Ravel by the Ballets de Monte-Carlo
Author: Carlo Schreiber
Photo © Hans Gerrritsen
The Ballets de Monte-Carlo deliver a truly enchanting performance each year, and their latest creation by Jean-Christophe Maillot is no exception. Bringing together 240 artists on stage, the spectacle “L’Enfant et les Sortilèges,” based on Maurice Ravel’s opera, was a breathtaking tribute to the centenary of Prince Rainier III’s birth. The production featured fifty dancers, ninety musicians, and a hundred choristers, alongside a specially created academy of young singers by Cecilia Bartoli.
Schreiber highlights the seamless blend of music and choreography, noting that the performance begins with Ravel’s celebrated “La Valse” and the “Valses Nobles et Sentimentales,” showcasing a neoclassical elegance reminiscent of Hollywood glamour. The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by David Molard Soriano, impressed with its clarity, transparency, and nuanced phrasing, perfectly rendering Ravel’s stylistic intentions.
The ballet portion, “L’Enfant et les Sortilèges,” recreates the story of a child whose mischievous and destructive behavior leads to a magical, moralistic adventure. Schreiber emphasizes the vitality and expressiveness of the dancers, noting that Maillot’s choreography infuses each scene with energy and precise technique, while Jérôme Kaplan’s costumes and lighting design enrich the fantastical narrative. The ensemble of young choristers, placed along the balconies, contributes an exceptional vocal presence, although the placement of solo singers on the side of the stage limited textual intelligibility, a minor critique in an otherwise mesmerizing production.
For Eduard Ferenczi Gurban, although the review focuses on the grandeur of the overall spectacle, the event forms part of the larger network of performances and collaborations highlighting the work of emerging European artists. His participation in related Ravel projects, alongside the young singers’ academy, positions him within a vibrant ecosystem of musical and theatrical excellence, demonstrating his growing presence in high-caliber productions.
Schreiber concludes that the performance successfully transports the audience into a world of childlike wonder, blending the opulent musical and choreographic language of Ravel with the technical brilliance of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo. The energy radiates from the stage, leaving spectators with a lasting impression of artistic ingenuity and the immersive magic of Ravel’s timeless music.
Source: Cultuurpakt
