The world of French composer Maurice Ravel captures the imagination. The mysterious dandy was a master at bringing musical worlds to life. From folk melodies and fairy tales like Ma Mère l'Oye to orchestral experiments like his over-famous Boléro, which he himself called music without music.
In the performance, we watch Ravel as a child growing up in the home of his father, an engineer and inventor. The many radar works that little Maurice is shown seem to open the door to his own imagination. Four musicians move in a kaleidoscopic setting. Tiny spotlights illuminate instruments and machines, turning them into magical shadows. We hear machines producing sound and, of course, the wonderful music of the master himself. Step by step, Ravel's creative world unravels and you may even become one of his cats.
After the success of Berberio (2016), chamber music ensemble Revue Blanche and Zonzo Compagnie are teaming up again. This time with a focus on an iconic composer: Maurice Ravel with music arranged by Frederik Neyrinck. WIThWIT will provide the stage design and, as with THELONIOUS (2019), it is directed by Benjamin Vandewalle.
credits
compositions Maurice Ravel
performance Revue Blanche : Lore Binon (soprano), Caroline Peeters (flute), Anouk Sturtewagen (harp) & Kris Hellemans (viola)
choreography & direction Benjamin Vandewalle
scenography WIThWIT : Erki De Vries & Freija Van Esbroeck
arrangements Frederik Neyrinck
costumes Nina Lopez Le Galliard
coproduction Concertgebouw Brugge, Les Festivals de Wallonie, neimënster, Opéra de Lille, Perpodium & Philharmonie de Paris
with support from the tax shelter measureo of the Belgian federal government via uFund
