Smithsonian Associates: The Exquisite Enigma of Maurice Ravel, Lecture 1 – “I am neither a romantic nor a classic. I am myself.”

“Music should be the beautiful, fragile wing of the soul. It should enchant, caress, and disturb.”
 —Maurice Ravel

The music of Ravel brings a unique form of magnetism, delicacy, passion, and a frisson of disquiet to our concert experience. Beneath his shimmering sound canvases lie an extraordinary craft and fanatical precision that underpins every silken phrase and melody. Concert pianist and speaker Rachel Franklin celebrates Ravel’s 150th birthday by exploring a wide range of his works from such greatly loved masterpieces as Daphnis et Chloé and La Valse to solo display works like Tzigane that dazzle with their beauty and technical brilliance.

British-born Franklin has been a featured speaker for organizations including the Library of Congress and NPR, exploring intersections among classical and jazz music, film scores, and the fine arts.

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In the years before World War I Ravel carved out a highly distinctive path for himself as a young innovator, creating ravishing sonic worlds that both seduced and confused his listeners. Selections include his ballet Daphnis et Chloé, piano works Jeux d’Eau and Gaspard de la Nuit, and his String Quartet in F.