Cover for "Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works" by Cho Seong-jin / Courtesy of Universal Music
Pianist Cho Seong-jin will release a series of albums commemorating the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth in 2025. Under the Deutsche Grammophon label, Cho brings Ravel's complete solo piano works and piano concertos to life, navigating the composer's harmonious repertoire while cementing his status as one of the most elegant and exceptional pianists of his generation.
The project unfolds across three major releases. On Jan. 17, "Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works" will be available in digital and two-CD formats. "The Piano Concertos," featuring Ravel's two piano concertos and recorded with Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will hit the shelves on Feb. 21. Finally, on April 11, a limited deluxe edition compiling both albums will be released.
Ahead of the official album launches, Deutsche Grammophon will digitally prerelease three key works — "Le tombeau de Couperin," Friday, "Sonatine" on Dec. 13 and excerpts from "A la maniere de Chabrier" on Jan. 3.
In regard to the project, Cho expressed his admiration for the French composer. “The variety of ideas, colors and emotions in Ravel's music has always fascinated me. Recording his complete solo piano works and concertos has been a privilege," Cho said in a statement.
Pianist Cho Seong-jin will release a series of albums commemorating the 150th anniversary of French composer Maurice Ravel's birth in 2025. Courtesy of Ben Wolf and Universal Music
This is Cho's first time recording an entire body of work by a single composer, reflecting his dedication to Ravel.
"(Recording Ravel's complete works) has given me a much deeper understanding of his music than ever before. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the many facets of his music," the pianist said.
Cho's affinity for Ravel traces back to his studies at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where he delved into the composer's orchestral qualities.
Cho describes Ravel as a composer who "knows exactly what he wants."
"I strive to follow the detailed instructions he left behind," Cho said. "For instance, 'Miroirs' is a technical piece that demands immense finesse. It's delicate yet dramatic and, at the same time, full of imagination and color. It is nearly impossible to capture every nuance he intended, but I give it my best."
Cho's interpretations of Ravel have earned praise globally. Earlier this year, Cho was hailed for his Madrid recital as “arguably the greatest interpreter of Ravel of our time” by Scherzo magazine, while The Scotsman lauded his Edinburgh Festival performance for its “impossibly perfect precision ... a contrasting and extensive range of color, coupled with a sense of flow that allowed the music to breathe with ease and warmth."
Cho's homage to Ravel extends beyond the recording studio with a world tour launching on Jan. 25 at Vienna's Konzerthaus. The tour continues to the U.S. at Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall in February and March, while European venues include London's Barbican Centre and Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie in April and May, with additional concerts in Asia and the U.S. through summer 2025. Cho also continues his residency at the Berlin Philharmonic.