Applauce for Alexandre Tharaud and Orchestre National de France.. Foto: Henning Høholt

Orchestra National de France conducted by Daniele Gatti in a programme with Stravinsky and Ravel, presenting Alexandre Tharaud as soloist in Ravels pianoconcerto for left hand in D Major.

Review by Henning Høholt

PARIS: Petrouchka, balletmusic, version 1947 by Igor Stravinsky. Music for balletlovers. More than 100 years since its first presentation at Theatre du Châtelet by Les Ballets Russes de Dhiaghilev to a choreography by Michael Fokine, with Vaslav Nijinsky in the titelrole. The music was now played in a concert with Orchestre National de France directed by Daniele Gatti at Théâtre des Champs Élysées, Paris 29th April 2013. In a pictoresque version, pictoresque in the way that pictures was for the inner eye, when you know the ballet well
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Alexandre Tharaud

Musically it was an excellent presented by the Orchestra well conducted by Daniele Gatti, who got it all to function well, and it sounded splendid.

During the way many deliciouse cooperations, some times nearly as chamber music,  between the woods and brass soloists, english horn, bassoon, shining trompet and clarinet solosignals. With demanding pianoparts, good celeste. Brilliant Percussions.

It was fantastic to follow how elegantkly Gatti formed the very many changes of tempi and moods and how all the wood, brass, percussion parts contrasted and supported by the strings in homogen, sometimes very powerfull virtuosity together.

The pianiste Alexandre Tharaud (born 1968 in Paris) was soloist in the demanding Ravel piano concerto for left hand. It starts very deep down and then building up to an enorme climax, from where the piano solopart starts with a long demanding cadenza, brilliantly formed  and played  with extraordinary virtuosity. It is an interesting form of a piano concerto, where i found the  coordination with the harp good. Rhytmically intense was the march part.

Daniele Gatti

Since the pianist is playing on all the piano even up to the highest tunes, only with his left hand, it became during the way very artistically to look at, nearly like an elegant ballet dancer.

The ovations from the audience was payed with a short encore also for left hand. Interesting.

The finale of the evening was another of Ravels beautiful music compositions  Ballet Suite no 2 from Daphne and Chloé. Romantic impressionisme, beautiful flute parts and a great piccolo flute in the opening.  highlightened during the way by celesta and xylophones
. Daniele Gatti and his orchestra is taking good care of French Impressionistic music. The radio listeners can enjoy the coberct at France Musique May 17th at 20.00.