Maurice Ravel, Alexandre Tharaud, Frédéric Chopin
Boléro, composed by Maurice Ravel in 1928, has always captured the world’s attention. Repetitive, mesmeric, colourful and thrilling, it has also proved a seminal work, influencing composers over the past century. Now it lends its name to a film inspired by the life of Ravel: directed by Anne Fontaine and starring Raphaël Personnaz.
The soundtrack of Bolero features Erato and Warner Classics artists of today and yesterday. Among them are luminaries of the present – such as Alexandre Tharaud, Aurélien Pontier, Renaud Capuçon, Gautier Capuçon and Frank Braley – and legends of the past like Samson François, Dinu Lipatti and André Cluytens. Boléro itself has been specially recorded for the film by the Brussels Philharmonic, conducted by Dirk Brossé. Other works by Ravel on the soundtrack include Pavane pour une infante défunte, La Valse, Alborada del gracioso, Ma Mère l'oye, the Piano Concerto in G major and String Quartet, while three piano pieces by Chopin can also be heard.