François-Xavier Roth, Principal Guest Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, displays his deep affinity with the music of Debussy and Ravel on his latest LSO Live album. A fascination with his Spanish heritage would be a recurring theme in many of Ravel’s creations. Mysterious melodies weave delicately throughout his early work Rapsodie espagnole, punctuated by bursts of Spanish-inspired fanfares and Habanera dance rhythms. The voluptuous flute opening of Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune immediately conjures a world of luxurious fantasy, weaving through the music’s changing scenes with effortless spontaneity, and in La mer, Debussy tells the story of the eternal odyssey of the ocean.
Debussy & Ravel – London Symphony Orchestra, François-Xavier Roth
