Pierre-Laurent Aimard & Mathieu Amalric: Ravel

Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard and actor Mathieu Amalric join forces to celebrate the life and work of Ravel in an intimate portrait via words and music at the Southbank Centre.

The year 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ravel, creator of magical music full of jewel-like detail.

Aimard, one of his preeminent interpreters today, has described him as ‘the master of rigour, clarity and precision’.

In this hour-long performance, Aimard performs of some of Ravel’s most atmospheric and dazzling piano works, including the fantastical, poetry-inspired Gaspard de la nuit and the composer’s tribute to his friends killed in World War I, Le tombeau de Couperin.

The actor and director Mathieu Amalric (The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) matches the music with readings from Ravel’s letters and other writings, shedding fresh light on this enchanting and elusive figure.

Through the combination of music and words, Ravel’s mysterious personality is brought out of the shadows.