L'Enfant et les Sortilèges

Ravel's opera L'Enfant et les Sortilèges, composed to a libretto by Colette, is a fantastical tale for children. The action unfolds in a single act and tells the story of a naughty boy who is tormented by the objects and animals in his home after he mistreats them. Initially, the objects are personified as resentful and vengeful, but as the boy begins to show remorse and care for them, they forgive him. The SAATBB voicing is used to represent the diverse cast of characters, from the boy's mother to the household furniture and garden creatures. This excerpt captures the initial sentiment of the piece, with the boy being praised for his supposed goodness before his naughtiness is revealed.