Maurice Ravel's final illness, which led to his death in 1937, is attributed to a taxi accident in 1932.
Composer Biography
Ravel inherited a delight in precision and mechanical toys from his Swiss engineer father, and familiarity with Spanish culture from his Basque mother.
Compositional Technique
Ravel claimed to have used the slow movement of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet as a model for the Adagio of his G major Piano Concerto.
Composition History
Ravel's repeated failure to win the prestigious Prix de Rome, even as an established composer, caused a scandal that led to changes in the institution.
Composition History
The Piano Concerto for the Left Hand was commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein, brother of the philosopher, who had lost his right arm in World War I.
Recording & Production
The Orchestre National de Lyon (ONL) was the first European symphony orchestra to perform in China, achieving this milestone in 1979.
Composition History
Ravel's Tzigane, a virtuoso violin piece, was written in 1924 for Hungarian violinist Jelly d'Arányi, whose improvised additions Ravel incorporated into the final work.
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