Les Siècles

When Les Siècles place the score for Daphnis et Chloé on their music stands, Ravel fans know they are in for a treat. We recall the recording they made ten years ago on period instruments which made a profound impression and earned them a number of awards. This work, commissioned from Ravel by Sergei Diaghilev for the Ballets russes company, which is the composer’s longest and is considered to be among his finest orchestral works, remains enduringly popular. By way of contrast, however, the concert will open with Saint-Saëns’ famous Danse macabre, one of his four symphonic poems. And who better than Sol Gabetta to perform the Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No.1? She is particularly comfortable with this repertoire as she began her recording career with this concerto, and re-recorded it recently – with Les Siècles, no less.
In her thirties, Ustina Dubitsky has shown determination and already has significant experience over the past few years. A member of the children's choir at the Munich Opera, she initially pursued violin studies before moving on to orchestral conducting. Winner of the La Maestra competition and having benefited from the teachings of Peter Eötvös, David Zinman, and Paavo Järvi during master classes, she has gained extensive conducting experience in Germany. In 2022, she joined Les Siècles as François-Xavier Roth’s assistant for the production of Lohengrin in Munich, followed by The Magic Flute here. Now, she takes the lead for this concert... but not entirely, as Sol Gabetta will both conduct and perform the cello concerto. A first for both, in full harmony.

Coproduction Théâtre des Champs-Elysées | Les Siècles