Stéphanie d’Oustrac on the Ravel double bill
Festival 2015 sees the revival of the 2012 Ravel double bill, a popular production in recent years at Glyndebourne. The opening performance of the Festival 2015 Ravel double bill will in fact be its 60th performance here.
Ravel’s only two operas, L’heure espagnole and L’enfant et les sortilèges, are usually performed together, but they couldn’t be more different.
Photo: Simon Annand
L’heure espagnole
First performed at: Opéra-Comique on 19 May 1911
First performed at Glyndebourne: 29 May 1966
L’enfant et les sortilèges
First performed at: Théâtre de Monte Carlo on 21 March 1925
First performed at Glyndebourne: 22 July 1987
‘In my view, Ravel’s two short operas are not at all connected. L’heure espagnole is rather trivial; L’enfant et les sortilèges is more spiritual. Overall, it’s Ravel’s genius that prevails in both his operas. His wonderful music is the common element between the two works.’
– Laurent Pelly, Director of the 2012 and 2015 Ravel double bill productions
Twitter Q&A: Stéphanie d’Oustrac
Stéphanie d’Oustrac, who is Carmen at this year’s Festival and who starred as Concepción in L’heure espagnole in the Festival 2012 production, which you can watch on demand here, joined us for a Twitter Q&A on 21 June.
Why should people see L’heure espagnole?
glyndebourne</a> it's a vibrant short burst of humour, musical genius and I was fortunate to work alongside a great cast, director & conductor!</p>— Stéphanie d'Oustrac (doustrac) June 21, 2015
Is humour always fun to play, or challenging?
inaglasshouse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/glyndebourne">glyndebourne of course both. But the fun is in the challenge, and the challenge is to make it fun. #AskStephanie
— Stéphanie d’Oustrac (@doustrac) June 21, 2015
How was working with Laurent Pelly and Kazushi Ono?
glyndebourne</a> I've previously worked with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pelly?src=hash">#Pelly</a> many times and we are a great team. Rehearsals are always playful and artistically reactive</p>— Stéphanie d'Oustrac (doustrac) June 21, 2015
glyndebourne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kazushiono?src=hash">#kazushiono</a> he led the ensemble with amazing precision and with humour which is hugely important in this opera. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AskStephanie?src=hash">#AskStephanie</a></p>— Stéphanie d'Oustrac (doustrac) June 21, 2015
Ravel’s a master at bringing together the fantastical and the lyrical. What makes him such an exceptional composer?
glyndebourne</a> L’heure Espagnole is the perfect mix of sung speech and arias. For me, it was a precursor to a new French musical language.</p>— Stéphanie d'Oustrac (doustrac) June 21, 2015
Are there any other composers you’re particularly inspired by?
glyndebourne</a> I wish I could sing much more <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/berlioz?src=hash">#berlioz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/massenet?src=hash">#massenet</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debussy?src=hash">#debussy</a> & and because of family connections, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/poulenc?src=hash">#poulenc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AskStephanie?src=hash">#AskStephanie</a></p>— Stéphanie d'Oustrac (doustrac) June 21, 2015
I know Robin Ticciati, our Music Director, is a fan of Berlioz too. And do you have a favourite opera role?
glyndebourne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cassandra?src=hash">#cassandra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/beatrice?src=hash">#beatrice</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lestroyens?src=hash">#lestroyens</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/beatrice?src=hash">#beatrice</a>&benedict</p>— Stéphanie d'Oustrac (doustrac) June 21, 2015
How has this year’s Festival been?
glyndebourne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/carmen?src=hash">#carmen</a> is a dream to perform. Working with director <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/marielambert?src=hash">#marielambert</a> for the revival was such a wonderful experience....</p>— Stéphanie d'Oustrac (doustrac) June 21, 2015
Photo: Simon Annand
See the Ravel double bill
The 2012 Ravel double bill, with Stéphanie d’Oustrac as Concepción, is available to watch on demand until midnight on 28 June.
Some tickets are still available for the 2015 revival of the Ravel double bill, starring Danielle de Niese as both Concepción in L’heure espagnole and the child in L’enfant et les sortilèges – all after just giving birth to a baby boy earlier this summer.
What do you think of Ravel’s only operas? Leave a comment and let us know.