Maurice Ravel Essentials

Maurice Ravel was a colourist of distinction whose palette helped define French music of the early 20th century. His piano music is exquisite in its delicacy, and his ballet music—Daphnis et Chloé in particular—is ravishing in its use of the orchestra. (Even with just four instruments, as with his String Quartet, he is a master of colour.) His short operas, now often staged, are wonderfully witty and entertaining, while his song cycle Shéhérazade conjures up the exoticism of the East with a perfume you can almost smell.