Festival Ravel
2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel, born in 1875 in Ciboure in that distinctive Dutch-style house overlooking Saint-Jean-de-Luz, which once hosted Cardinal Mazarin on the occasion of Louis XIV’s marriage.
The ocean was his cradle, with La Rhune and the Trois Couronnes watching over it, and Ravel always expressed pride in being Basque and in mastering the Basque language. Thus, he returned each year to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, where he spent long months composing and immersing himself in that unique culture and landscape.
Each year, the festival’s programming draws from the vast wealth of this towering figure’s musical universe, weaving links – tighter or looser – with his imagination, mindset, humanism, and influences.
This year of celebration is an opportunity to explore Ravel’s œuvre in depth – if not exhaustively, at least in an encyclopedic manner.
Thus, the core of his symphonic music, his piano music, and his chamber music will be presented, along with a large portion of his vocal music, offering listeners a rare chance to embark on a journey into Ravel’s universe. Read more