Ravel's Perfect "10" ?

Synopsis

Music Played in Today's Program

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Bolero New York Philharmonic; Pierre Boulez, cond. Sony 45482

On This Day

Births

• 1709 - Baptism of Bohemian composer Frantisek Benda, in Staré Benátky; In 1763 Benda wrote his autobiography, an important source of information on music and musicians of the period;

• 1710 - German composer Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (eldest son of J. S.), in Weimar;

• 1780 - German composer Conradin Kreutzer, in Messkirch, Baden;

• 1899 - American pianist and songwriter Hoagy Carmichael, in Bloomington, Ind.;

• 1901 - Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo, in Sagunto;

• 1913 - English composer Benjamin Britten, in Lowestoft, Suffolk;

• 1925 - American composer, conductor, professional French horn player, and author Gunther Schuller, in New York;

• 1936 - German composer and conductor Hans Zender, in Wiesbaden;

Deaths

• 1900 - English composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, in London, age 58;

• 1955 - French composer Guy Ropartz, age 91, in Lanloup;

Premieres

• 1712 - Handel: opera “Il pastor fido,” at the Queen’s Theater in London (Gregorian date: Dec. 3);

• 1727 - Handel: opera “Riccardo Primo” in London (see Julian date: Nov. 11);

• 1739 - Handel: “Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day,” in London at Lincoln’s Inn Field (Gregorian date: Dec. 3);

• 1740 - Handel: opera “Imeneo” in London at Lincoln’s Inn Fields (Gregorian date: Dec. 3) ; This work was billed as an “operetta”;

• 1872 - Dvořák: Piano Quintet in A, Op. 5 (original version), at the Konvikt Hall in Prague; Dvořák revised this early chamber work in 1887;

• 1895 - Rachmaninoff: “Caprice bohémien” (Capriccio on Gypsy Themes) (Gregorian date: Dec. 4);

• 1907 - Charles Martin Loeffler: "A Pagan Poem," Karl Muck conducting Boston Symphony Orchestra;

• 1928 - Ravel: ballet "Bolero," danced by Ida Rubinstein, at the Paris Opéra;

• 1931 - Ferde Grofé: "Grand Canyon" Suite, in Chicago, by the Paul Whiteman Orchestra;