Ravel: La Valse

Fascinated by children, Ravel composed two one-act operas, L'enfant et les sortileges and L'Heure espagnole. These priceless Ansermet recordings now return to the catalogue, coupled with the rare and much-requested disc of Ravel vocal works with Danco and Ansermet. As a coupling we have the Paris Conservatoire recordings of Bolero (the stereo version making its first ever appearance in any recording format) and La Valse.

"A little festival" - that's how Mirko Weber concluded his review of the CD version of this recording in "Die Zeit". He was delighted with how Carlo Rizzi and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra took pleasure in relishing all the fine details. - Well, then, here comes the big festival now, at least for vinyl fans. Never before, we dare to predict, has Bolero sounded as good on an LP as it does here. How is that possible? It's amazingly simple: place the needle in the groove on the inside, instead of, as is customary, on the outside. And as the needle slowly wanders outwards, the ability of the record player becomes better able, along with the increased tension in the music, to scan ever higher volumes. If you don't believe it, listen to it.

The reverse side is graced by Ravel's refined sister-piece to Bolero: La Valse.

The beginning of collaboration between ZZT, Emmanuel Krivine and the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, with an exceptional guest: Karine Deshayes.

This disc brings together some of Maurice Ravel's most popular scores, in particular the Bolero, and Karine Deshayes gives a highly moving interpretation of Shéhérazade, in the tradition of the great Régine Crespin, which the latter had mentioned herself.

Noted for her expressive power and poetic insight, combined with effortless technical ability, Japanese pianist Mami Shikimori has been exciting audiences since first appearing on stage in 1996.

Her playing has been described as 'electrifying' and 'a dazzling revelation' by the critics and she has performed at venues including New York's Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, London's St John's Smith Square and Queen Elizabeth Hall. She also gave a highly-acclaimed solo recital at Tokyo's Suntory Hall.

This Claudio debut CD culminates in Ravel's fiendishly difficult La Valse, a transcription by the composer himself.