Interesting that there has been no thread on Ravel to date. Perhaps it is an indication of less keenness than me on piano music among forum members but that is a guess on my part and it is not intended to be a slur. Internationally regarded in the 1920s and 1930s as France's greatest composer and yet composed fewer pieces - 85 including many incomplete - than many of his contemporaries and he wrote no symphonies or church music. Comments welcome including on any recommended discs although I do have a fair few in my collection.
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Definitely no slur from me Lats. I'm a Ravelophile. His string quartet, along with Debussy's, is among the finest in the C20th repertoire, IMO. And his mastery of orchestral colour is surely second to none. And talking of piano, well, Gaspard, wow. -
I also love Ravel - Daphnis, Gaspard, Tombeau de Couperin and the string quartet, all wonderful, often exquisite. Must listen to his operas again soon.Comment
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I need to work harder on Ravel's solo piano music, I know there is much more in it than I'm getting.
I've never had any difficulty with his orchestral music and D&C, Boléro, La Valse and Ma Mère l'Oye are absolute long-term favourites.
Lately Xavier Roth has stolen my affections in this repertoire. Charles Dutoit was my initiation and remains a firm favourite, but there is something so fresh. The analogy I would use is the restoration of a masterpiece painting (I was fascinated to read of the 1999 restoration of Da V's last supper revealing thereto a hidden platter of sliced eels garnished with oranges amongst the bread & wine!).
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FXR again in Ma Mère l'Oye & Tombeau. A Fabulous disc of Ravel's orchestral music with period instruments. The difference is just as startling as in the D&C disc. The totally different sonorities in the strings and woodwinds has wrong-footed many listeners, including some forum members!
If pushed, I'd say that Ma Mère l'Oye is the finest of Ravel's orchestral works
There is also an earlier Immerseel release that is very good, but not quite in the same league as FXR.
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Well upholstered rose-cheeked Ravel!
One of my favourite Ravel CDs in my collection.
And what an amazing cover! Would have loved to have that cover on a 12'' LP!
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One of my top 5 or 6 composers. Nothing by him I don't like, lots that vies for a place on the desert island."...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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I'm with you there, Beefy.Originally posted by Beef Oven! View Post
Although since hearing an extract on a recent Private Passions, I've tee'd up Nezet-Séguin's recording of La Valse with the Rotterdam PO, to listen to tomorrow (or later) - stunning!
"...the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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Originally posted by Caliban View Post
I bought the Nezet-Séguin Ravel CD in April 2016 - he really breathes new life into these pieces and the CD is of spectacular demonstration-class sound quality!!
I know you will love this recording when you play it through.
It's so good that we don't have to solely rely on the heavyweights of the past for fabulous performances of favourite repertoire.Comment
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As a devoted Ravel-ophile, and one who spent many glorious hours before the tapings of - Cluytens, Paray, Dutoit, Previn, Karajan, Mata and others, I never found a better intègrale than this one.....
One to live with and pleasure in, for weeks, and weeks.......Comment
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You haven't spent glorious hours with the Monteux, Nezet-Séguin or Xavier-Roth??????!!!!!!Originally posted by jayne lee wilson View Post
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Whenever I hear the opening of the String Quartet, I'm transported to a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean, sipping a long cool drink. I also rate highly much of the work for solo piano.Comment
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