Scenes from Daphnis and Chloe, St John's Smith Square

Daphnis et Chloé is Ravel’s largest work for orchestra, and is normally performed either in concert or as the score for a ballet of the same name created for the Ballets Russes by choreographer Mikhail Fokine.

Now, both score and ballet are undergoing a transformation. Composer David Knotts’ transcription is to be performed by the Minerva Piano Trio, and Patricia Okenwa has created new choreography.

The resulting work, Scenes from Daphnis and Chloe, has its world première in a full evening concert in the atmospheric setting of St John’s Smith Square.

In the pastoral work by the 2nd century Greek writer Longus, Daphnis and Chloe are destined for each other from birth and, accordingly, fall in love. However, they face trials and tribulations before they can finally be together.

It’s a rich seam for any choreographer to mine, particularly one with Okenwa’s talent. Formerly at the Rambert, she’s now a freelance working to develop her own highly expressive, individual style.

In Scenes from Daphnis and Chloe Okenwa is well served by two wonderful dancers: Thomasin Gülgeç (last seen in Les Enfants Terribles at the Barbican) and Estela Merlos, a constant presence in works by contemporary choreographers such as Shobana Jeyasingh.

The Minerva Piano Trio, an exciting group of young musicians, are currently Artists in Residence at St John’s Smith Square.

Scenes from Daphnis and Chloe is the centrepiece of a programme that also includes Mozart’s Piano Trio in B-Flat Major, K502, acclaimed modern British composer Cheryl Frances-Hoad’s My Fleeting Angel, and Ravel’s Piano Trio in A Minor, of 1914.