Maurice Ravel
Composer Maurice Ravel was born on March 7, 1875, in France. Ravel was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at age 14, and later studied with Gabriel Fauré.
Some of his most famous compositions are his ballet “Daphnis et Chloé”, and other pieces include the orchestral works “La Vals”e and “Boléro”. Ravel remains the most widely popular of all French composers. He died in Paris in 1937.
On this CD we hear:
Orchestral Works –
- La Valse;
- Ma Mere L’Oye;
- Tzigane;
- Bolero; and
- Pavane
I love the orchestral works of Maurice Ravel because they are a miracle of color and excitement. As an example, “La Valse” emerges very silently, as if through the clouds, and before long the listener is transported to a grand hall to listen, and to picture the dancing couples.
In “Tsigane”, the violinist is communicating a lone Gypsy and his fiddle. And in “Bolero” we have more color, excitement, and orchestral color.
All of this music is performed by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlo Rizzi conducting
Here is Maxim Vengerov performing Ravel’s “Tzigane”
And next, I have for you Ravel’s “Pavane for a dead princess”, performed by Philippe Entremont:
Finally, here’s Ravel’s “Ma mère l’oye”, with Simon Rattle conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker:
Tags: Maurice Ravel, Tsigane, Pavane, Bolero, La Valse