Photo credit: Stephen Buhagiar This year marks the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth (1875 – 1937) and the 100th anniversary of the death of Erik Satie (1866 – 1925). Both composers significantly shaped the evolution of classical music. Ravel’s innovative compositions are characterised by intricate harmonies, complex rhythms and vibrant orchestration while Satie's minimalist and avant-garde music is characterised by its simplicity and unconventional structures. The Malta International Arts Festival celebrates Ravel and Satie with a programme of seminal chamber works for piano, violin and cello. Satie’s homage includes Entr’Acte with the 1924 film projection by René Clair and a new version of the ballet Parade choreographed by Moveo Dance Company.

Programme

Maurice Ravel Alborada del Gracioso (1905)

piano solo    

Maurice Ravel Piano Trio (1914)

piano, violin and cello

I Modéré 

II Pantoum (Assez vif) 

III Passacaille (Très large) 

IV Final (Animé) 

intermission

Maurice Ravel Sonata for Violin and Cello (1920 - 1922)

I Allegro

II Très vif

III Lent

IV Vif, avec entrain                   

Erik Satie Entr’Acte (1924)

arrangement for piano solo and video

Erik Satie  Parade (1917)

arrangement for piano, cello and percussion

                Credits

Konstantinos Destounis - piano

Konstantinos Panagiotidis - violin

Dimitris Travlos - cello

Luke Baldacchino - percussion

Moveo Dance Company

Diane Portelli, Dorian Mallia

Programme Notes

Maurice Ravel - Alborada del Gracioso (1905)

Alborada del Gracioso by Maurice Ravel is the fourth movement of his piano suite Miroirs, composed between 1904 and 1905. Translated as "The Morning Song of the Jester," it exemplifies Ravel's command of Spanish musical idioms, characterised by intricate rhythms and vibrant harmonies. The music’s technical complexity and expressive depth underscore the virtuosity required of the performer, creating a captivating experience for audiences. Alborada del Gracioso showcases Ravel's mastery of keyboard writing, with demanding technical passages that highlight his innovative approach. The work is dedicated to Michel-Dimitri Calvocoressi, a prominent critic and early advocate of Ravel's compositions.

Maurice Ravel - Piano Trio (1914)

I Modéré 

II Pantoum (Assez vif) 

III Passacaille (Très large) 

IV Final (Animé) 

Maurice Ravel's Piano Trio, composed in 1914, is a chamber masterpiece that reflects his Basque heritage and eclectic influences. The work, dedicated to André Gedalge, features a rich texture achieved through innovative use of instrumental ranges and coloristic effects. The movements evoke a sensuous dreamscape, from the Basque-inspired first movement to the Malaysian-influenced scherzo, Pantoum. Completed swiftly as Ravel prepared to enlist in World War I, the trio offers a magical escape into a world of shimmering colours and exoticism, contrasting with the turmoil of its time. It premiered in Paris in January 1915.

Maurice Ravel - Sonata for Violin and Cello  (1920 - 1922)

I Allegro

II Très vif

III Lent

IV Vif, avec entrain                   

Maurice Ravel's Sonata for Violin and Cello, composed from 1920 to 1922, is a masterful work dedicated to Claude Debussy's memory. It features four movements: Allegro, Très vif, Lent, and Vif, avec entrain. Ravel employs cyclical thematic transformation and innovative textures, contrasting bowed and plucked sonorities. The scherzo showcases Hungarian influences, while the slow movement rises to a turbulent peak. The finale combines themes in a vibrant, athletic conclusion. Ravel's lean, linear style strips music to its essence, emphasising melody over harmony, creating a work both austere and richly expressive.

Erik Satie - Entr’Acte (1924)

Erik Satie's score for René Clair's 1924 film Entr'acte is a pioneering work in avant-garde cinema. Originally shown during the intermission of Francis Picabia's ballet Relâche, the film features surreal vignettes with cameos by Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray. Satie's music, characterised by repetitive patterns and harmonic ambiguity, complements Clair's visually challenging images. The score embodies Satie's concept of "furniture music," blending into the background while maintaining a distinctive presence. This collaboration marked a significant moment in the development of film music, challenging traditional narrative-driven scores with its innovative approach.

Erik Satie - Parade (1917)

Erik Satie's Parade premiered on May 18, 1917, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, featuring a revolutionary collaboration with Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso. This avant-garde ballet, commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes, combines circus-like spectacle with innovative music featuring typewriters, sirens, and other unconventional sounds. The performance sparked controversy, with some audience members rioting over its surrealistic and modernist elements. Guillaume Apollinaire's program notes introduced the term “surrealism”, marking a pivotal moment in the development of modern art. Parade remains a landmark of early 20th-century artistic experimentation.

Biographies

  Konstantinos Destounis - piano

Born in Athens in 1991, Konstantinos Destounis’ discography includes the Complete Piano Works by Maurice Ravel (Brilliant Classics, to be released soon), Theodore Antoniou (Naxos) and Naresh Sohal (Toccata Classics). As a soloist, he collaborates regularly with orchestras in Greece, the UK, Germany, Spain, Australia and Malta and he performs recitals in International Festivals. He is a Piano Professor (Department of Music Studies, Ionian University, Corfu), Doctor of Music (Royal College of Music, London) and winner of numerous International Piano Competitions, most notably Grand Prix Maria Callas (Athens), Southern Highlands (Canberra) and the Bremen European Piano Competition. He was born in Athens in 1991.

Dimitris Travlos - cello

Dimitris Travlos was born in Berlin and began his cello studies with Professor Dana Hatzigeorgiou in Athens. He earned his diploma under the guidance of Professor Renato Ripo and furthered his education at the Music Academy of Vienna, where he studied with Professors Johannes Meissl and Josef Luitz. He is a founding member of the Ergon Ensemble and has been a member of the Athens State Orchestra since 2003.

Konstantinos Panagiotidis - violin

Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 1977, he began violin lessons at seven and earned his diploma with honors at fifteen. He studied with Ginga Gitshova in Sofia and Gottfried Schneider in Munich, graduating in 1999 and completing his postgraduate diploma in 2001. He has performed as a soloist with the Athens State Orchestra and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Sofia. His affiliations include the Athens State Orchestra, Athens Camerata, and the National Symphonic Orchestra. Currently, he is a member of the ERGON Ensemble and the Tetraktys Quartet, with whom he has performed at some of Europe's most prestigious concert venues.

Luke Baldacchino - percussion

Luke Baldacchino is a versatile multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer, and music educator. He holds a first-class BA (Hons.) in Music Performance and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Malta. Luke serves as a full-time music teacher at St Monica School in Birkirkara, while also managing Ritmik, his private music education venture. He has performed and recorded extensively with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as collaborating with various artists and organizations both locally and internationally. For eight years, Luke led the Music Group at the Opening Doors Association, where he worked on artistic projects with performers with disabilities—a cause that remains close to his heart.

Moveo Dance Company

Founded by Artistic Director Dorian Mallia, Moveo Dance Company is Malta's premier contemporary dance ensemble, renowned for its performances both locally and internationally. In 2017, Diane Portelli joined as Director and resident choreographer, further enhancing the company's artistic vision. Moveo has embarked on extensive international tours and participated in major festivals, garnering prestigious accolades such as Best Creative Enterprise in 2020 and Best Production at the STEM Awards in 2021. With a commitment to innovation, artistic excellence, and the exploration of human movement, Moveo continues to push creative boundaries through its performances, educational programs, and outreach initiatives.

In collaboration with Teatru Manoel