Born in France, Emmanuel Chabrier was employed as a high-ranking government official until the age of 39 when he devoted himself full-time to composition. Inspired by a visit to Spain in 1882, the brilliantly coloured España brought his name into the classical composer’s hall of fame. The Joyeuse marche was described by Debussy as ‘a masterpiece of high fantasy’ and is filled with good-natured humour characteristic of the composer. The Fête polonaise opens the second act of the opera Le Roi malgré lui, the rhythms of mazurka and waltz interlaced in a whirl of daring harmonies.