Composer of the Month 12/2012: Maurice Ravel (selected by Peter van Dessel / Belgium)

Monaco 12.11.1975 The video shows the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sergiu Celibidache with Ravel's "Bolero" during a concert tour of the orchestra to Japan (1993). The French composer Joseph Maurice Ravel was born on 7 March 1875 in Ciboure. He grew up in Paris, received a solid musical education at an early age and studied 1891 - 1895 at the Paris Conservatory. His career as a composer already began before graduation. For his work he received the inspiration primarily from the French Baroque and the Spanish and Basque folk music. His major works include "Pavane pour une infante défunte" (1899), "Sonatina" (1905), "Histoires naturelles" (1907), "Valses noble et sentimental" (1911), "Le Tombeau de Couperin" (1917), "Le Valse "(1919), the opera "L'Enfante et les sortilèges" (1920/1925) and especially the world famous Piano Concerto "Bolero"(1928). Ravel is next to Claude Debussy the leading exponent of musical impressionism and his music caused much controversy in the French and European cultural scene. Maurice Ravel died on 28 December 1937 in Paris. In December 2012, we commemorate his 75th Death anniversary. More composer can be found in the members only section