HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RAVEL!
November 9

DYNAMIKfest and the prestigious Fondation Gautier Capuçon join together to present a tribute to Maurice Ravel, whose 150th birthday is commemorated this year. The program celebrates the musical world of Maurice Ravel while exploring the diverse voices that surrounded and influenced his time. Alongside two of Ravel’s works for violin and piano, we hear music by composers who came before him, his contemporaries, and those who reflected the vibrant crosscurrents of early 20th-century music. From the refined elegance of Jean-Marie Leclair to the jazz-infused rhythms of George Gershwin, from the lyrical introspection of Lili Boulanger to the passionate virtuosity of George Enescu, the program traces a lineage of innovation and artistry. At its heart are two works by Ravel himself — one youthful and intimate, the other a bold and mature masterpiece — honoring his legacy and timeless influence.

J.M. Leclair (1697–1764)
Sonata for Two Violins, Op. 3 No. 5 in E minor

Known as the “French Corelli”, Jean-Marie Leclair was a violinist and composer who elevated the French school of violin playing during the 18th century. His sonatas combine the grace and ornamentation of the French Baroque style with the structural clarity and virtuosic brilliance of Italian tradition. The Sonata in E minor, for two violins without accompaniment, is a dialogue between equals. Its elegant counterpoint and intricate interplay showcase Leclair’s ability to create both drama and refinement, providing a luminous opening to the program.

L. Boulanger (1893– 1918)
Deux Pièces for Violin and Piano

Lili Boulanger was a trailblazing French composer whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 24. The first woman to win the prestigious Prix de Rome, she left behind a small but deeply expressive body of work. Her Deux Pièces for violin and piano capture her extraordinary sensitivity and harmonic richness. These short works are intimate and poetic, blending fragility with depth of feeling.

G. Enescu (1881–1955)
Impromptu concertant for Violin and Piano

Romanian composer and virtuoso violinist George Enescu was a contemporary of Ravel and one of the most brilliant musicians of his era. His Impromptu concertant is a brief yet striking piece that reflects his improvisational flair and rich harmonic imagination. With its free-flowing structure and lyrical beauty, the work captures a spontaneous, almost conversational spirit between violin and piano — a perfect bridge between the refined French tradition and the more modern, expressive languages of the 20th century.

G. Gershwin (1898–1937)
“It Ain’t Necessarily So” (from Porgy and Bess)
Three Preludes for Violin and Piano

Lili’s sister, Nadia Boulanger — one of the most influential composition teachers of the 20th century — became a pivotal figure for countless musicians seeking to refine their craft. Among the letters she received was one from Maurice Ravel in the summer of 1920, urging her to consider an unknown young American: “There is a musician here endowed with the most brilliant, most enchanting, and perhaps the most profound talent: George Gershwin.” Ravel’s words capture the awe Gershwin inspired even among Europe’s most celebrated composers. Gershwin’s Three Preludes, originally composed for solo piano, radiate the energy of urban America in the 1920s. In their arrangement for violin and piano, their bluesy contours and jazz-inflected rhythms gain an added lyricism and instrumental color. Alongside them, the song “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess showcases Gershwin’s gift for blending theatrical flair with melodic charm, a reminder of why his music continues to captivate audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

M. Ravel (1875–1937)
Posthumous Sonata for Violin and Piano

Composed in 1897, when Ravel was still a student at the Paris Conservatoire, this sonata remained unpublished until after his death. The work reveals a young composer still finding his voice, experimenting with classical forms and lush harmonies that hint at his later masterpieces. Though less technically daring than his mature works, the sonata offers a glimpse into Ravel’s early style — elegant, lyrical, and tinged with the impressionistic colors that would become his hallmark.

M. Ravel (1875–1937)
Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano in G major

Ravel’s second violin sonata, completed in 1927, reflects the composer at the height of his powers and reveals his fascination with jazz, which was sweeping Paris at the time. In this work, Ravel treats the violin and piano as distinct, almost opposing voices — a deliberate contrast to the blended textures of Romantic chamber music. The second movement, Blues, is especially famous, capturing the spirit of American jazz with sultry slides and syncopations, while the outer movements combine clarity, precision, and brilliant rhythmic interplay. The sonata closes the program with a dazzling display of modernity and cross-cultural inspiration.