Thierry Deleruyelle

Eldorado

The myth of El Dorado ('the golden one') stems from the story of a powerful chief who used to cover himself with gold dust before bathing in a sacred lake where he threw precious objects as offerings to the gods. The myth was soon relayed to the Spanish conquistadors and inspired many expeditions, although the invaders didn't bring back nearly as much gold as they expected, if any at all. Eldorado is a mysterious and dynamic work that illustrates the myth of the golden man and the European expeditions that followed. With a touch of exotic influences, the music is varied and rich. This piece was commissioned by the French Cultural Association Lille 3000 as part of their Eldorado-themed festival in 2019.