Orc Nat De Lyon/Slatkin - Ravel:Don Quichotte

Maurice Ravel's stage works are as subtle and expressively poised as can be imagined. In the Spanish-tinged L'Heure espagnole he breathes new life into the Italian genre of the opera buffa, enhancing the comedy in the plot by giving it a gentle human poignancy and poetic presence. The clarity of Ravel's vocal writing, and his signature harmonic magic and luminous orchestration, make this opera a delight for the ear. Don Quichotte � Dulcin�e was Ravel's last composition, imbuing Cervantes's famous character with aristocratic Spanish swagger as well as a kind of heroic tenderness and vulnerability. Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortil�ges from Lyon can be found on Naxos. Internationally renowned conductor Leonard Slatkin began his musical studies on the violin and studied conducting with his father, followed by training with Walter Susskind at Aspen and Jean Morel at The Juilliard School. He was named music director of the Orchestre National de Lyon in its 2011-2012 season. His over a hundred recordings have brought seven GRAMMY� Awards and more than sixty GRAMMY� Award nominations. He has received many other honours, including the 2003 National Medal of Arts, France's Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and the League of American Orchestras' Gold Baton for service to American music.