Ravel and Debussy

Considered to be masters of Impressionistic music, Ravel and Debussy might have much in common when it comes to their music, but their personalities differed greatly. Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major has been described as “a truly lovely piano concerto [that's] delicately nuanced . . . light and brilliant, with a finale that incorporates the fire of jazz à la Gershwin.” Debussy’s Images, however, has been called "unrestrained . . . rich with lush orchestration, sensuous melodies, and thrilling, exotic Spanish dance rhythms.” The Cleveland Orchestra plays both pieces tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Severance Hall. The concert also features a work by French composer Marc-André Dalbavie. An hour before the concert, guest speaker Eric Charnofsky, an instructor in the Department of Music at Case Western Reserve University, delivers the pre-concert talk “Images from France.” The concert repeats at 7 tomorrow night (minus the Dalbavie piece) and at 8 on Saturday night. Tickets start at $29. (Niesel)