Ravel: Daphnis & Chloé Sinfonieorchester Aachen & Kazem Abdullah

• Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937): Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1:
• 1 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Introduction 03:08
• 2 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Danse Religieuse 04:33
• 3 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Daphnis et Chloé entrent au premier plan 00:48
• 4 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Le jeunes filles attirent Daphnis et l'entourent de leurs danses 00:50
• 5 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Le bouvier Dorcon se montre particulièrement entreprenant 01:51
• 6 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Mais d'un geste brusque Daphnis écarté le bouvier et s'approche tendrement 00:40
• 7 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Danse grotesque de Dorcon 01:50
• 8 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Danse légère et gracieuse de Daphnis 02:49
• 9 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Le triomphe de Daphnis et l'union extatique avec Chloé 02:01
• 10 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Tentative de séduction du Lycéion et danse des voiles 01:08
• 11 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Invasion des Pirates et les efforts sans succès de Daphnis pour sauver Chloé 01:53
• 12 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 1: Invocation à Pan par les Nymphes 05:15
• 13 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 2: Interlude 02:51
• Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 2:
• 14 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 2: Danse guerrière des Pirates 04:12
• 15 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 2: Bryaxis ordonne d'amener la captive et Bryaxis lui ordonne de danser 00:49
• 16 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 2: Danse suppliante de Chloé 04:19
• 17 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 2: Les chèvres-pieds surgissent de toutes parts et entourent les brigands 01:20
• Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 3:
• 18 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 3: Lever de Soleil, Daphnis prostré devant la grotte de Nymphes 03:19
• 19 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 3: Daphnis et Chloé sont reunis 01:40
• 20 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 3: Daphnis et Chloé miment l'aventure de Pan et de Syrinx 01:51
• 21 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 3: Abandonnant leurs rôles, les amoureux s'embrassent et s'agenouillent devant l'autel des Nymphes 02:54
• 22 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 3: Chloé reapparait et figure par sa danse, les accents de la Flute 02:00
• 23 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 3: Entre un groupe de jeunes filles costumées en bacchantes, agitant des tambourins 00:13
• 24 Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Pt. 3: Entrée des jeunes filles et des jeunes gens, agitant des tambourins. Un joyeux tumulte domine en l'honneur du triomphe des amoureux 04:13
• Total Runtime 56:27

Info for Ravel: Daphnis & Chloé

Sensuous, lushly evocative and intricately constructed, Maurice Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé is widely regarded as his greatest orchestral masterpiece and one of the 20th century's finest ballet scores. This vast musical fresco with its shimmering harmonies, magical diaphanous textures and spectacular conclusion is compellingly realised by Kazem Abdullah and the Sinfonieorcehster Aachen in this eagerly awaited release from Coviello Classics.

Stravinsky regarded Daphnis et Chloé as "not only Ravel's best work, but also one of the most beautiful products of French music" and it's easy to see why. Written with consummate finesse for Diaghilev's Ballet Russes, this "choreographic symphony" is an intoxicating blend of warm, seductive harmonies and passionate intensity, realised on a large orchestral canvas. Three movements have become perennially popular: the luxuriant Lever du jour, the enchanting Pantomine and the raucous Danse générale (Bacchanale) which Ravel incorporated in the later Daphnis and Chloé Suite No. 2. Elsewhere, Ravel displays the same deftness of touch with the much-loved Pavane pour une infante défunte and Une barque sur l'océan, both masterly orchestrations of his charming piano miniatures.

"Abdullah cultivates … a bright, transparent orchestral sound free of dull pathos and also rediscovers colours in this score," wrote the Aachener Nachrichten in 2015. "[...] a crowning achievement to the end of a successful season!" This is Kazem Abdullah's second recording with the Sinfonieorchester Aachen following one release in May 2015 of orchestral works by Rudi Stephan and George Butterworth.

Sinfonieorchester Aachen
Kazem Abdullah, conductor
Aachen Kammerchor
Carmina Mundi
Frauenchor des Glier-Instituts für Musik, Kiew
Der Junge Chor Aachen
Madrigalchor Aachen
The Salt Lake Vocal Artists, USA

Kazem Abdullah
American conductor Kazem Abdullah currently lives in Nürnberg, Germany. He was Music and Artistic Director of the City of Aachen, Germany from 2012 to 2017. During his tenure, he succeeded in reaching newer and diverse audiences through innovative programming and moving out of the concert hall, and into atypical venues. In addition to exploring new venues to bring concerts to audiences and experimenting with juxtapositions of styles in non-traditional concert formats, he also performed over 25 operas and collaborated with musicians such as Johannes Moser, Lise de la Salle, Angela Gheorghiu, Augustin Haedelich, and Midori.

A passionate advocate of new music as well as established repertoire, Mr. Abdullah continues to develop relationships with national and international orchestras and opera houses. Among his recent orchestral credits are the symphony orchestras of Oregon, Indianapolis, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. In addition to his symphony engagements, he recently conducted an opera Gala for the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the American premiere of Charles Wuorinen’s opera Brokeback Mountain with the New York City Opera, and Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda for Cape Town Opera.

Of special note are three acclaimed orchestral engagements: leading the Orquestra de São Paulo, one of Brazil’s most celebrated classical music ensembles, on its third United States coast-to-coast tour, conducting the New World Symphony’s 2009 Ives In-Context Festival by special invitation from Michael Tilson Thomas, and substituting on very short notice to conduct the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in performances of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas in collaboration with the Mark Morris Dance Group. In the opera arena, Mr. Abdullah has guest conducted such esteemed companies as the Atlanta Opera, where he conducted Così fan tutte, and the Théâtre du Châtelet de Paris, where he led sold-out performances of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha. Mr. Abdullah made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2009 conducting Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice.

Trained as a clarinetist, Kazem Abdullah has performed extensively as an orchestral musician, chamber musician, and soloist. He spent two seasons as a member of the New World Symphony and has performed as a soloist with many orchestras including the Cincinnati and National Symphony Orchestras. He has also performed with prominent chamber ensembles such as the Paris based Trio Wanderer and the Auryn Quartet.

A dedicated educator, Mr. Abdullah has worked with student band and orchestras in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Interlochen, the Oklahoma Arts Institute, Tanglewood, and at universities in Cologne, Aachen, and Stellenbosch, South Africa. He was awarded the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award by his alma mater, CCM where he worked with the students there and spoke at their commencement in 2015.

Born in Indiana, Mr. Abdullah began his music studies at the age of 10 with clarinet and piano. He studied at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and the University of Southern California.

Booklet for Ravel: Daphnis & Chloé