FRENCH NIGHT (23 July, 18:30) features works by Ravel, Chausson, Joseph Bologne and Charlotte Sohy (UK premiere)
Orchestra also announces new collaboration with French label, Naïve
Orchestre National de France makes its first appearance at the BBC Proms in fifteen years (23 July), under Music Director Cristian Măcelaru, with a glorious French-focussed programme showcasing works by Ravel, Chausson and Joseph Bologne, as well as the UK premiere of an orchestral work by Charlotte Sohy (1887-1955).
Orchestre National de France (ONF) places Ravel’s Rapsodie Espagnole and La Valse at the centre of its 2025 BBC Proms programme, continuing its championing of the composer in his 150th anniversary year. Chausson’s Poème, the Violin Concerto in G major by Joseph Bologne (with Randall Goosby as soloist) and Danse mystique by Charlotte Sohy complete the programme. Despite the composer being born almost 150 years ago, Sohy’s orchestral work receives its first UK performance, in a continuation of ONF’s mission to shine a light on ‘forgotten’ female French composers.
Album release – Ravel Paris 2025
The theme of Ravel continues as Orchestre National de France and Cristian Măcelaru, whose contract as Music Director was extended until 2027, simultaneously unveil a new collaboration with French label Naïve. The first release, Ravel Paris 2025, is a live 3CD boxset of Ravel’s symphonic works recorded across a series of five concerts this year at Paris’ Maison de la Radio et de la Musique and at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.
Ravel Paris 2025 highlights the synergy between Ravel’s music and Orchestre National de France as a purveyor of French musical excellence, not least in its status as the first permanent French orchestra, founded in 1934. From Daphnis et Chloé (with the Choir of Radio France) and Tombeau de Couperin, to La Valse and Boléro, Cristian Măcelaru and ONF illuminate the timeless universe of Ravel the magician.
Ahead of the album release and on the day of the BBC Prom (23 July), a special pre-release track of Ravel’s La Valse will be made available across all streaming platforms.
Music Director, Cristian Măcelaru, comments:
“The musicians of ONF and I are thrilled to bring an all-French programme to this year’s BBC Proms, from the beauty of Chausson and the little-known Sohy, to the genius of Maurice Ravel, to whom these musicians have devoted countless hours to understanding, perfecting and, ultimately, interpreting Ravel’s music in a truly unique way – staying true to the composer’s intent and perpetuating traditions, while reimagining the beauty of every phrase or musical gesture by exploring the possibilities inspired by Ravel’s own creativity.”
Orchestre National de France will continue to showcase Ravel throughout 2025 with, in addition to the BBC Proms, appearances at Festival Ravel (4 September); in its season opening at Paris’ Maison de la Radio et de la Musique (11 September); on tour across Central Europe in September; and on tour in North America – including Carnegie Hall on 9 November with a programme featuring Daphnis et Chloé, the Piano Concerto in G major with Daniil Trifonov at soloist, and the second symphony by lesser-known French composer Elsa Barraine (1910-1999).