Sitkovetsky Trio release animated film about composer Ravel in Paris

Artist Pavel Hudec illustrates some of the influences that are heard in Ravel's beguiling music written in 1914

Author: Jon JacobPublished 29th Jun 2021

The Sitkovetsky Trio has released an animated film depicting the composer Maurice Ravel in and around Paris, ahead of the trio's new album release later this week.

The animation by artist Pavel Hudec illustrates some of the influences that are heard in Ravel's beguiling music written in 1914.

"The film shows some of the events surrounding the creation of the Ravel Piano Trio in A minor," explained violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, " and the different influences that Ravel was inspired by, his Basque roots and the rush to finish the piece as World War 1 drew nearer.

"Animator Pavel Hudec placed Ravel into an absolutely gorgeous Paris: the light, almost impressionist design of the city contrasts so well with the rich and deep colours of his home Basque region of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Various characters appear throughout the film, including of course the cheeky addition of our Trio at Theater Chatelet.

"We are so excited to share it with everyone."

The Sitkovetsky Trio’s new recording pairs Ravel’s trio with Saint-Saëns’ Piano Trio No.2 in E minor Op. 92 and marks the Trio’s fourth release on BIS Records.

What is a Pantoum?

The pantoum is a poem of any length with repeating lines appearing throughout the poem. It consists of groups of four lines, the second and fourth lines of which serve as the first and third lines of the next group. The last line of a pantoum is often the same as the first.

Pantoums were favoured by French and British writers in the nineteenth century including Victor Hugo and Charles Baudelaire.