presents
RAVEL - A Musical Journey
May 1, 2020   8pm  Powell Hall
Stéphane Denève, conductor
Didi Balle, playwright & director
Scott Lowell, actor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
​Kelley O'Connor, mezzo-soprano

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ABOUT: 

​“Ravel: A Musical Journey takes audiences on a musical-theatrical exploration of his life from childhood to early fame (Part I) to a whirlwind 1928 American tour (Part 2) where he’s befriended by George Gershwin. In Part 3, Ravel revels in Morocco. Returning home he confronts an illness, which prevents him from speaking, writing music or playing the piano.

How will he prevail?”

Members of the New World Symphony,
vocalists and pianist performing excerpts from:
​
L’enfant et les sortilèges
Ma mère l'Oye
Daphnis and Chloe
Histoires naturelles
Alborada del gracioso
Pavane pour une infante défunte
Chansons madécasses
Concerto pour la main gauche

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WORLD PREMIERE 
APRIL 2018

​The New World Symphony

Stéphane Denéve, Conductor

Playwright & Stage Director
Didi Balle

Luke Kritzekc, Lighting Designer
Dona Granata, Costumer Designer
Clyde Scott, Projection Designer

​April 14, 2018: 
New World Center
Commission: 
The New World Symphony

Cast
Actor: Scott Lowell as Maurice Ravel
with
Mezzo-soprano: Kelley O’Connor
Mezzo-soprano: Kara Dugan
Tenor: Aaron Crouch
Piano: Kyu Yeon Kim

Balle’s intelligently conceived dramatic biography ranged through Ravel’s shy, dreamy childhood to his discovery of American jazz and friendship with George Gershwin to the final tragedy of a degenerative condition that rendered Ravel unable to play the piano and putting notes to paper. A nearly flawless fusion of musical biography and theater.  _ L. Budmen, South Florida Classical Review   Full Review

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