Fresh from his monumental role as Composer and Musical Director of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, the Grammy®-winning composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist reimagines some of Ravel’s most iconic works, including Boléro, Le jardin féerique, selections from the String Quartet, and L’enfant et les sortilèges. The album features guest appearances from Christine and the Queens, Julius Asal, and Camille Thomas, and reflects Le Masne’s deep connection to Ravel’s music: “Ravel’s music is so modern, so universal. He can be very demanding, yet he is always generous and very warm – I tried to keep his warm feeling of humanity.”
The first single, Le jardin féerique, is out now, its dreamlike qualities inspiring the album’s cover image by Le Masne’s wife, Jill Caytan. “It’s about the idea of lush musical environments, and the idea of fading,” says Le Masne. “When you see a flower, there’s a timeless vibe, but also something impermanent. It reminds me of Le jardin féerique, the fairy garden. I wanted something true, intimate and very close to my heart.”
Ravel Recomposed adds a new dimension to the Recomposed series, which has seen artists including Max Richter, Matthew Herbert, and Peter Gregson open a contemporary dialogue with music from the past. Le Masne’s deep study of Ravel’s scores, combined with his own compositional flair, has created a project that feels both respectful and bold. “If you add in some fun as well,” he says, “you can create something very interesting.”
Ravel Recomposed will be released in all formats on 21 November and is available for pre-order now.
