Ravel Bolero

Maurice Ravel's world-famous Boléro, originally premiered in 1928 as ballet music for Ida Rubinstein at the Opéra Garnier in Paris, quickly became an international orchestral classic. However, in order to make the work accessible outside of large concert halls, especially for passionate pianists to play at home, a piano version was required.

This task was taken on in 1929 by Lucien Garban (1877-1959), a close friend of Ravel and long-time employee of Éditions Durand. Garban was not only the official arranger, but later also became the artistic director of the publishing house. In close collaboration with Ravel, he created a transcription for solo piano that retains both the characteristic rhythmic structure and the orchestral richness of color of the original as far as possible. Ravel trusted Garban not only as an arranger, but also as a careful proofreader who always had the musical integrity of the work in mind.

This piano version gives the player the opportunity to experience the hypnotic build-up and the famous thematic repetition of the Boléro for themselves in a tonally refined, technically demanding arrangement. Ideal for advanced pianists who want to get to grips with one of the most iconic works of the 20th century.