Presentation on Ravel’s piano rolls - lecture-recital

According to accounts of his friends and colleagues, Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was notoriously known for his attention to detail in his compositions. The composer’s Welte Mignon 1913 piano roll recordings of Sonatine and Valses Nobles et Sentimentales (as well the 1922 Duo Art recordings of Pavane pour une infante defunte et ‘Oiseaux Tristes’ from Miroirs), give a rare insight into the creative mind of Maurice Ravel and his preferences in performing these pieces. Despite the shortcomings of the piano rolls and the widespread idea that Ravel was not as great of a pianist as some of his contemporaries, there is a great deal we can learn from exploring the composer’s own performances. The presentation will conclude with a performance of Sonatine on an Erard instrument, a favourite of the composer.