Daphnis et Chloé

[Corno Dolce]

Hey Ms. RoJo,

Oh yes, I do enjoy "Une Barque sur L'ocean" - It is truly evocative and provocative - "Jeux D'eau" is also a fav as is "Alborada del Gracioso".

Cheers,

CD

[rojo]

Alborada del Gracioso is indeed wonderful as well.

[rojo]

Brand new on YT! Tadaaaa!

Daphnis et Chloé by Ravel, played by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

(Obviously this is nowhere near as good as the CD played on a great sound system, but still.)

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

Aaaaaaah!

[Contratrombone64]

Rojo

None does it better in my humble opinion. Charles Dutiot came here, and also gave inspiring performances of this wonderful Ballet (Daphnis) with the Sydney Symphony. I was in heaven.

[LovesBachandGershwin]

wow!

Well, I was gone this at this retreat center all summer and before I left I took a couple CDs of new music, some IVES, some Mozart, and CD of the Israel Philharmonic playing Daphnis et Chloe. There wasn't much to do up there so I spent a lot of time with my CD player. I didn't even listen to the Ravel until a couple weeks in, but once I heard it I was very intrigued.

I didn't know anything about the piece so I made all my opinions completely unbiased--and there was nothing to do up there so I listened to it lots and lots of times.

I thought it had a beautiful and rich texture, lush orchestration, really gorgeous chord progressions. My only problem with it is that I just felt like it didn't really go anywhere, it was kind of floating the whole time--which I enjoyed sometimes and didn't other times. Also there weren't really any specific melodies. ANd the ending!! What's up with that?? not very satisfying...

Overall though I really loved the piece. It's a trip and has such an enjoyable sonic environment.

I mean it's gorgeous. I'm listening to it on rhapsody right now. I think part of my problem was the crappy headphones up there in Colorado where I was staying. Only one ear worked... On my speakers right now it does sound super super gorgeous. wow! some of these parts sound so much better on good speakers. The orchestration is absolutely ridiculous at parts!

I would just like a better ending and I'm kind of having trouble getting used to the sort of floating along. Seems to me like Stravinsky's ballet have more direction.

[rojo]

Hi LBandG

But that whole long ending is the best part! Absolutely thrilling, and completely satisfying, imo. Bebaaaa Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Bebaaaa Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

About the floating business.

I'm not crazy about impressionist pieces that do nothing but float, and not go anywhere. But this piece (imo) definitely goes places. The floating is perhaps 'transitory' in nature here? Not sure how to describe it. But I love the floating here because it does lead somewhere.

Never mind; we can certainly enjoy it for different reasons.

(I'm going to blast this through speakers later on today. )

[Contratrombone64]

The music certain does have a very direct path, you only need to read the ballet synopsis and follow the score to realise this! I agree with Rojo - the ending of Daphnis is totally orgasmic and thrilling (as I needs to be).