Robin Ticciati, Magdalena Kožená & Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin - Ravel & Duparc: Aimer et mourir (2018)

September 2018 marks the start of Robin Ticciati’s second season as Music Director of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and the release of his second recording with his new orchestra. The partnership’s critically acclaimed debut of Debussy and Fauré led MusicWeb International to comment: ‘[this] certainly whets the appetite for future releases from Robin Ticciati with the DSO Berlin.’

This second all-French programme sees Magdalena Kožená return to perform a selection of songs by Henri Duparc alongside orchestral music by his fellow countryman Maurice Ravel. The popular Suite No.2 from Ravel’s epoch-making ballet Daphnis et Chloé showcases Ticciati’s flair for highlighting intricacies of detail and colour; listen as the beautifully descriptive sunrise (Lever du jour) bursts into vivid, multi-hued life. In Ravel’s Valses nobles et sentimentales Ticciati creates a well-paced, yet graceful, Impressionist swirl with clearly defined textures and shimmering orchestral colours.

Duparc’s mélodies, which Ravel himself described as ‘works of genius’, sound particularly opulent in their orchestral scoring; the warm tones of Kožená’s ravishing voice provide a perfect match.

Robin Ticciati is Music Director of the Deutsches Symphonie- Orchester Berlin, a post he holds in addition to his role as Music Director of Glyndebourne Festival Opera. He was recently appointed ‘Sir Colin Davis Fellow of Conducting’ by the Royal Academy of Music.

Magdalena Kožená’s beguiling artistry immediately attracted critical acclaim. Kožená has since matured to become one of the foremost singers of her generation. She records for Deutsche Grammophon.

For 70 years the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DSO Berlin) has distinguished itself as one of Germany's leading orchestras. The DSO is also in demand worldwide with many award-winning recordings including a 2011 GRAMMY Award.