In February 1906, Maurice Ravel wrote to his friend Jean Marnold: "What I am embarking on now is not refined: a grand waltz, a sort of tribute to the memory of the great Strauss, not Richard, the other one, Johann. You are well aware of my deep affection for these delightful rhythms and how much I value the joy of life expressed through dance." In this letter, he announced his next project: a ballet inspired by the quintessentially Viennese dance, the waltz. However, the result only partially convinced his impresario, who found the score unsuitable for dancing. Emotions flared between the two men, who even challenged each other to a duel!
In La Valse, Ravel transforms each motif with unexpected modulations and orchestrations, leading to the internal dissolution of the waltz genre itself. And as the main theme begins to resonate irrepressibly, Ravel seems to plunge the entire orchestra into an unexpected macabre dance...This is what musicologist Vladimir Jankélévitch had to say about it: "The author of La Valse is no longer an amateur in search of 'useless occupations'... and the score is no longer a succession of dances, but a single great tragic waltz, both noble and filled with emotions!"
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Enjoy Maurice Ravel's La Valse streaming on medici.tv!
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Ravel's La Valse is a masterpiece that showcases the genius of the French composer. He created a powerful and evocative composition that marks a turning point in the history of waltz and even classical music. Although the work was conceived as a tribute to Johann Strauss I, it is also imbued with the dark and unsettling atmosphere of the First World War era. In fact, La Valse can be interpreted as a reflection of the decadence and destruction of Western society during that time, exploring tensions between tradition and innovation, and creating a composition that oscillates between euphoria and disillusionment. medici.tv offers an unforgettable musical experience by allowing you to access Maurice Ravel's La Valse. What are you waiting for? Explore this fascinating work and let yourself be carried away by its rich textures, complex harmonies, and captivating melodies.
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