Maurice Ravel; Samuel Barber; Dmitri Shostakovich - Constellations (Ensemble Ouranos)

Information

Composer: Maurice Ravel; Samuel Barber; Dmitri Shostakovich

• Ravel - Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68 (arr. Mason Jones)
• Ravel - Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19 (arr. Guy du Cheyron)
• Barber - Summer Music, Op. 31
• Shostakovich - String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 110 (arr. David Walter)
• Shostakovich - Elégie. Adagio (from Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Op. 29, Act I Scene 3) [arr. Nicolas Ramez]

Ensemble Ouranos

    Mathilde Calderini, flute

    Amaury Viduvier, clarinet

    Philibert Perrine, oboe

    Rafael Angster, bassoon

    Nicolas Ramez, horn

Date: 2026

Label: Alpha Classics

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Founded ten years ago, Ensemble Ouranos has established itself as one of the leading French wind quintets on the international scene. For its first recording with Alpha Classics, the ensemble presents a highly personal program bringing together works of particular artistic significance. Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin celebrates the French wind tradition, while Shostakovich’s Quartet, heard here in a new transcription by David Walter, reflects the ensemble’s deep affinity with the composer. Themes of homage unite these works, complemented by Barber’s Summer Music and refined arrangements of Ravel and Shostakovich, showcasing both expressive depth and stylistic versatility.

Founded in 2014 under the leadership of clarinetist Amaury Viduvier, Ensemble Ouranos brings together five award-winning soloists from the Paris Conservatory dedicated to the wind quintet repertoire. Rapidly gaining recognition for their virtuosity and refined ensemble playing, the group has collaborated with leading international chamber musicians and appeared at major festivals in France and abroad. Winners of multiple prizes at the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition in 2017, they have released several critically acclaimed recordings. Ensemble Ouranos is an associate artist of the Singer-Polignac Foundation and is also committed to promoting the wider repertoire for wind ensembles through expanded collaborations.