To contrast the magical fairytale world of Ravel’s Ma Mère L’Oye with the nightmarish anguish of Poulenc’s female protagonist in his monodrama La Voix Humaine made for bold programming. It took the audience from storytelling with its promise of happily-ever-after, to eavesdropping on a traumatic phone call that signals the breakup of a relationship.
Marking the 150th anniversary of Ravel’s birth and doing him the honour of performing his full ballet score rather than the more commonly heard suite of movements, the musicians of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales seemed to luxuriate in the mastery of Ravel, the supreme orchestrator. The principal guest conductor, Jaime Martín, coaxed out all the languidly expressive beauty, the playfulness and the wit. It was the perfect foil for the emotional turmoil of the Poulenc.
