Maurice Ravel - Bolero | Alondra de la Parra | WDR Sinfonieorchester
6,978,917
Published 2022-04-01
Maurice Ravel - Bolero
WDR Symphony Orchestra
Alondra de la Parra, conductor
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The idea of pursuing a career as a musician came early and was supported by his parents: At the age of 13, Maurice Ravel receives lessons at a private music school and studies immediately afterwards. There is little motivation left when Ravel fails his intermediate exam and has to leave the master class right away.
Nevertheless, one work in particular composed by Ravel, the "Boléro", is one of the best known and most frequently played pieces of music in the world. Ravel not only works on the Boléro with the greatest care and attention to detail, he often takes a long time to complete his works - due to the complexity and accuracy of his works, he is also called the "Swiss watchmaker" among composers.
Regarding his orchestral work "Boléro" - eponymous with the dance genre - Maurice Ravel commented one day: "My masterpiece? The Boléro, of course. It's just a pity that it contains no music at all".
Beginning with the probably best-known, always constant (ostinato) rhythm, the snare drum opens the piece in pianissimo.
It accompanies the two 16-bar melodies (melody A and B) throughout, which are repeated eighteen times - first solo, then by several registers in unison. They occur in the form AA BB until the last two repetitions. In the climax of the climax, A and B follow each other "undoubled". The melodies are varied only in the shaping of the instrumentation - and thus the timbre - resulting in a majestic crescendo until the end of the boléro.
All Comments (21)
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This is what YouTube is made for. I am so grateful for people who post these.
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And the drummer! To keep the tempo and the right volume for 15 minutes... absolutely insane. Much, much respect!
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Bolero, by Marice Ravel, TODAY I am 77 years old, I have been listening to it since I was 16, in moments of some distress, I listen to it, and it fills me with harmony and peace. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. HUGS FROM MY SALTA LA LINDA IN ARGENTINA.
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This is why I love music. How Bolero just keeps on building and growing in intensity is almost orgasmic.
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Watching de la Parra conductor is special, her grace and involvement in the music is amazing
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Music is a gift from heaven. ❤
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That is the quietest intro I’ve ever heard for this piece. Lovely build up and conclusion. A really nice version.
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All the different instruments keep getting added into the music until their is a whole orchestra playing. It was genius!
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I've always said that this is one of the hardest symphonies for a drummer to perform. Holding the same rhythm for 15 minutes straight is brutal if you asked me. I think I'd mentally collapse within a few minutes of doing the same 10-15 beats over and over again. This is a job for AIs, not for humans. Mad respect for the drummers that have to perform Bolero and still pull it perfectly!
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AMAZING!!! The way she has them really getting into this piece and the look of enjoyment. She has commanded them and they give it all they have. But hats off to the drummer who kept PERFECT time and rhythm for the whole 15 minutes. BRAVO!!!!
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As a brit, this always takes me back to watching Torville and Dean ice dancing to that gold medal in 84
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The conductor is a mighty queen, leading her royal army into a great battle!
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She is as much a work of art as the music she is conducting.
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I love the way the conductor show movement and expression. You know they love what they are doing. 🎼🎹
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I discovered Bolero when i was 14 almost 35 years ago. I was was in a neighbors car who had the Essential Karajan playing on the (cassette tape) stereo.. Bolero was playing and from then I have loved this and many more pieces of classical music. This version shouts out that we need so many more females in conductor roles. 5 stars.
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Alondra is the perfect conductor for Ravel's sensual masterpiece--She exhibits grace and power and above all passion for the work which the classic so richly conveys--providing us with harmony for our senses
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The conductor is an absolute joy to watch.
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I have seen performances of Bolero where both the orchestra and conductor seem totally bored with this piece that they have probably played more times than they care to remember. Not so here! They managed to bring new life to this old stand-by. You can see the energy between Alondra de la Parra and the orchestra... It is absolutely infectious. This one is definitely a keeper and is going straight to my favorites list.
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One of my favorite pieces of music.
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Best version ever! Bravo Alondra🌟
