Customer Reviews

Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin/Pavane pour une Infante Défunte/Ma Mère L'oye/Une Barque sur L'Océan/Alborada del Graci

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4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The wavelength of Ravel's music is enormous, sometimes you feel a bit dizzy after listening to his music, especially when the orchestra plays Une Barque Sur L'Océan. I think that this is essential for a good interpretation of music; the intention of the composer is in essence abstract, but mood and impressionism are evident tools in the hands of the creator of musical fantasies. Almost the same program under Dutoit contains more and softer romanticism, this performance by Kent Nagano and the Opera National de Lyon is firmer, more expressive. The Alborada Del Gracioso is better here than under Eije Oue on the Reference Recording CD Ravel Orchestrations, in particular more Spanish in temperament.

The sound quality of this recording is very good, there's a definite stage, and the instruments are easy to localize. The violins are sometimes a bit too prominent.

This collection of miscellaneous Ravel orchestral works performed by Ravel Specialist, Kent Nagano and the Opera National De Lyon is a perfect example of the fact that Ravel writes very evocative, very pretty music, which is capable of moving the heart, but not too deeply. As with Stravinsky, I suspect Ravel's best works are his Ballets, which, like Stravinsky, he did under comission from the famous 'Ballet Rousse' 'Ma Mere l'oye' is the best piece on this recording, but it is not as good as the ballet, 'Daphnis et Chloe' done by the same Kent Nagano. D et C is the work you want to listen to if you want to get beyond the Ravel of 'Bolero' which is actually something of a musical joke or experiment the composer is pulling at his audience's expense.

Still, a very nice recording.