acclaim and led to a long-standing collaboration with Deutsche Grammophon, the label which released his Ravel: The Piano
Concertos album in February 2025, followed by a deluxe edition of his complete Ravel recordings that will be issued in May. These recordings have further cemented Cho’ s reputation as an interpreter of rare depth and artistic talent.
For Cho, this project is deeply personal. Cho studied in Paris from the age of 18 to 22 at The Paris Conservatory, where he was immersed in French music, particularly Ravel.“ His music has been close to me for a long time,” says Cho.“ I first encountered Alborada del gracioso from
Miroirs when I was just 11.” Bringing this program to Tanglewood is especially meaningful for Cho because Tanglewood is one of his favorite places in America.“ I always feel relaxed there,” adds Cho.“ I’ m looking forward to returning.”
As he prepares to present Ravel’ s complete solo works alongside the composer’ s piano concertos, Cho reflects on the differences in his approach to each.“ Both works are magnificent, but performing the concertos with the BSO will be a particularly special experience— especially with Andris Nelsons.” Cho adds that there is something incredibly natural about the way that the BSO plays French music.“ It feels as though it’ s in their blood,” notes Cho.“ That makes me feel completely at ease when performing with them.”
Tanglewood’ s dedication to celebrating Ravel’ s legacy makes the festival a fitting venue for Cho’ s ambitious undertaking.“ I’ m incredibly honored to be performing this program at Tanglewood for Ravel’ s 150th anniversary,” says Cho.“ This will be the first time I play the complete solo works and both concertos in the same place, within the same festival. That makes this an especially meaningful project for me, and I’ m grateful to Tanglewood for making it possible.”
Beyond the concert hall, Cho finds ample inspiration in the Berkshires, a region that has long served as a retreat for artists and musicians.“ I’ ve attended so many concerts at Tanglewood— John Williams, Renée Fleming, and other incredible performances,” he shares.“ The natural attractions are beautiful, and I love spending time in Lenox. It’ s such a peaceful place.” While Ravel is often compared to Debussy as a noted Impressionist, Cho sees a key distinction between their styles.“ Debussy’ s compositions are more romantic and imaginative, while Ravel was a perfectionist— he knew exactly what he wanted to express,” says Cho.“ His music is sharp, intelligent, highly orchestral, and incredibly well-structured. Even though it has impressionistic elements, it is also quite classical in form.”
Learning and performing Ravel’ s entire solo piano repertoire has been an illuminating experience for Cho.“ Ravel didn’ t write an extensive volume of music— the complete solo works total about two and a half hours— but studying them in their entirety has helped me gain a deeper understanding of his compositional voice.” Through his performances, Cho hopes to provide audiences with a deeper appreciation for Ravel’ s musical evolution.“ I hope listeners will be able to witness the greatness of Ravel’ s world through my performances,” says Cho.“ You can clearly hear how his compositional style developed over time— his early works sound vastly different from his later ones. That progression is something I also hope that the audiences will experience.”
Cho sees classical music as a living, evolving art form.“ Thanks to so many great interpreters— both conductors and soloists— we constantly recreate the music and bring it to life,” says Cho.“ Today, classical music is quite fashionable, especially in Korea. Many young people attend sold-out concerts, and collecting classical LPs has become very popular again.”
As he brings Ravel’ s music to life at Tanglewood, Cho’ s focus remains on capturing the depth and complexity of the composer’ s sound world.“ Ravel’ s music is extraordinarily difficult, both technically and expressively. Gaspard de la nuit and Miroirs are among the most challenging works for any pianist,” says Cho. When Cho performs, he tries to forget about the technical difficulties. Instead, he focuses entirely on the mystical musical landscape.“ I try to evoke the colors of different instruments— the violin, clarinet, horn, or trumpet— all from the piano,” he says.
While Cho finds fulfillment in the challenge of Ravel’ s virtuosic pieces, even the quieter works demand an equal level of mastery.“ Some of the more delicate pieces are also incredibly difficult— Le Tombeau de Couperin, for instance,” says Cho.“ The final Toccata is technically demanding, but even the Fugue, the second movement, is one of the most intricate and delicate works I have ever played. It requires absolute concentration.”
Looking beyond his Ravel project, Cho hints at future artistic endeavors.“ Since Ravel’ s piano works are relatively limited, I was able to record them all,” he says.“ But Beethoven— one of my favorite composers— wrote an enormous body of music. I’ ve already performed all of his piano concertos, but perhaps, one day, I’ ll record the complete cycle. That is one of my goals.”
For now, however, all eyes are on Cho’ s upcoming Tanglewood performances, which promise to illuminate Ravel’ s music with the expressive sensitivity and technical mastery that have made him one of the most celebrated pianists of his generation. n
Performances with Seong-Jin Cho:
Saturday, July 12, 8 p. m., Debussy La Mer and Ravel Piano Concertos with Seong- Jin Cho, Koussevitzky Music Shed, BSO, Andris Nelsons, conductor, Seong-Jin Cho, piano.
Wednesday, July 16, 8 p. m., Tanglewood Recital Series: Seong-Jin Cho, complete solo piano music of Maurice Ravel, Seiji Ozawa Hall.
More Ravel:
Monday, July 14, 8 p. m., TMC Orchestra Performs Ravel & Stravinsky, Seiji Ozawa Hall, Tanglewood Music Center( TMC) Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor( Stravinsky), TMC Conducting Fellows.
Saturday, August 2, 2 p. m., TLI Presents: Letters to a Young Poet, Studio E, Linde Center for Music and Learning, Concert Theatre Works and Parker String Quartet. Rainer Maria Rilke’ s nine letters to aspiring poet Franz Kappus. Maurice Ravel’ s single, masterful string quartet combines with Rilke’ s letters in a unique union of
Holiday July 2023 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // // 23