Description

Ravel's plans for a piano concerto can be traced back to 1906, but he did not seriously start work on one until early 1929. The composer later described the concerto as being "in the spirit of the concertos by Mozart and Saint-Saëns", with "cheerful and brilliant" music that did not aim for "profundity or dramatic effects". The outer movements are characterized by rhythmic drive and jazz influences, while the slow movement is dedicated entirely to a lyrical melody with subtle shifts in accented beats. This Henle Urtext edition consulted not only Ravel's manuscripts and published scores, but also a recording made under the composer's supervision by the work's dedicatee, Marguerite Long. Since its successful premiere in January 1932, the concerto has become a staple in the repertoire of great pianists, including French music expert Pascal Rogé, who provided the fingerings for the solo part.