description L'enfant et les sortilèges Overview
Maurice Ravel’s L'enfant et les sortilèges premiered in 1925. This French opera tells the fantastical tale of a spoiled young boy who magically transforms his room into a collection of animated objects after being mistreated. Noteworthy for its innovative orchestration and exploration of childhood, it was initially performed with a marionette protagonist. The work is primarily intended for audiences interested in modern opera, particularly those appreciating Ravel's unique musical style and narratives involving imaginative themes.
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Who wrote the libretto for L'enfant et les sortilèges?
The French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette wrote the libretto, initially commissioned by Jacques Rouché, director of the Paris Opéra. Ravel set the text between 1917 and 1925, and the collaboration between one of France's greatest writers and composers is a landmark of 20th-century French opera.
What happens in the story of L'enfant et les sortilèges?
A naughty child refuses to do homework and throws a tantrum, breaking objects and tormenting animals. The damaged furniture, teapots, fire, animals, and even mathematics come to life to confront him, and through his encounter with an injured squirrel, he learns compassion.
What unusual musical styles appear in L'enfant et les sortilèges?
Ravel incorporated an extraordinary range of musical pastiches, including a foxtrot for the teapot and teacup, a jazz-influenced section for the fire, and a duet for two cats sung entirely on 'miaow' syllables. This eclecticism reflects Ravel's fascination with both popular and exotic musical forms.
Where did L'enfant et les sortilèges premiere?
It premiered at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in Monte Carlo on March 21, 1925. The premiere was a double bill with another Ravel one-act, L'heure espagnole.
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