March 7, 2011

Maurice Ravel. One of the greatest composers of the 20th century, Maurice Ravel was born on this day in 1875. He was expelled from the Paris Conservatory not once but twice; fortunately that didn't discourage him (his teacher, Gabriel Fauré, was a very supportive help). He composed for the piano – Gaspard de la nuit, Le Tombeau de Couperin, Miroirs, Ma Mère l'Oye, Pavane pour une infante défunte are among the most popular pieces, and also orchestrated many of them. He wrote two Piano concertos (one of the them, for the left hand, was composed for his friend Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right hand during the first World War). His chamber music (violin sonatas, the string quartet) is played the world over. He also wrote wonderful songs. And of course, he's famous for being one of the most interesting orchestral composers of that century.

We'll hear three large compositions: the Second suite from the ballet Daphnis and Chloé, performed by the Peabody Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Hajime Teri Murai; the rhapsody Tzigane, played by Andrew Kohji Taylor (Judith Gordon on the piano); and Le Tombeau de Couperin played by the pianist Alon Goldstein. To listen, click here.

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