The Franco-Swiss pianist François-Xavier Poizat has embarked on an ambitious project : recording the complete works of Maurice Ravel with piano for Aparté. The six-volume box set will be released on October 25, 2024 as a tribute to the composer, whose 150th birthday will be celebrated the following year.
“I’ve been working on this project for almost twenty years”
François-Xavier Poizat
Captivated from an early age by the enigmatic music of Maurice Ravel, François-Xavier Poizat has made his dream come true by recording his complete piano works. After years of trying to capture all their secrets, this former protégé of Martha Argerich pays tribute to the composer on the 150th anniversary of his birth with a performance that is both moving and enchanting.
I’ve always been overwhelmed by his harmonies and melodies,” confides the pianist. “The more you play a composer, the more you come to understand him, and it’s really by working on complete works that you can enter the composer’s musical intimacy. It gives you the keys to understanding the secret of the work
François-Xavier Poizat
Bringing together concertos, chamber and vocal music, the 6 volumes that make up the complete set also include two volumes of pieces for solo piano recorded in the chronological order of their creation, allowing the pianist to become truly immersed in the work. “It’s a bit like having Ravel’s life unfolding beneath your fingers,” explains François-Xavier Poizat.
This Ravel project is also a true technical achievement for the pianist, who recorded all the pieces over 18 months in 5 different locations.