Ravel: Piano Concerto in G
Messiaen (orch. Dingle): Un Oiseau des Arbres de Vie (world premiere)
Ravel: La Valse

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)
BBC Philharmonic
Nicholas Collon (conductor)

Two masterworks by France’s best-loved 20th century composer, separated by a world premiere of a short but vivid piece by the late Olivier Messiaen. The pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet is one of today’s most engaging performers and has a special affinity with the music of his fellow Frenchmen.
BBC Radio 3 presenter Andrew McGregor is joined by historian of Modern France Alison Carrol.
Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Piano Concerto in G (1929/31)

After the cataclysm and privations of the First World War, people of Europe longed to have fun. And there was new music to have fun with, as a listener, dancer or musician: jazz. Maurice Ravel was smitten: “The most captivating part of jazz is its rich and diverting rhythm. Jazz is a very rich and vital source of inspiration for modern composers and I am astonished that so few Americans are influenced by it." The Piano Concerto in G is one of the most popular modern concertos.

Olivier Messiaen (1908 – 1992)
Un Oiseau des Arbres de Vie (World premiere)
Orchestrated by Christopher Dingle

If you had called the late Olivier Messiaen a bird-watcher, he would have probably taken it as a compliment: birdsong was a constant source of inspiration to him and he incorporated a wide variety into his melodies. Messiaen’s last work, Éclairs sur l'au-delà… (Illuminations of the beyond…) was originally to have 12 movements, but the composer then reduced it to 11: the 12th piece is played for the first time at this year’s Proms, orchestrated by Christopher Dingle. It includes Messiaen’s take on the songs of the New Zealand Tui (parson) birds which range from bell-like sounds, to clicks, creaks and even imitations of human speech. Show less