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Little Master in a Big Country

Donald Macleod tells the story of Ravel鈥檚 thrill at first visiting the USA, a four-month odyssey that took in jazz, Broadway, Gershwin鈥nd 20 pairs of pyjamas!

Donald Macleod tells of the story of Ravel鈥檚 thrill at first visiting the USA, a four-month odyssey that took in jazz, Broadway, Gershwin鈥nd 20 pairs of pyjamas!

The music of Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) is much loved for its remarkable orchestral colours and brilliant virtuosity. But his chamber music - intimate, crystalline, and beautiful - is often overlooked. This week, Donald Macleod introduces every one of Ravel鈥檚 works for small instrumental ensemble - an array of work that spans the composer鈥檚 colourful life and career.

In the spring of 1927, Ravel toured the USA at the height of the Roaring Twenties. He was delighted by what he found - but took the careful preparation of packing no fewer than twenty pairs of pyjamas for the trip! Donald Macleod tells a story of mutual excitement, as Maurice Ravel and America fell in love with each other, with a complete performance of the composer鈥檚 jazz-tinged Violin Sonata.

Fanfare for 鈥淟鈥橢ventail de Jeanne鈥
New York Philharmonic
Pierre Boulez (Conductor)

Tzigane [original version for violin and luth茅al]
Sarah Nemtanu, violin
Romain Descharmes, piano

L鈥橢nfant et les Sortil猫ges (excerpts)
Duo miaul茅鈥 Ronde des chauves-souris
Jane Berbi茅 (the cat), mezzo-soprano
Camille Maurane (the tom-cat), baritone
Francoise Ogeas (the child), soprano
Sylvaine Gilma (the nightingale), soprano
Jeannine Collard (the dragonfly), mezzo-soprano
Colette Herzog (the bat), soprano
R.T.F. National Orchestre
R.T.F. Choeur De Radio France
R.T.F. Maitrise De Radio France
Rene Alix, chorus master
Lorin Maazel, conductor

Trois Chansons Mad茅casses
Cyrielle Ndjiki Nya (soprano)
Kaoli Ono (piano)
Sarah Van Der Vlist (flute)
Alb茅ric Boullenois (cello)

Violin Sonata no 2 in G Major
Roberts Balanas, violin
Siqian Li, piano

Produced by Steven Rajam

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 22 Jul 2022 12:00

Music Played

  • Maurice Ravel

    Fanfare (L'茅ventail de Jeanne)

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • SONY : 88875108732.
    • SONY.
    • 1.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Tzigane

    Performer: Sarah Nemtanu. Performer: Romain Descharmes.
    • NAIVE : V5235.
    • NAIVE.
    • 2.
  • Maurice Ravel

    L'Enfant et les Sortileges (excerpt)

    Performer: Ren茅 Alix. Singer: Jane Berbi茅. Singer: Camille Maurane. Singer: Fran莽oise Og茅as. Singer: Sylvaine Gilma. Singer: Jeannine Collard. Singer: Colette Herzog. Orchestra: Orchestra National De Rtf. Choir: Ma卯trise de Radio France. Choir: Ch艙ur de Radio France. Conductor: Lorin Maazel.
    • Deutche Grammophon : E4497692.
    • DG.
    • 15.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Trois Chansons Mad茅casses

    Performer: Kaoli Ono. Performer: Sarah Van Der Vlist. Performer: Alb茅ric Boullenois. Singer: Cyrielle Ndjiki Nya.
    • MIRARE : MIR620.
    • MIRARE.
    • 3.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Violin Sonata No 2 in G major

    Performer: Roberts Balanas. Performer: Sigian Li.
    • LINN : CKD 664.
    • LINN.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Fri 22 Jul 2022 12:00

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