Maurice Ravel: the Complete Works

Bertrand Chamayou, Alexandre Tharaud, Samson Francois, Anne Queffelec, Claire-Marie Le Guay, Beatrice Rana, Martha Argerich, Alexander Moglievsky, Jean-Philippe Collard, Jean-Pierre Armengaud, Michel Beroff, Giorgia Tomassi, Alessandro Stella, Dag Achatz, Frank Braley, Renaud Capucon, Gautier Capucon, Vadim Repin, Mady Mesple, Jose van Dam, Jean-Christophe Benoit, Jessye Norman, Janet Baker, Elly Ameling, Victoria de los Angeles, Dalton Baldwin, Rudolf Jansen, Marianne Crebassa, Felicity Lott, Gerard Souzay, Norah Amsellem, Mireille Delunsch, Beatrice Uria-Monzon, Veronique Gens, Ludovic Tezier, Elizabeth Laurence, Tibere Raffalli, Michel Senechal, Nathalie Stutzmann, Marguerite Long, Martial Singher, Robert Casadesus, Alfred Cortot, Arthur Rubinstein, Marcelle Meyer, Henriette Faure, Charles Panzera, Choeurs Rene Duclos, Quatuor Ebene, Orchestre de Paris, Philharmonia Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Orchestre de l'Opera National de Lyon, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Orchestre National de l'ORTF, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique, Orchestre de l'Association des Concerts Lamoureux, Orchestre des Concerts Straram, Alexandre Rabinovitch, Jean Martinon, Carlo Maria Giulini, Riccardo Muti, Andre Cluytens, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Simon Rattle, Kent Nagano, Charles Munch, Alexander Vedernikov, Emmanuel Krivine, Michel Plasson, Lorin Maazel, John Barbirolli, Georges Pretre, Armin Jordan, Piero Coppola, Walther Straram

Maurice Ravel’s music reflects the cultural and creative ferment of his times, as the heady sensuality of the Belle Époque made way for neo-classicism, the Jazz Age and modernism. Strikingly diverse in mood and scale, his works assert his distinctive identity, expressed through craftsmanship of the utmost finesse and beauty: deeply sensitive and balancing sincerity, irony and a touch of provocation. An essential collection of landmark performances, this 21-CD box of Ravel’s complete works brings together major interpreters of the present day and preceding generations. There are even contributions from the composer himself, as conductor, pianist (on piano rolls) and artistic supervisor.

An enigmatic man whose reputation is no mystery, Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): One of the greatest French composers and a leading composer of the 20th century

The distinctiveness and scope of Ravel’s musical personality is exemplified by two of his most popular works: the exquisite Pavane pour une infante défunte (composed for piano in 1899 and subsequently orchestrated) and the hypnotically repetitive orchestral Bolero (1928). They could hardly be more different, yet each in its way is characteristic of the composer.

The son of a Swiss father and Basque mother, Ravel grew up in Paris and studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where his teachers included Gabriel Fauré. Among other composers who influenced him were Chabrier, Satie and Debussy. In the early 1900s he attempted five times to win the prestigious Prix de Rome for composers, but he failed each time, perhaps due to unorthodox elements in his music. By 1905, when he made his last attempt, he had already built a reputation as a composer and his rejection by the judges caused a public furore.

The First World War, during which Ravel served as an ambulance driver and suffered the death of his mother, proved a turning point in his life and work. His final decade was marred by neurological disease, but he continued to compose masterpieces and to enjoy considerable success and celebrity, both in France and internationally. Famously, even George Gershwin asked him for composition lessons.

Beyond Bolero: There is so much to discover in Ravel’s music

As meticulous as he was brilliant, Ravel was not a prolific composer, but his output was diverse: works for solo piano (a number of which he also orchestrated); ballet music (including Daphnis et Chloé with its spectacular ‘Sunrise’) and a variety of other orchestral scores; two piano concertos; chamber music; songs (with piano and with orchestra); two operas, and (early in his career) cantatas and choral works. His orchestration of Mussorgsky’s piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition has become the best-known version of the work. Hispanic and ‘exotic’ cultures hold a significant place in his output.

Ravel’s music matches craftsmanship, structure and finesse with often striking sensual beauty, and it frequently balances sincerity with irony and wit with sentiment. His ear for instrumental colour was phenomenal and his orchestration often breathtaking.

Ravel’s 40-year career coincided with a period of exceptionally rich cultural activity and evolution. This is reflected in his music, which develops from late-Romanticism and so-called ‘impressionism’ to incorporate aspects of neo-classicism, jazz and Machine Age modernism. Bolero has been credited with looking forward to the minimalism of the late 20th century.

The Complete Works: A colourful panorama of landmark interpretations

Drawing on Warner Classics’ unrivalled catalogue, Ravel: The Complete Works features superlative interpretations by an array of outstanding musicians, including a number of today’s leading Erato and Warner Classics artists. The recordings in the collection span nearly a century of history.

Ravel’s quintessentially French musical character is reflected in the interpretations selected for the set, making it even more distinctive in the marketplace. The impressive list of performers includes a substantial number of French artists from several generations, while the artists from other countries are notable for their sensitivity to French style.

From the CD and LP era the artists include: Martha Argerich, Bertrand Chamayou, Samson François, Anne Queffélec, Beatrice Rana, Alexandre Tharaud, Renaud Capuçon, Christian Ferras, Vadim Repin, Gautier Capuçon, Quatuor Ébène, Jessye Norman, Janet Baker, Sabine Devieilhe, José van Dam, Sir John Barbirolli, André Cluytens, Mikko Franck, Carlo Maria Giulini, Armin Jordan, Emmanuel Krivine, Lorin Maazel, Jean Martinon, Charles Munch, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Riccardo Muti, Michel Plasson, Sir Simon Rattle.

Historical bonus

Four of the 21CDs exemplify the authentic spirit of Ravel and his times. Ravel himself appears as pianist (on piano rolls) and conductor and also personally supervised a number of the recordings. The performers include: Robert Casadesus, Alfred Cortot, Henriette Faure, Jacques Février, Marguerite Long, Marcelle Meyer, Arthur Rubinstein, Zino Francescatti, Quatuor Calvet, Jane Bathori, Fanny Heldy, Marcelle Gerar, Madeleine Grey, Pierre Bernac, Charles Panzéra, Martial Singher, Piero Coppola, Pedro de Freitas-Branco, Pierre Monteux, Charles Munch.

A luxury boxset in the same vein as the Debussy and the Berlioz ‘Complete Works’ boxes

The covers will carry paintings by the French artist Albert Marquet (1875-1947), a ‘Fauvist’ friend of Matisse. The individual spirit and vivid colours of Marquet’s paintings mirror Ravel’s music

This box is an essential collector’s item

Ravel’s complete works in interpretations of acknowledged excellence and authority which capture the distinctively French spirit (‘esprit français’) of the composer’s art.

Booklet essay by Roger Nichols

The British musicologist, an expert on French music whose biography of Ravel (Ravel, Yale University Press, 2011) rates as one of the best books written on the composer

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) is een van de belangrijkste Franse componisten, en 20ste eeuwse componisten wereldwijd. Deze box met zijn integrale oeuvre werd samengesteld met onvergetelijke opnamen uit de cataloog van ERATO/Warner Classics, en omvatten een periode van ongeveer 100 jaar. Uit de CD en LP-periode vinden we vertolkingen door Martha Argerich, Bertrand Chamayou, Samson François, Anne Queffélec, Beatrice Rana, Alexandre Tharaud, Renaud Capuçon, Christian Ferras, Vadim Repin, Gautier Capuçon, Quatuor Ébène, Jessye Norman, Janet Baker, Sabine Devieilhe, José van Dam, Sir John Barbirolli, André Cluytens, Mikko Franck, Carlo Maria Giulini, Armin Jordan, Emmanuel Krivine, Lorin Maazel, Jean Martinon, Charles Munch, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Riccardo Muti, Michel Plasson en Sir Simon Rattle. Op 4 van de 21 CDs is de componist zelf aan het werk als dirigent, pianist (pianorollen) of artistiek leider, met collega-muzikanten als Robert Casadesus, Alfred Cortot, Henriette Faure, Jacques Février, Marguerite Long, Marcelle Meyer, Arthur Rubinstein, Zino Francescatti, Quatuor Calvet, Jane Bathori, Fanny Heldy, Marcelle Gerar, Madeleine Grey, Pierre Bernac, Charles Panzéra, Martial Singher, Piero Coppola, Pedro de Freitas-Branco, Pierre Monteux en Charles Munch. De covers bieden schilderijen van de Franse artiest Albert Marquet (1875-1947), het boekje bevat een essai van de Britse musicoloog en bejubelde Ravel-biograaf Roger Nichols.`

Orchesterwerke:
Sheherazade
Menuet antique
Pavane pour une infante defunte
Miroirs
Rapsodie espagnole
Daphnis et Chloe
Valses nobles et sentimentales
Ma mere l'oye
Le Tombeau de Couperin
La Valse
Tzigane
Fanfare aus "L'Eventail de Jeanne"
Bolero
Klavierkonzert D-Dur für die linke Hand
Klavierkonzert G-Dur

Orchestrierungen Ravels von Werken anderer Komponisten:
Carnaval op. 9 (Schumann)
Menuet pompoux (Chabrier)
Bilder einer Ausstellung (Mussorgksy)
Sarabande aus Pour le Piano (Debussy)
Tarantelle styrienne (Debussy)

Kammermusik:
Sonatensatz für Violine & Klavier
Streichquartett F-Dur
Introduction & Allegro für Harfe, Flöte, Klarinette, Streichquartett
Klaviertrio a-moll
Sonate für Violine & Cello; Tzigane für Violine & Klavier; Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Faure; Violinsonate

Klavierwerke:
Serenade grotesque
Menuet antique
La Parade
Pavane pour une infante defunte
Jeux d'eaux
Sonatine
Menuett cis-moll
Miroirs
Gaspard de la nuit
Daphnis et Chloe
Menuet sur le nom de Haydn
Valses nobles et sentimentales
A la maniere de Borodine
A la maniere de Chabrier
Preldude
Le Tombeau de Couperin
La Valse

Klavierwerke 4-händig:
Sheherazade
Fanfare aus "L'Eventail de Jeanne"
Ma mere l'oye
Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune (Debussy)

Werke für 2 Klaviere:
Entre cloches
Introduction et Allegro
Rapsodie espagnole
La Valse
Frontispice für 2 Klaviere 5-händig
Nocturnes (Debussy)

Lieder:
Ballade de la reine morte d'aimer
Un grand sommeil noir
Sainte
Chanson du rouet
Si morne
2 Epigrammes de Clement Marot
Manteau de fleurs
5 Melodies populaires grecques (Version mit Klavier & Version mit Orchester)
Noel des jouets
Les grans vents d'outre-mer
Histoires naturelles
Vocalise-Etude in forme de habanera
Sur l'herbe
Chanson ecossaise
Tripatos
Chants populaires
3 Poemes de Stephane Mallarme
2 Melodies hebraiques (Version mit Klavier & Version mit Orchester
3 Chansons
Ronsard a son ame (Version mit Klavier & Version mit Orchester)
Chansons madecasses
Reves
Don Quichotte a Dulcinee Version mit Orchester & Version mit Klavier)

Chorwerke:
Les Bayaderes
Tout est lumiere
Kantate "Myrrha"
Kantate "Alcyone"
Kantate "Alyssa"
La Nuit
Matinee de Provence
L'Aurore
3 Chansons für Chor a cappella

Oper & lyrische Werke:
L'Heure espagnole
L'Enfant et les sortileges

Ravel dirigiert Ravel (1924-1932):
Introduction et Allegro
Chansons madecasses
Bolero

Ravel spielt Ravel (Welte-Mignon & Aeolian Duo-Art 1913-1934):
Valses nobles et sentimentales
Sonatine
Oiseaux tristes
Pavane pour une infante defunte
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Gaspard de la nuit
La Vallee des cloches

Aufnahmen im Beisein Ravels:
Klavierkonzert G-Dur
Pavane pour une infante defunte
Don Quichotte a Dulcinee
Ronsard a son ame

Historische Aufnahmen (1927-1955) "Ravel, seine Freunde und Interpreten":
Jeux d'eau
Sonatine
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Gaspard de la nuit
Valses nobles et sentimentales
Miroirs
Sheherazade
Histoires naturelles
Sainte
Sur l'herbe
Chants populaires
Kaddish
Streichquartett F-Dur
Tzigane
Arie "Oh, la pitoyable aventure" aus L'Heure espagnole
Klavierkonzert für die linke Hand
Ma mere l'oye
Alborada del gracioso
Valses nobles et sentimentales
La Valse