Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Ravel began sketching his symphonic poem Wien in 1907, aiming to musically portray the elegance of Vienna. But as he neared completion, World War I broke out, casting a shadow over the work. He later revisited the piece when Serge Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes expressed interest, but Diaghilev rejected it, calling it unfit for ballet. Frustrated, Ravel reworked the music for the concert hall, renaming it La valse. It premiered in 1920 under the baton of Ida Rubenstein. According to Ravel’s notes: “Clouds whirl about... Occasionally they part to allow a glimpse of waltzing couples... The glow of chandeliers breaks out fortissimo.” La valse is both a celebration and a deconstruction of the Viennese waltz—haunting, powerful, and unforgettable.

Recorded live in Orchestra Hall September 29, 2023 with conductor Jader Bignamini.

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