Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works and Concertos
5/2/2025, 40 Tracks, 2:58:06
Featuring
Seong-Jin Cho
Andris Nelsons
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Maurice Ravel
Did you know?
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Compositional Technique
In his Concerto for the Left Hand, Ravel's ingenious use of texture and register makes it sound as if two hands are playing, despite being written for only five fingers.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ravel intended his G major Piano Concerto to be light and brilliant, citing Mozart and Saint-Saëns as his role models, and considered titling it 'Divertissement'.
Notable Performances
Ravel's G major Piano Concerto was premiered in Paris in 1932 by his friend, pianist Marguerite Long, with Ravel himself conducting the orchestra.
Performer Biography
Seong-Jin Cho's 2015 victory at the Warsaw Chopin Competition brought him international attention and critical acclaim at age 21.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Maurice Ravel believed that concerto music should be lighthearted and brilliant, not aiming for profundity or dramatic effects.
Composition History
Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand was commissioned by Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm in World War I.
Composer Biography
Maurice Ravel made three unsuccessful attempts to win the prestigious Prix de Rome for composition, leading to a well-known scandal.
