Sunday with Ravel

On 16 November 2025, Kraków’s Florianka Hall became a vibrant home to the shimmering colours and refined elegance of Maurice Ravel’s music. To mark the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth, the Piano Department of Kraków’s Music Academy presented an ambitious, day-long musical marathon featuring all of Ravel’s piano works alongside selected chamber pieces. The event, coordinated by Professor Andrzej Pikul, brought together students and guest performers from Poland, Italy, Turkey, Georgia, China and Indonesia, each offering a unique artistic perspective on Ravel’s intricate sound world.

Among the many memorable interpretations of the evening, the performances by Anna Dębowska stood out for their artistry, sensitivity, and deep understanding of Ravel’s musical language.

Ma mère l’Oye – with Professor Andrzej Pikul

Together with Professor Pikul, Anna presented a beautifully crafted performance of Ma mère l’Oye, capturing the magical, fairy-tale atmosphere that permeates this suite for piano four hands.

• In Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant, the duo shaped long, delicate lines with refined balance and an almost whispered lyricism.
• Petit Poucet unfolded with touching innocence and gentle rubato, conveying the childlike wanderings of Tom Thumb.
• The characterful brilliance of Laideronnette, impératrice des pagodes revealed perfect ensemble precision, while
• Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête showcased vivid musical storytelling and a seamless dialogue between the two pianists.
• The performance culminated in Le jardin féerique, rendered with glowing sonorities and a sense of radiant serenity.

The audience responded with warm enthusiasm, drawn into the duo’s exceptional ability to create atmosphere and colour—qualities essential to Ravel’s musical world.

Anna’s playing was marked by clarity, technical assurance, and stylistic finesse—qualities that made this performance one of the artistic centrepieces of the entire marathon.

A Celebration of Ravel’s Genius

The event continued late into the evening, featuring monumental works such as Miroirs, Le tombeau de Couperin, and Gaspard de la nuit, performed by an international roster of pianists. The hall resounded with Ravel’s harmonies until nearly 8:30 PM, when the marathon reached its final climaxes with Valses nobles et sentimentales and La valse.