Be sure to watch this wonderful short video from the Philharmonie de Paris.
Yes, Ravel’s Boléro Is a Masterpiece
by Barry Lenson
Like many people, I never thought of Boléro as Ravel’s greatest work – or even as a particularly great one. His String Quartet,a Piano Trio and haunting Introduction et Allegro are masterpieces, no doubt. Much of his piano music, perhaps most notably Gaspard de la Nuit, is otherworldly. The same could be said – and often is – for his ballet scores Daphis et Chloé and Ma Mère L’oye.
Boléro is usually shuttled to the side and classified as a merely popular piece.
But my view of the work’s greatness changed last month when I attended the exhibition “Ravel Boléro,” presented by the Philharmonie de Paris in its exposition space in the Cité de la Musique in Paris. This exposition, which was built around a gorgeous 360-degree video of the Philharmonie playing the piece, unabashedly makes the case that Boléro is not only a really good work, but perhaps Ravel’s greatest masterpiece. (Sorry to say, the exhibition closed on June 15th.)
The exhibition featured videos of a variety of dance productions of the work, and presented a number of supporting materials, like a graphic representation of the work’s structure.
I came away with a deeper appreciation of the work, and of Ravel overall, which is saying something, because he already stood at the top of my personal pantheon of great composers.
Listen to Ravel’s Bolers Here on Classical Archives and Decide
We have no fewer than 82 recordings of Boléro available for your listening here on Classical Archives. We even have versions of the work for two pianos and for wind ensemble. Please note that in order to listen, you must be one of our members.
So please settle down and listen.
Is this work, so often marginalized, a bona fide masterpiece that stands alongside Ravel’s most important works? I think so and I predict that once you start listening, I think you will agree.
