The intriguing life and art of French composer Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), who blended his Swiss-Basque heritage as well as early 20th century jazz into a unique compositional voice. He clashed with teachers at the Paris Conservatory yet maintained his instincts in the modernity of visual art, dance, and literature—all affected by World War I. Works featured in this program include his String Quartet in F Major, Rapsodie Espangole-Malagueña for two pianos, and of course the one-movement orchestral composition, Boléro.
Ravel, Maurice
Playlist
Episode 1
Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F Major (excerpt)
Tokyo Quartet
RCA 62552-2; 1:31
Maurice Ravel: Habañera from “Sites Auriculaires”
Robert Casadesus, piano
RCA 63316; 2:33
Maurice Ravel: Vocalise
Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano; Myung Whun Chung, piano
London 452667-2; 3:29
Maurice Ravel: Jeux d’eau
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
London 433515-2; 5:33
Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F Major – I, II, III
Tokyo Quartet
RCA 62552-2; 8:28, 5:58, 8:15
Maurice Ravel: “Alborada del Gracioso” from Miroirs (excerpt)
Thibaudet, piano
London 448618-2; 2:27
Maurice Ravel: “Alborada del Gracioso” from Miroirs
Royal Philharmonic/Previn
EMI 65144-2; 7:37
Episode 2
Maurice Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess
New Philharmonia Orchestra/Maazel
RCA 65222; 6:20
Emmanuel Chabrier: España (excerpt)
Ulster Orchestra/Tortelier
Chan 8852; 2:18
Maurice Ravel: Rapsodie Espangole – Malagueña
Michel Béroff, piano; Jean-Philippe Collard, piano
EMI 55347-2; 2:03
Maurice Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnole (excerpts)
Royal Phil. Orchestra/Previn
EMI 63887-2; 11:30
Maurice Ravel: Ondine from Gaspard de la Nuit
Argerich, piano
EMI 57101-2; 5:10
Maurice Ravel: Scarbo from Gaspard de la Nuit (excerpt)
Thibaudet, piano
London 433515; 2:30
Maurice Ravel: Mother Goose (excerpts)
BSO/Munch
RCA 68978-2; 14:01, 1:20
Episode 3
Richard Wagner: Tristan, Prelude to Act I (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Solti
London 411951-2; 1:30
Maurice Ravel: Sonatine
Alicia De Larrocha
RCA 60985-2; 11:20
Maurice Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe (excerpts)
Royal Concertgebouw/Chailly
London 443934-2; 19:40
Maurice Ravel: Tombeau de Couperin (excerpt)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Previn
EMI 47468-2; 3:20
Maurice Ravel: Piano Trio (excerpt)
Perlman, violin; Harrell, violoncello; Ashkenazy, piano
London 444318-2; 13:25
Episode 4
Maurice Ravel: Tombeau de Couperin
(excerpts)
Royal Philharmonic/Previn
EMI 47468-2; 18:25
Maurice Ravel: La Valse
Vienna Philharmonic/Maazel
RCA 68600-2; 13:10
Maurice Ravel: Bolero
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Barenboim
Erato 45766-2; 15:45
Episode 5
Maurice Ravel: Tzigane
Vienna Philharmonic/Levine; Mutter, violin
DG 437544-2; 9:53
Duke Ellington: “Black and Tan Fantasy” (excerpt)
RCA 63729; 1:50
Maurice Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major (excerpt)
London Phil/Andrew Davis; Tzimon Barto, piano
EMI 49495-2; 8:15, 3:58
Maurice Ravel: Violin Sonata (excerpt)
Oistrahk, violin; Frida Bauer, piano
Philips 420777-2; 5:10
Maurice Ravel: Suite II from Daphnis and Chloe
Royal Concertgebouw/Chailly
London 443934-2; 16:31
Maurice Ravel: Violin Sonata (excerpt)
Oistrahk, violin; Frida Bauer, piano
Philips 420777-2; 2:54