RAVEL

Last evening was memorable.  The Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France (yes, I still am a Francophone) gave a superb all Ravel performance at UCLA's Royce Hall.  It opened with Ma mere l'Oye (Mother Goose Suite.)  Then the ethereal Swedish soprano Anne Sofie von Otter sang 4 songs in the loveliest of voices.  Her cool calm is completely suited to the other-worldly configurations of Ravel.  And then!  My favorite - Daphnis et Chloe': Suite 1 & 2.  A magnificent performance utilizing the wonderful acoustics of the Hall.  The program ended with an absolutely smashing La Valse.  The physical restraint of the conductor Myung-Whun Chung  is refreshingly in contrast to the conducting of Dudamel: while still obtaining the multitudes of musical colorations from the orchestra.  An exhilarating concert!  What luck to have experienced a first-rate musical evening without the jet-lag.  I have heard this orchestra at the Salle Pleyel in Paris and often wondered why there is a remarkable difference in the sound of French orchestras in comparison to American orchestras.  I'll be damned if I know!