At home on the podium. Photo: Supplied
Ravel's ballet Daphnis & Chloe is many things: a late romantic masterpiece, a brilliant orchestral and choral score. But for conductor Jun Märkl, more than anything else, it represents a "wonderful connection with music, Nature and love".
Märkl is in New Zealand to conduct Ravel's complete ballet score with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs in a concert marking the 150th year since the composer's birth.
The story of Daphnis, a goat herder, and Chloe, a shepherdess, goes back over two thousand years to classical Greece.
Basically, they meet, fall in love, but have to overcome all sorts of obstacles (including pirates) to get it together.
But also right at home here... Photo: Ignacio Yufera / Biosphoto
The love story is a big part of Ravel's richly romantic music, but so too is his evocation of Nature, something conductor Märkl is right in sync with.
Märkl spoke with RNZ Concert ahead of his performance with the Auckland Philharmonia, where he told Three to Seven host Bryan Crump that his love of nature goes way beyond its depiction in music.
When not directing orchestras in concert halls, Märkl has another life, working as a ranger in national parks, especially in southern Africa.
He's spent time learning about animal behaviour, and the circle of life: "who eats whom".
"When I'm conducting, I'm always the centre of cities and usually big cities, and so just to refresh myself and my mind I just go places where there are very few, if any, people."
It's not that Märkl dislikes people. More that, in getting away from the big city hustle and noise, he finds he likes people - and music - more.
"I just go out and do something different which gives me then inspiration for making music again."
Born 150 years ago. Photo: Public Domain
Written for the remarkable Russian ballet company Ballets Russes, which the impresario Diaghilev brought to Paris in the early 20th century, Daphnis & Chloe is Ravel's longest and richest orchestral work.
Ravel asks not just for a very large orchestra, but a large chorus, which doesn't sing any words. Instead, the singers intone vowel sounds.
"Which means the chorus doesn't have to worry about learning French," jokes Märkl.
As for Ravel's score, there are so many highlights. But one which really sticks in Märkl's mind is Ravel's depiction of a dawn.
"I think in my opinion from all sunrises written in music, this is the most beautiful...It starts really from the very dark, and you hear the glittering like the first rays of light on the surface of water, so you can really hear it in the woodwinds and then it rises up and it is so grandiose, very tender and very noble".
If you can't make it to the Auckland Town Hall for the gig, you can hear it live on RNZ Concert from 7.30 tonight.
