Sir Antonio Pappano and Bertrand Chamayou Illuminate Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G with the London Symphony Orchestra

When a conductor of Sir Antonio Pappano’s stature takes the podium, anticipation runs high. Pair him with the virtuosic French pianist Bertrand Chamayou and the ever-magnetic London Symphony Orchestra, and you have a program that promises—and delivers—something extraordinary. In this beautifully curated concert, available now on Marquee TV, the ensemble moves seamlessly from golden-age Hollywood to Parisian jazz to English pastoral grandeur, anchored by the centerpiece: Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G.

The evening begins with a nod to Old Hollywood glamour in David Raksin’s Suite from The Bad and the Beautiful. Known primarily for his lush film scores, Raksin channels the allure and emotional complexity of 1950s cinema in this suite, full of sweeping strings and sultry harmonies. It sets the stage with an atmospheric elegance, offering a subtle wink to the concert’s later explorations of tonal beauty and layered orchestration.

Then comes the main attraction. Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G bursts forth like a magician’s trick—surprising, stylish, and irresistibly clever. A literal whipcrack kicks things off, launching the orchestra and soloist into a kaleidoscope of color and rhythm. Drawing from Basque folk dances, Spanish flair, and the syncopated grooves of American jazz, Ravel constructed a work that is as playful as it is profound.

Bertrand Chamayou, long acclaimed for his interpretations of French repertoire, brings a fresh boldness to the piano part. His crisp articulation and rhythmic precision in the outer movements contrast beautifully with the dreamlike stillness of the second movement—a slow, meditative passage so delicate that Ravel reportedly agonized over every note: “That flowing phrase! How I worked over it bar by bar! It nearly killed me!” Chamayou captures its fragility with an almost vocal lyricism, giving weight to every pause and suspension.

Under Pappano’s baton, the London Symphony Orchestra mirrors this dynamic range. Woodwinds flutter and punch, brass shimmer and smolder, and the strings sing with clarity and warmth. Together, the ensemble navigates the concerto’s shifting moods like seasoned actors in a tightly choreographed play.

The final piece on the program carries a poignant resonance: Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 5. Composed during the Second World War and premiered in 1943, the symphony reflects a complex emotional landscape—one of sorrow, hope, and spiritual yearning. Unlike his more turbulent Fourth and Sixth symphonies (also available on Marquee TV), the Fifth is marked by a transcendent serenity.

Vaughan Williams, a former student of Ravel, learned from the French composer not just orchestration but the value of restraint. In the Fifth Symphony, he uses these lessons to masterful effect, crafting melodies that feel both ancient and immediate. The first movement unfolds like a pastoral hymn, and the Romanza—the emotional heart of the symphony—offers a glimpse of luminous peace amidst turmoil.

Pappano’s interpretation leans into the music’s nobility and grace. He allows space for phrases to breathe, coaxing glowing textures from the LSO. The result is an expansive, emotionally rich performance that feels both grounded in history and startlingly relevant today.

Across the program, Sir Antonio Pappano proves himself not only a master interpreter but also a visionary programmer. The connections between Ravel and Vaughan Williams, the cinematic and the symphonic, emerge naturally under his direction. His rapport with Chamayou is evident—each gesture met with intuitive response, each tempo a shared conversation.

The London Symphony Orchestra, meanwhile, remains a marvel of versatility and precision. Whether channeling Raksin’s moody silver-screen sensibility, Ravel’s sparkling cosmopolitanism, or Vaughan Williams’ spiritual introspection, the ensemble delivers with power and finesse.

This concert is more than a showcase of individual brilliance; it’s a tapestry of 20th-century music woven together by artistic synergy. From the crack of Ravel’s whip to the quiet majesty of Vaughan Williams’ final chord, it’s a journey worth taking—and retaking.

Experience the full performance on Marquee TV and discover why Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G remains one of the most dazzling, inventive, and emotionally resonant works in the modern classical canon.