NEW RELEASE: Robert Treviño conducts Ravel, with the Basque National Orchestra, out April 2nd

Following his extremely successful Beethoven symphony cycle for Ondine, Robert Treviño's second release on Ondine is also his first alongside the Basque National Orchestra. Treviño has been Music Director of the Basque National Orchestra since 2017 and, appropriately enough, their first recording together is a survey of the most celebrated Basque composer, Maurice Ravel - and is rooted in a very Basque view of his music.

Treviño, who has contributed a booklet essay explaining what 'a Basque view of Ravel' means, summarises it thus: "There are many passages in Ravel's music that you can point to as specifically Basque - this rhythm or that form - but it also goes deeper, to do with the Basques' age-old resilience and realism. Ravel was French-Basque, and while there is plenty of French colour in his music, there is also Basque directness and determination."

The Basque National Orchestra, widely recognised as one of the premier ensembles in Spain, has a long association with Ravel's music. Most recently, last year, they toured Ravel works to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, for the orchestra's Paris debut. Since Treviño arrived, he says, he has made it a particular project to explore this repertoire with this orchestra. The works on the recording include both storied favourites and less-often performed masterworks. The full line-up comprises:

La Valse
Alborada del gracioso
Rapsodie espagnole
Une barque sur l'océan
Pavane pour une infante défunte
Bolero

The album's producer, as for the Beethoven symphonies, is Ingo Petry. The album was recorded at San Sebastian's landmark Kursaal concert hall.

"It has been pure joy to make this recording with my beloved Basque National Orchestra for Ondine," says Treviño, "Ravel's music has always been a deep love of mine, and this orchestra has such a tradition of performing his music, which is of course of their homeland. Together we dived into the music and have re-thought this masterful composer, finding truths to him that are perhaps less apparent to non-Basque orchestras. It has been a great experience."

Links to stream/buy the Ravel recording are here: https://ondine.lnk.to/ODE13852OW