Ravel in Portland

After visits to Seattle and Vancouver, Ravel reached Portland, Oregon, on 15 February 1928, for his third recital in three days, at the Multnomah Hotel ballroom. He was joined by the soprano Lisa Roma, and by several local musicians for the final work in the programme, the Introduction et allegro. The audience was large and enthusiastic, “a strange mingling of students, admirers and countrymen, all bound by a common interest, fascinated by the unassuming yet dynamic personality at the keyboard”. (Portland News, 16 February 1928, p.14**). The programme began with a reading of Ravel’s lecture on contemporary French music, in which he stressed the importance of distinctive national characteristics in composition, as well as individualism.

The local press was appreciative, of both the occasion and the performances, and, in contrast to the response in some other cities, the range of Ravel’s compositions was strongly felt. 

“Last night’s program, considering that it was made up entirely of Ravel’s own compositions, was surprisingly varied. The several items of his tonal feast were scarcely ever seasoned with the same ingredients. Not only did the compositions give expression to a great range of moods, but it was evident that no one type of progression, no one method of phrasing, no single sort of nuance, could be segregated as the fundamental pattern underlying the whole Ravel repertoire… Ravel’s works demonstrated restraint, yet that deliberate restraint did not restrict it to any definite mood or tonal pattern. The compass of moods, tone-colors and harmonies represented by this program was nearly if not wholly complete.” (Portland Morning Oregonian, 16 February 1928, p.2**).

After this recital, Ravel set off on the long train journey to Denver, Colorado. (** as quoted in Dunfee [1980] pp.129-131.)