Hotshot vs the Establishment

Donald Macleod tells the story of Ravel’s scandalous failure to win France’s most famous composition prize and his friendship with fellow star of French music Claude Debussy.

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’s works for small instrumental ensemble; an array of work that spans the composer’s colourful life and career.

By the first years of the 20th century, Ravel was the hottest property in French music. Surely it was just a matter of time before he won the most famous composition prize in France, the Prix de Rome? Alas not… and his repeated failures caused a national scandal, with fingers pointed at the very heart of the French establishment. Donald Macleod investigates, with music that includes Ravel’s much-loved String Quartet.

Noël Des Jouets
Christane Karg (soprano)
Gerold Huber (piano)

Deux Epigrammes de Clement Marot
Gerald Finley (baritone)
Julius Drake (piano)

String Quartet in F Major (mvts 2-4)
Quatuor Ebène

Miroirs: Une Barque Sur l’Ocean
Beatrice Rana (piano)

Introduction and Allegro
Emmanuel Pahud (flute)
Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet)
Marie-Pierre Langlamet (harp)
Christophe Horak (violin)
Simon Roturier (violin)
Ignacy Miecznikowski (viola)
Bruno Delepelaire (cello)

Produced by Steven Rajam