Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (Live) Les Siècles & François-Xavier Roth

• Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Acte I, Première partie:
• 1 Introduction (Live) 03:09
• 2 Danse religieuse (Live) 05:15
• 3 Vif - Danse générale (Live) 03:10
• 4 Danse grotesque de Dorcon - Scène (Live) 01:51
• 5 Danse légère et gracieuse de Daphnis (Live) 02:54
• 6 Lent [devant le groupe radieux que forment Daphnis et Chloé enlacés] (Live) 01:42
• 7 Danse de Lycéion (Live) 01:30
• 8 Scène [Les Pirates] (Live) 01:46
• 9 Nocturne [Une lumière irréelle enveloppe le paysage] (Live) 01:32
• 10 Danse lente et mystérieuse des Nymphes (Live) 02:47
• 11 Interlude (Live) 02:55
• Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Acte I, Deuxième partie:
• 12 Introduction - Danse guerrière (Live) 04:31
• 13 Danse suppliante de Chloé (Live) 03:37
• 14 Lent [Soudain l'atmosphère semble chargée d'éléments insolites] (Live) 02:19
• Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57, Acte I, Troisième partie:
• 15 Lever du jour - Scène (Live) 05:38
• 16 Pantomime [Daphnis & Chloé miment l'aventure de Pan et de Syrinx] (Live) 01:20
• 17 Très lent [Chloé figure par sa danse les accents de la flûte] (Live) 02:34
• 18 Chloé tombe dans les bras de Daphnis (Live) 02:19
• 19 Animé - Danse générale (Live) 04:00
• Total Runtime 54:49

Info for Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (Live)

'The arrival of an orchestra like Les Siècles on the harmonia mundi label is entirely logical: ever since it was founded by François-Xavier Roth in 2003, its musicians (mostly belonging to the new generation) have succeeded in placing several centuries of musical creation in perspective by playing the works they tackle on precisely the instruments used at the time of their premiere – without the slightest concession. The result is quite simple dazzling: never, since it was first heard, has Daphnis et Chloé displayed such a shimmering sound, revealing an infinity of details without ever losing sight of the subtle beauty of the most French of the great ‘Ballets Russes’.‘At this moment in the history of music, Ravel raised the French “Impressionist” orchestral style to a sort of apogee – in a sense it is the last great comédie-ballet in the history of French music’ (François-Xavier Roth).

'Daphnis and Chloé' is conceived as a ballet in one act and three parts, and tells the story of the love between the shepherd Daphnis and the shepherdess Chloé. A warlike tableau is framed by two pastoral ones: in the first, Daphnis and Chloé acknowledge their mutual love following a dance contest that provokes the jealousy of each of them in turn.

The interruption of a group of pirates, who abduct Chloé, puts an end to the rejoicing. The second tableau depicts the pirate camp; the captive girl is commanded to dance for her abductors. In the final tableau, Chloé is restored to Daphnis through a miracle of the god Pan, whom the nymphs have called on for help. After miming the tale of Pan and Syrinx, the young lovers let their joy burst forth in a General Dance of dazzling orgiastic virtuosity.

The orchestral forces are the largest Ravel ever employed and he adds a mixed chorus that sometimes hums and sometimes sings. As we have come to expect, François-Xavier Roth, in his début for harmonia mundi, has gone through Ravel's much-amended score with a fine-tooth comb and subsequently showed himself capable, in a ‘historically informed’ performance, of reproducing with the musicians of Les Siècles all the transparency and stylistic precision one could wish for in Ravel’s masterpiece.

"Daphnis et Chloé is part of the large-scale project we embarked on with Les Siècles in 2009: the odyssey of the Ballets Russes. To celebrate the centenary of that incredible artistic adventure, we wanted to reconstruct the Parisian orchestra that premiered these works in order to restore their original colours...As with each work of the Ballets Russes that we’ve played so far, we noticed just how remarkably the instruments of Ravel’s time, those French-built instruments typical of the early twentieth century, do justice to this music and make it meaningful!" FXR ….

Marion Ralincourt, flute
Les Siècles & Ensemble Aedes
François-Xavier Roth, direction

Les Siecles & Francois-Xavier Roth
Formed in the summer of 2003 by François-Xavier Roth, Les Siècles comprises outstanding young players pooled from the very finest French ensembles. Roth’s founding ambition was for his orchestra to offer a new approach, not only to repertoire but also to the nature of the concert form.

With a vast period-instrument collection at its disposal, spanning the baroque, classical, romantic and modern eras, the orchestra’s repertoire is notably wide in range. Les Siècles is one of a small number of ensembles to employ period and modern instruments, playing each repertoire on appropriate instruments. Its flexible and historically informed work delivers a unique strand of creative programming. François-Xavier Roth and the musicians of Les Siècles have made a distinctive mark at home and abroad, presenting an orchestra for the 21st century. They have given well over 600 performances in France alone, including regular performances in Paris Philharmonie and appearances at leading festivals throughout France. In addition to its work in France, Les Siècles is increasingly visible on the international scene. Its global profile has been magnified in recent seasons with concerts in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, London, Germany, Portugal, Italy, China and Japan.

Les Siècles are associated artist in Paris Philharmonie.

Les Siècles are also in residency in the Aisne department, associated artist at La Cité de la Musique de Soissons and give regularly concerts in Sénart, Nîmes, Amiens, Caen, Royaumont, La Côte-Saint-André, Aix-en-Provence and in other places as London (BBC Proms, Royal Festival Hall), Amsterdam (Concertgebouw), Berlin (Konzerthaus), Bremen, Bruxelles (Klara Festival), Montecarlo, Wiesbaden, Köln, Luxembourg, Tokyo, Essen… Their recordings of the three Stravinsky’s ballets (L’Oiseau de Feu, Petrouchka et le Sacre du Printemps) received the Jahrespreis 2015 der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik and won the Edison Klassiek award in Holland. Their Debussy disc was elected Sunday Times Disc of the year and Editor’s choice in the BBC Music Magazine and Gramophone. In march 2017, Les Siècles started to work with Harmonia Mundi label for their last release : Ravel’s Daphnis & Chloé. The disc received many awards : Gramophone Editor’s choice june 2017, Rondo Magazin CD des Monats may 2017, Music web international recording of the month, 5 stars of Diapason, FFFF of Télérama, Le choix de France Musique, la Clé du mois de Resmusica, The Arts Desk Cd of the week, Supersonic Pizzicato, Top Mezzo, Limelight magazine’s five stars.

The musicians of Les Siècles propose regularly several educational actions in schools, hospitals, retirement homes and prisons. The orchestra is partner of Jeune Symphonie de l’Aisne, Jeune Orchestre Européen Hector Berlioz and Demos (musical and social educational project) in Hauts-de-France and Île-de-France. The orchestra is one of the initiator of “Music in the hospital” project proposed in the pediatric haematology-oncology Trousseau Hospital’s service in Paris. He also created an educational residency in La Petite Bibliothèque Ronde de Clamart. Les Siècles are also the creator and the main feature of the TV show « Presto » which has been broadcast regularly on France 2 since 2007. Mécénat Musical Société Générale is the main sponsor of Les Siècles.

The orchestra is also financed by the French Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication and DRAC Hauts-de-France. Since 2011, the orchestra is supported by the Département de l’Aisne to reinforce its artistic and educational presence on this territory, especially in the Cité de la Musique de Soissons. The orchestra regularly performs in Hauts-de-Seine with the support of the city of Nanterre. Les Siècles is resident orchestra in Théâtre-Sénart of Lieusaint, and associated artist in Théâtre de Nîmes, Théâtre du Beauvaisis, Les Musicales de Normandie festival and the Berlioz Festival of La Côte-Saint-André.

The orchestra is sponsored by the Palazzetto Bru Zane-Centre de musique romantique française, the Echanges and Bibliothèques association and occasionally by the SPEDIDAM, ADAMI, Bureau Export, Institut Français, SPPF and FCM.

Les Siècles is administrator member of the FEVIS and the Association Française des Orchestres, then associated member of SPPF.

Booklet for Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (Live)