The LSC returns to the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, 18th August (performance at 7.30 pm) with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Principal Conductor Simon Rattle in Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortileges”, which concert performance will be sung in French with surtitles. The cast includes Magdalena Kozena (L’Enfant), Patricia Bardon (Mother/Shepherd/Dragonfly), Jane Archibald (Fire/Nightingale/Princess), Anna Stephany (Chair/White Cat/Chinese Cup/Squirrel), Elizabeth Watts (Shepherdess/Bat/Owl), Sunnyboy Dladla (Teapot/Little Old Man/Tree-Frog), Gavan Ring (Grandfather Clock/Black Cat), David Shipley (Tree/Armchair).

In “L’Enfant et les Sortileges”, it has been suggested that Ravel may have portrayed himself in the lead role of the stubborn child who has no desire to do his homework and just sticks out his tongue at his mother. Ravel was very at ease in the company of children and enjoyed playing with them. In this short opera he is to be found at home.

Ravel’s fairy-tale ballet “Mother Goose” and sensuous song-cycle “Sheherazade” complete the programme for the Prom on 18th August. The same forces will be travelling to the Lucerne Festival for the LSC’s debut performance there in the same programme on 10th September.