Ravel's masterful ballet music Daphnis et Chloé

Maurice Ravel - Daphnis et Chloé. Programme Maurice Ravel Daphnis et Chloé Ravel's most ambitious composition Daphnis et Chloé is a 'symphonie choreografique' for enormous orchestra and choir, a ballet in which dances flow into one another. The expansive musical fresco gives voice to the Greece of Ravel's dreams. Ravel's masterful ballet music Maurice Ravel's most ambitious composition is a 'symphonie choreografique' for enormous orchestra and choir, a ballet in which dances flow into one another. The expansive musical fresco gives voice to the Greece of his dreams. Today we hear the rare complete version, including wordless choir. With its sweeping lyricism, beautiful nature sounds and kaleidoscopic orchestration, it is a masterpiece of the highest order. Daphnis et Chloé The ballet Daphnis et Chloé is based on a Greek novel from the second century about shepherd Daphnis and shepherdess Chloé who fall in love. Chloé is abducted by pirates, but rescued by the god Pan, after which the two lovers are reunited. For the creation of the ballet, Ravel collaborated with the great Russian choreographer Michel Fokine. That collaboration did not run smoothly: 'Fokine cannot speak a word of French and I can only swear in Russian', according to Ravel. On an artistic level too, the two clashed. The result, however, was an enormous success. Igor Stravinsky, normally not generous with compliments, called it 'not only Ravel's best work, but also one of the most beautiful products of French music.'