Pianist Seong-Jin Cho (30) will release a new album through Deutsche Grammophon to commemorate the 150th anniversary of composer Maurice Ravel’s birth (1875–1937), Universal Music announced on the 22nd. This album includes Cho’s recordings of all of Ravel’s solo piano works and two piano concertos, and it will be released in two parts. The first album, “Ravel: Complete Solo Piano Works,” will be released digitally and on two CDs on January 17th next year. The second album, featuring two piano concertos, will be released on February 21st. A deluxe edition containing the complete tracks will be available on April 11th.
Prior to this, some of the tracks will be pre-released on online streaming services and for download. Starting with “Le Tombeau de Couperin” on the 22nd, “Sonatine” will be released on December 13th, and parts of “À la manière de Chabrier” on January 3rd. The recordings for the piano concerto album, scheduled for release in February, involved conductor Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Seong-Jin Cho has been fascinated by Ravel since his time at the Paris Conservatory. He has previously received acclaim for live performances of Ravel’s works with Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Cho commented, “This is my first time performing or recording the complete works of one composer. I have come to understand Ravel much more deeply than before. The process of immersing myself in the various aspects of his music was very enjoyable.”
Along with the album release, Cho will hold a series of concerts to commemorate Ravel’s 150th anniversary. Starting with a recital at the Vienna Konzerthaus on January 25th, he will embark on a U.S. tour in February and March, including performances at Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall. In April and May, Cho will hold recitals in major European and German concert halls, including the Barbican Centre in London and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. He will also continue his role as a resident artist at the Berlin Philharmonie with performances there. Further concert schedules in Asia and the United States are planned for the summer.