The works presented in this concert are among Ravel's most celebrated
orchestral pieces. The "Alborada del Gracioso" or "Jester's Morning Song"
was originally part of the piano collection "Miroirs". Ravel himself
arranged the scintillating piece for orchestra in 1918. Written in 1903,
the orchestral song cycle "Shéhérazade" is based on texts by the painter
Tristan Klingsor. Of his Piano Concerto in G major, Ravel said that it was
"written in the spirit of Mozart and Saint-Saens." But while the influence
of Mozart is clearly felt in the Adagio, it is American jazz that permeates
the dazzling Presto finale. The concert rhapsody "Tzigane" was apparently
inspired by the playing of violinist Jelly d'Arányi.
Premiered on 12 December 1920, Ravel's "La Valse" was originally called
"Wien" (Vienna) - a title not considered appropriate in France so soon
after World War I. Though conceived as a ballet, it was not performed as
such until 1928, when Ida Rubinstein staged it at the Paris Opéra. Perhaps
Ravel's most well-known work is "Bolero", which was a sensational success
at its premiere at the Paris Opéra on 22 November 1928 and has remained
unquenchably popular ever since.
The year 1975 marked the centennial of Maurice Ravel's birth
(7 March 1875), an event celebrated with particular brilliance in France.
One of the special concerts given to commemorate the great French composer
was held at Paris's Théâtre des Champs Elysées on 19 September 1975 and
featured the Orchestre National de France led by Leonard Bernstein. The all
Ravel concert also featured the soloists Marilyn Horne in the song cycle
"Shéhérazade" and the violinist Boris Belkin in "Tzigane". Bernstein
himself played the solo part in the G major Piano Concerto. The concert was
such a dazzling success that the critic of Le Figaro was stirred to
proclaim about Bernstein: "He IS Ravel".
