Bolèro (original version)

Ravel's Boléro was composed in 1928 as ballet music and has become one of the most famous orchestral pieces of the 20th century. The work is based on a single theme that is repeated relentlessly, creating an almost hypnotic effect through the continuous intensification of orchestration and dynamics. This strict formal reduction to a single melodic element demonstrates Ravel's mastery of instrumentation and his sense for orchestral effects.

The composition reflects French Impressionism, even though it was written towards the end of that movement. Ravel's characteristic tone colors and his preference for exotic harmonies combine here with an almost mechanical compositional principle. The work is considered the pinnacle of his orchestral art and demonstrates his ability to achieve maximum effect with minimal melodic means.

The Boléro is said to have exerted a powerful fascination on audiences from the very beginning, although Ravel himself is said to have had an ambivalent attitude toward his work. The original version shows the instrumentation intended by the composer in its purest form and illustrates his subtle treatment of the various orchestral colors.