Gustavo Dudamel and the New York Philharmonic will give the first performance of an early work of Maurice Ravel’s on 13th March, in celebration of the composer’s 150th anniversary.
Prélude et danse de Sémiramis, composed in 1902, is the opening to a partially lost cantata from Ravel’s student days. The autograph manuscript of the opening prelude has been at the Bibliothèque nationale de France since 2000, but has not received an orchestral performance.
Composed at the age of 27, the same year as Ravel’s celebrated String Quartet in F, Sémiramis was among several choral and orchestral works Ravel wrote in pursuit of the Prix de Rome, which the composer never won despite entering four times. His elimination in 1905, for allegedly nepotistic reasons, caused a scandal.
This new performing score was prepared by the Ravel Edition, and other documents relating to Ravel will be exhibited at David Geffen Hall from 3rd March to 20th May, including autograph manuscripts on loan from the Morgan Library & Museum.
Dudamel and the NY Philharmonic will perform Prélude et danse from 13th–16th March, together with Yuja Wang performing Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G and Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. Dudamel will also conduct Varèse’s Amériques and Gershwin’s An American in Paris.
