Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Childish Things

A very short man, Ravel was close to the world of children, with whom he got on very well. Donald Macleod explores the theme of childhood storytelling in Ravel's work.

There was something about Ravel that never quite put away childish things. Perhaps because he was a very short man, with a love of mechanica toys, l Ravel was very close to the world of children. Donald Macleod continues the story of Maurice Ravel's life and music, and looks at the music of his middle years, when childhood, and when dance forms were particularly important to him. .

Ma Mere l'Oye: Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant
Pacal & Ami Rogé, piano

Ma Mere l'Oye: Petit Poucet, Laideronette, Les entretiens de la belle et de la bête
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR
Stephane Deneve, conductor

Daphnis & Chloe Suite II (extracts)
Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Zurcher Sing-Akademie
Lionel Bringuier, conductor

Valses nobles et sentimentales (extract)
Angela Hewitt, piano

Piano Trio (movts 1 & 2)
Joshua Bell, violin
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Stephen Isserlis, cello.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Maurice Ravel

    Pavane de la belle au bois dormant (Ma mere l'oye)

    Performer: Ami Rogé. Performer: Pascal Rogé.
    • Onyx.
    • 4117.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Ma mere l'oye (Scenes 3-5)

    Conductor: Stéphane Denève. Performer: Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • SWR19033CD.
    • SWR19033CD.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Daphnis et Chloe (Part 3)

    Conductor: Lionel Bringuier. Performer: Tim Brown (20th C). Performer: Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. Performer: Zürcher Sing-Akademie.
    • Decca.
    • 4795524.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Valses nobles et sentimentales for piano

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA673412.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Modere; Pantoum (Piano Trio in A minor)

    Performer: Trio Shanham Erez Wallfisch.
    • Nimbus.
    • NI5905.

Broadcast

  • Wed 23 May 2018 12:00

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.