This Nash Ensemble Ravel disc finds a persuasive middle ground: the players sound fully committed, even passionate, yet the playing still preserves that hard-to-pin-down Ravel blend and precision.
The introduction and Allegro comes off particularly well, helped along by a notably fine harp contribution from Lucy Wakeford; it’s the kind of performance where color and line feel carefully balanced rather than showy.
The Piano Trio goes in a more dramatic direction, with the players’ energy easy to register (the ensemble has recorded the work before, though with different personnel). By contrast, the String Quartet feels airier than some—less treated as post-Romantic lushness, more as four distinct voices, with the inner writing and counterpoint kept in clear view.
The transparent, highly detailed recording reinforces that sense of separation and texture. Taken as a whole (including La Valse in the two-piano version), it’s a well-shaped 75-minute program that holds attention throughout.
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Album Details |
|
|---|---|
| Album name | Ravel |
| Label | Onyx |
| Catalogue No. | ONYX4270 |
| Artists | Nash Ensemble |
