VERONIQUE JOURDAIN ARTISTS MANAGEMENT

Katia & Marielle LABEQUE - Boléro

Maurice Ravel was basque, born in Ciboure in 1875, and spoke Euskara. From 1900 he always came back regularly to his native country. This new project around Ravel’s famous Bolero involve five singer/instrumentalists. Ravel’s Bolero is played for two pianos in the original arrangement from the composer. Instrumental accompaniment of percussion instruments have been hand-crafted by group members. The percussionists have added the sound of the original basque percussions that Ravel loved so much. Perhaps the most famous Basque instrument, is the txalaparta, a group of raised wooden planks suspended on large baskets or sawhorses.

The txalaparta is a percussion instrument strongly linked to the Basque cultural identity. The txalaparta is not only an instrument, it is an attitude, a way of connecting and becoming closer to one another. The txalaparta is order and chaos, a balance between tradition and modernity, between erudite and primary blows, an improvised music. The musicians are actively engaged in the growth and development of their traditions.

The Basque language has been present on this small piece of land straddling the Pyrenees for several millennia, long before the migrations of Indo-European peoples. For thousands of years it has infused other European languages and has been nourished by all of those encounters. The Basque Country is a threshold, a crossing point and also a refuge. It has been a point of departure for a nation of sailors and workers who have traveled the world and always returned to their roots.

RAVEL & THE BASQ COUNTRY
MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937)

Ma Mere l Oye
original version for four hands
1)Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant
2)Petit Poucet
3)Laideronnette, Imperatrice des Pagodes
4)Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bete
5)Le jardin féerique

Rhapsodie Espagnole
1) Prelude a la Nuit
2) Malaguena
3) Habanera
4) Feria

ENTRACTE
HAIKA MUTIL traditional
Marielle et Einaut Elorrieta

PRIERE
Pablo Sarasate (1844-1908)
Katia Labèque, Thierry Biscary

ELURRA IRUÑAN
Thierry Biscary / Aurelia Arkotxa. XXIè siècle
Arrangement pianos : David Chalmin
KML + Thierry Biscary

DE TREVILLEN AZKEN HITZAK
Pierre Bordaçarre « Etxahun Iruri » (1908-1979)
Eñaut Elorrieta, Thierry Biscary

BATERAN (Solo Txalaparta)
Oreka Tx (Harkaitz Martinez de San Vicente, Mikel Ugarte)

BOLERO
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
KML , Eñaut Elorrieta, Thierry Biscary, Harkaitz Martinez de San Vicente, Raphaël Séguinier, Mikel Ugarte