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RAVEL: Valses nobles et sentimentales. La valse. Daphnis and Chloé Suites 1 and 2. Boléro. CHABRIER: L'Etoile DEGAS - PASSION FOR PERFECTION Riccardo Chailly , known for his Mahler and Bruckner, now turns his attention to Maurice Ravel. Since 2016 Chailly has been music director of the Lucerna Festival which features orchestral concerts played by leading artists from major orchestras, all of whom want to be involved in this Festival. For years the Festival was headed by the late Claudio Abbado, and they made many magnificent recordings many of which have been reviewed on this sie. Now the artists pay tribute to Ravel in this program of some of the composer's best-known works. The opening Valses nobles et sentimentales are followed without a pause by La valse, a perfect segue, from the lislilting romantic waltzes to the macabre world of the waltz gone diabolical. How unfortunate the program doesn't include Mother Goose, one of Ravel's true masterpieces. The pgoram ends with Boléro, a showcase for individual players. Tghroughout the concert the orchestra displays its virtuosity. The performanes were recorded in the Summer of 2018, and engineers have provided a natural sonic picture. Video usually focuses on individual soloists, which seems appropriate. L'Etoile, a comic operetta in three acts, was important in establishing Emmanuel Chabrier as a major figure in Paris. Henri Duparc suggested that Chabrier write "a French Die Meistersinger." The libretto to this farce is by Eugene Letterrier and Albert Vanloo. The ridiculous plot includes masquerading, deceit, love, mistaken identities and much more. All ends well in this romp, and if this sort of thing appeals to you, here is a superb performance by an outstanding cast. The recording was made October 13 and 16 2014 at the Dutch National Opera. Excellent audio and video, and subtitles are provided in English, French, German, Japanese and Korean, which surely will help viewers understand the intricacies of this convoluted story he life and work of legendary artist Edgar Degas’s (1834–1917 is celebrated on this video which is based on a book published on the centennial of the artist's death. Many decades of Degas' work are here including paintings, drawing, pastels, monotypes, counter proofs, and sculpture, all gathered together from museums and collectors from around the world. Some of these are new never before available. Distinguished scholars and curators comment on the works. Video is of exceptional quality and what a pleasure it is to be able to see these masterpieces in all of their glory. This is an essential release for the art world. R.E.B. (May 2019) |