This album is the second part of a long-term project called 'Poétiques de l'instant' (Poetry of the Moment), which combines string quartet literature with other instruments, new transcriptions, and first performances.
Composition History
The 'Mother Goose' Suite by Ravel was originally a piano duet written for Mimi and Jean Godebski, children of Ravel's friends, and was later orchestrated by Ravel in 1911 for a ballet.
Composition History
Maurice Ravel's Quartet in F major, featured on this album, was composed when he was 28 years old, between 1902 and 1903, and revised in 1910.
Composition History
Ravel's Introduction and Allegro was commissioned by the harp manufacturer Érard in 1905.
Compositional Technique
Ravel's Quartet in F major uses a cyclic structure, where several themes recur throughout the work, and features energetic pizzicatos in the scherzo movement.
Composition History
Bruno Mantovani, a contemporary composer born in 1974, composed his String Quartet No. 5 during the 2020 lockdown, taking inspiration from Ravel's Quartet.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the TAP - Théâtre Auditorium de Poitiers, France, which is known for having one of the best acoustics in Europe.
