Orchestra Wellington Performs Ravel’s 'Daphnis and Chloe'

Orchestra Wellington And Orpheus Choir Combining Forces To Bring Greek Love Legend To Life

Orchestra Wellington is calling on massive forces for Maurice Ravel’s lushly evocative musical love story 'Daphnis and Chloe' next month. And to say the orchestra’s ebullient Music Director Marc Taddei is delighted is an understatement.

“I can’t begin to say how excited I am to be performing 'Daphnis and Chloe' - it may well be the most sumptuous work ever written for orchestra!”, Taddei says.

“With an orchestra and full chorus of 200 performers, this towering work is a delight from start to finish and has my vote for the greatest ballet score of the 20th century.”

On Saturday 5th August at the Michael Fowler Centre the orchestra is playing Ravel’s full ballet, rather than the 'Daphnis and Chloe' orchestral suites usually performed, and is joined by Wellington’s Orpheus Choir.

Taddei thinks the full ballet may not have been performed here.

“From the most delicate effects to the most shattering climaxes, this may very well be the New Zealand premier of this masterpiece.”

'Daphnis and Chloe' was written in 1912 for ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes during the height of their artistic triumph. Diaghilev was at the pinnacle of his success and everything he touched was infused with genius.

Also on the programme is Auckland pianist Stephen de Pledge, playing one of the most beloved Romantic piano concertos, written by Schumann for his wife. Clara Schumann became its first champion and performer, and it is no wonder that a concerto so filled with love and affection has remained a staple of the repertoire.

The concert opens with four movements from Schumann’s piano showpiece 'Carnaval', orchestrated by Ravel to create a ballet for Nijinsky. A contemporary critic described the result as, “Music that makes sport of love and mocks passion, yet sets the blood dancing …”

SATURDAY 5 AUGUST, 7:30PM, MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE, WELLINGTON

Robert Schumann, orch. Ravel - Carnaval
Robert Schumann - Piano Concerto in A Major
Maurice Ravel - Daphnis and Chloe

Marc Taddei, Conductor
Stephen de Pledge, Piano
Orpheus Choir of Wellington

ENDS

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