Today is the anniversary of the first public performance (22 November, 1928) of Boléro by Maurice Ravel. It was one of his last compositions before his death in 1937.
Boléro was composed as a ballet commissioned by Russian dancer Ida Rubinstein. Ravel decided to base it on the Spanish musical form and dance called bolero. He invented a melody and said to a friend, “Don’t you think this theme has an insistent quality? I’m going to try and repeat it a number of times without any development, gradually increasing the orchestra as best I can.”
The piece was an instant success and is his most famous piece. I think the melody indeed has an insistent quality and I love the way he builds the orchestra behind it as wonderfully demonstrated in this performance by The Wiener Philharmoniker led by Gustavo Dudamel. Note: some subscribers do not get the youtube videos in your email. If you don’t see it, click on the link to the post.
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