Charles Dutoit, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal - Maurice Ravel: Ma Mère l'Oye, Pavane pour une infante défunte, Le Tombeau de Couperin, Valses nobles et sentimentales (1995)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 239 Mb | Total time: 66:51 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Decca | # 410 251-2 | Recorded: 1983
The first of these pieces, Ma Mere l'Oye, was originally composed just for the piano. However the astute publisher, Durand, recognized their orchestral potential and the impresario Jacques Rouche realized the choreographic possibilities and encouraged Ravel to expand and orchestrate the music. The result was "a vision of magical stillness and rapture" and became highly successful. The Pavane was also an early work of Ravel from 1899 written for the solo piano. This orchestral version with Ravel's "mature mastery of sound-colours" was done some eleven years later. La Tombeau de Couperin was Ravel's last solo piano work.