Ravel Mother Goose

Conductor Emeritus Ludovic Morlot returns to the podium with our continuing Ravel celebrations this season as we mark the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Benjamin Attahir’s newly commissioned work for pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Principal Harp Valerie Muzzolini is inspired by sketches Ravel made for Morgiana, an Arabian Nights ballet. Then, two Ravel jewels. Firstly, a showcase for harp in the Introduction and Allegro, which he wrote to demonstrate the capacities of a new, modern harp design. And then the beloved Mother Goose, performed here in its entirety. Ravel captures all the vivid enchantment of fairytale scenes — from dazzling Chinese pagodas to the comically stilted conversation between the elegant but timid Beauty (clarinet, of course!) and the gruff, bassoon-voiced Beast.