12 Ravel Superfans

Of course we’re all Ravel mad here at Radio 3. But you might be interested to hear that there’s quite a few Ravel-nuts out there. Here, from our Desert Island Discs and Private Passions archive, are a few of those who love him too.

1. Stewart Copeland

American musician Stewart Copeland, of ‘The Police’ fame, selected Ravel’s Tombeau de Couperin when he appeared on Private Passions. Here he talks to Michael Berkeley about why he thinks Ravel is so clever.

2. Brian Blessed

Actor. Explorer. Raconteur. Brian Blessed loves Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe. In this clip we hear why he feels such an affinity for this music.

You can hear his emotional reaction to the music here: https://soundcloud.com/bbcradio3/brian-blessed-on-ravel-2-of-2

3. Hugh Hudson

Director Hugh Hudson used Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe in his film Greystoke, and here he talks about his use of film music, with interviewer Michael Berkeley.

4. Jason Rebello

On Radio 3’s Private Passions, Jason talked to Michael Berkeley about his connection to Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit.

5. DJ MJ Cole

Producer, remixer and garage artist DJ MJ Cole waxes lyrical on Ravel’s String Quartet with Michael Berkeley on Private Passions.

6. Tasmin Little

The violinist chose some Ravel as one of her castaway discs, particularly Daphnis and Chloe.

7. Richard Fortey

Paleaontologist and presenter Dr Richard Fortey says his appreciation of music is more visceral than intellectual – he selected Daphnis and Chloe, because he loves way Ravel paints a picture of the dawn.

8. Simon Rattle

Ravel’s opera L’Enfant et les sortileges brings back memories for Simon Rattle of a time at the beginning of his career.

9. Trevor Peacock

The delightful Trevor Peacock, best known for his role of Jim Trott on The Vicar of Dibley, has a connection to Ravel’s Tombeau de Couperin. In fact, he spoke to Michael Berkeley about how the work was a bit of a Peacock-family-favourite.

10. Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu explains why he just loves Bolero.

11. Peter Maxwell Davies

Master of the Queen’s Music Peter Maxwell Davies thinks Ravel is marvellous – especially his opera L’Enfant et les sortileges.

12. Steven Sondheim

Sondheim is definitely a Ravel nut – he’s been on Desert Island Discs twice, and both times chose something by Ravel. He particularly loves his piano concertos, and here tells us about his connection to Ravel’s music.