Jena Philharmonic opens the chamber concert season with Ravel and Marteau

French Sound Art on Sunday Morning in Jena

The Jena Philharmonic opens its chamber concert season with an exciting dialogue between Henri Marteau and Maurice Ravel. On Sunday, October 18, 2026, two works from the Paris Conservatoire around 1900 will meet in the town hall hall of the Historical Town Hall.

Between Song and String Quartet

Henri Marteau's Eight Songs for Voice and String Quartet Op. 10 combines the expressive world of art song with the sonic independence of a string quartet. The strings not only accompany the mezzo-soprano but also comment, condense, and expand the musical statement. Thus, a finely tuned interplay of voice, resonance, and chamber music precision arises.

Ravel's French Modernism

Maurice Ravel's String Quartet in F Major Op. 35 was composed in 1902 and 1903 and is dedicated to Gabriel Fauré, with whom Ravel studied at the Paris Conservatoire. The work combines clear form with rhythmic agility and colorful orchestration in a small format. Especially the second movement with its distinctive pizzicati showcases Ravel's sensitivity to sound nuance and precise synchronization.

Two Composers, Two Paths

Marteau and Ravel belonged to the same musical educational world but developed different aesthetic positions. While Marteau remained closely linked to the late Romantic tradition and the German-French musical life, Ravel early on asserted an independent musical language beyond the expectations of the Conservatoire. This contrast makes the program an intriguing encounter between song art, string quartet, and French modernism.

Intimate Live Atmosphere in the Town Hall Hall

The chamber music setting creates immediate closeness: every breath of the singing voice, every bow stroke, and every pizzicato become part of a transparent concert experience. Susanne Veeh shapes the vocal part together with Alexander Lesch, Maria Holzer-Graf, Sebastian Hensel, and Carmen Dreßler. The mood of the audience thrives on the concentrated acoustics and direct stage performance.

The audience can expect a character-rich chamber concert with French repertoire, historical tension, and sonic detail work. Those who want to experience Marteau's rarely heard songs and Ravel's defining string quartet in an intimate concert atmosphere should not miss this season opener live in Jena.

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Sources:

• JenaKultur - Chamber Concert No. 1 of the Jena Philharmonic
• Jena Philharmonic - Chamber Concert No. 1
• Jena Philharmonic - Chamber Concerts
• Jena Philharmonic - Ticket Prices 2026.2027