Timeless Beauty

In his compositions, Ravel excelled with refined timbres and crystal-clear structures. Ravel’s mastery can be heard in this concert in three masterpieces, which are known as highlights in chamber music.

The sublime Sonata for Violin and Cello is an inspired dialogue between two instruments. In On Wenlock Edge for tenor and piano quintet, the protagonist enters into dialogue with himself and with nature, a rugged English landscape beautifully painted in notes. This reflection on youth, love and loss is one of the most beautiful works by Ralph Vaughan Williams, one of the few pupils taught by Ravel. Tenor Peter Gijsbertsen, winner of the Dutch Music Prize, performs the solo part.

The Hague composer Roel van Oosten also found inspiration in Ravel and composed his Second Piano Trio with Ravel in mind, exactly one hundred years after Ravel completed his overwhelming piano trio. Ravel composed his String Quartet as a tribute to Claude Debussy, who was very fond of the piece. He wrote: “In the name of the gods of music and in my own name, do not change a single note of your quartet.”

In the spotlight are two award-winning ensembles: the Animato Quartet and the Brackman Trio. Both ensembles have previously appeared as guests at Classical NOW!