Daphnis et Chloé

Contratrombone64

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
I have to say, this is my absolute favourite single piece of music I couldn't not live without. Both in recording and in full score. It is perfection, in my humble opinion.

I own several recordings of it:

London Symphony -
Berlin Philharmonic -
City of Bermingham -
Bordeaux Aquitaine -
Bratislava (old CSSR) -
Ulster Orchestra -

Gawd, I need a life. Anyone else got multiple editions? Of this wonderful ballet?
 

Kromme

New member
I have only one recording of it.Simon Rattle with City of Birmingham Orchestra which i think you already mentioned.
 
some guy

some guy

New member
I have the Dutoit, which is widely regarded (at least in my house!) as perfect.

I was also in Darmstadt in 72, when this was being given at the Frankfurt Ballet. I must have seen it three or four times, one of those because Stravinsky's L'histoire had been cancelled.

I saw the latter in Paris a couple of years ago, though. Talk about perfection. L'histoire du Soldat is all of that.
 
rojo

rojo

(Ret)
Contratrombone64 said:
I have to say, this is my absolute favourite single piece of music I couldn't not live without. Both in recording and in full score. It is perfection, in my humble opinion.

I own several recordings of it:

London Symphony -
Berlin Philharmonic -
City of Bermingham -
Bordeaux Aquitaine -
Bratislava (old CSSR) -
Ulster Orchestra -

Gawd, I need a life. Anyone else got multiple editions? Of this wonderful ballet?
Click to expand...

some guy said:
I have the Dutoit, which is widely regarded (at least in my house!) as perfect.
Click to expand...
CT64; you do know that this is my second fav all time piece (after Debussy's La Mer,) no? I've posted my love for it all over these boards. :lol: I absolutely adore it. Daphnis, and La Valse are Ravel's greatest masterpieces, imo.

I couldn't afford multiple recordings even if I wanted to, but I have heard numerous versions over the years via radio, tv, YT, and the one I have (the Dutoit, like someguy,) still reigns supreme imo. I have to agree with someguy; that it is perfect.

One doesn't need a life when one can listen to Ravel's Daphnis, La Valse and Debussy's La Mer, imo. Although I must admit, I can't listen to these works too often, because they are so emotionally draining for me. But I treasure them, and would never want to be without them. Every time I hear them, I am more convinced that there is nothing finer, richer, better that one can listen to in this world. And I've heard them a lot. :crazy:

Sometimes I'm tempted to say Daphnis is my fav all time, sometimes La Valse. But these are assuredly my top three favs, and have been for many, many years. Nothing I've heard has budged these three out of the top three spots, and I know now that nothing ever will. And I'm fine with that.

(Btw, for La Mer, I prefer the old Munch, Boston S. O. recording.)

Check out the Ravel quote in my siggie...
 

zoned

New member
The quote by Ravel noting that music should be emotional first,intellectual second,is very interesting since Ravel was considered an impressionist not a romantic.He,however,considered music very emotive which is in line with my own personal taste for music that "boils the blood",conjures up every conceivable emotion possible in life. Needless to say,I am a Mahlerite,who said writing a symphony is like creating an entire world.The preceding have been thoughts of my own on how I personally judge music,while respecting others feelings as well.So,long live music that stirs the soul,tugs the heartstrings,and may even make one shed a tear or two.Thank you. Zoned.
 
Contratrombone64

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Mahler? for me is long-winded, tedious and boring, but that's totally personal and not a criticism. Ravel susinct, enchanting and riveting.
 
rojo

rojo

(Ret)
Seeing as you brought up this piece, CT64, I hope you don't mind me posting my fav Daphnis videos. See, this is the sort of thing YT is good for...



Charles Munch: excerpts from Debussy's La Mer with the Boston Symphony, 1962 and excerpts from Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé; rehearsal with the Hungarian State Orchestra, 1966.

The La Mer excerpts will give an idea of how great the Munch/Boston S. recording that I have, is. I would be curious to hear Munch conduct Daphnis with the Boston S.; I think Boston would be a tighter orchestra than the Hung. State. That's the nice thing about Dutoit's Daphnis; it's got all the tempi and dynamics I like and it's extremely tight. Hard to find an orchestra that's tighter than the MSO under Dutoit.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyHRsU6dlf4[/youtube]

Dorian Wilson: I have no idea what orchestra this is; I guess I could look it up. Anyway, too bad this one doesn't start at the beginning. And no chorus in this one.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBLdMySuaEg[/youtube]

I can always tell if I like a performance of Daphnis from that opening crescendo; the bigger the better!

There just aren't enough superlatives to describe how fantastic this music is.



A two piano transcription! (Just found this. Interesting.) Part 1

Edit- The opening crescendo isn't big enough. But this isn't too bad; better than I thought it would be anyway.
Edit 2- Say, this is pretty damn good!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd9DvnRe_4o&feature=related[/youtube]

Part 2

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm-UJsy3OdI[/youtube]

zoned said:
long live music that stirs the soul,tugs the heartstrings,and may even make one shed a tear or two.
Click to expand...
I agree with this completely. And nothing moves me more than these three pieces. Nothing.
 
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Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi Ms. RoJo,

I take it that you are a "Ravel-ite"? Which of his solo piano pieces sings to your heart most of all? I am always intrigued by "Gaspard de la Nuit" - To the point of being ravished :grin::grin::grin:

Cheers,

CD :tiphat::tiphat::tiphat::tiphat:
 
rojo

rojo

(Ret)
Hi CD,

Well, a 'Ravel-ite' and as well a 'Debussy-an' (? :grin:) Although I guess what I really am is a 'La Mer-ite', 'Daphnis-ian' and 'La Valse-er.' :grin: I don't love their other works as much as these three, and some I'm not all that crazy about. Gaspard is wonderful imo, and so is Une Barque Sur l'Océan from Miroirs.
 
Corno Dolce

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
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 :tiphat::tiphat::tiphat::tiphat:
 
rojo

rojo

(Ret)
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]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg4Vto1j2KE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZQfQ09nX_k[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edB9P8IECEA[/youtube]

Aaaaaaah!
 
Contratrombone64

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
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

New member
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.
 
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