Maurice Ravel Concert
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s birth (1875-1937), pianist Tamayo Ikeda, violinist Pauline Klaus, and cellist Raphaël Chrétien will perform two major works by the composer, blending modernity, beauty, and depth.

Program:

1. Sonate pour violon et piano M77

   1. Allegretto

   2. Blues (moderato)

   3. Perpetuum mobile (allegro)

   Trio avec piano en la mineur
   

   1. Modéré

   2. Pantoum

   3. Passacaille

   4. Final

Artists:

Pauline Klaus, Violin

Raphaël Chretien, Cello

Tamayo Ikeda, Piano

Composed between 1923 and 1927, the Sonata for Violin and Piano marks a turning point in Ravel’s writing. Seeking to explore the independence of timbres, the composer highlights the tension between the violin and the piano, rejecting any fusion of sound. This aesthetic of contrast gives the work remarkable clarity and modernity.

The first movement (Allegretto) stands out for its elegance and simplicity. The violin presents a fluid and refined melody, while the piano provides a delicate and crystalline accompaniment. This economy of means reflects a search for sonic purity, typical of Ravel’s late period.

At the heart of the work, the Blues is one of the most famous passages in Ravel’s repertoire. Inspired by American jazz, which Ravel discovered during his travels, this movement captures the essence of the blues with syncopated rhythms, expressive glissandi, and free rhythmic writing, creating an unexpected dialogue between the two instruments.

The final Perpetuum mobile is a virtuoso tour de force. The violin, in a continuous flow of sixteenth notes, seems to challenge the piano in a dazzling and frenzied race. With incisive and brilliant writing, this movement concludes the sonata with energy and lightness, affirming Ravel’s taste for experimentation and innovation.

Composed in the summer of 1914, the Trio for Piano, Violin, and Cello is a work marked by urgency and emotion. As war broke out, Ravel, eager to enlist, hurried to complete this score, which is remarkable for its richness and boldness.

Rooted in the composer’s Basque heritage, the first movement (Modéré) is inspired by the asymmetrical rhythm of the zortziko, a traditional five-beat dance. The Pantoum, lively and playful, translates into music the structure of the Malaysian poetic form of the same name, where lines interweave in echoes. The Passacaille, broad and solemn, unfolds a poignant ostinato, while the Final, with its virtuosic flourishes, bursts forth with radiant energy.

Premiered in Paris in January 1915, this chamber music masterpiece blends poetry, modernity, and depth, reflecting a Ravel torn between the beauty of sound and the brutality of the world around him.