Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand creates the illusion of being played with two hands, while its style and technique are perfectly adapted for a single left hand.
Composition History
The Concerto for the Left Hand was commissioned by Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right hand in the war.
Composition History
Ravel composed his two piano concertos, the Concerto in G and the Concerto for the Left Hand, at the height of his fame and conceived them at the same time.
Instruments
The ensemble Les Siècles uses period instruments, including French-built woodwind and brass instruments from the early 20th century and gut strings.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in December 2020 (concertos) and September 2021 (melodies and Pavane) at the Philharmonie de Paris in France.
Compositional Technique
The Concerto for the Left Hand includes a variant of the famous Dies irae theme, recalling Liszt's Totentanz, which is based on the same plainchant melody.
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