 (version for orchestra)
• Edvard Grieg – Symphonic Dances, op. 64 (No. 1, 2 & 4)
• Edward Elgar – Chanson de Matin, op. 15, No. 2
• Leonard Bernstein – Three Dance Episodes from “On the Town”
• Astor Piazzolla – Libertango (arr. J. Kazik)
• Arturo Márquez – Danzón No. 2