One of the scariest pieces I know of! Ravel "destroys" the waltz, almost as a metaphor for the end of the Belle Epoque once WW1 came along and shattered everyone's thoughts about exactly how "civilised" Western society was. But thoughts aside, it's a really exciting piece and I'm really glad you enjoyed it! I'm appreciating this dramatic phase hahahaha
I’m so glad you listened to this! It’s definitely bewildering - it has Ravel’s signature written all over it, and yet it’s unexpected. Ravel himself said that “It is a dancing, whirling, almost hallucinatory ecstasy, an increasingly passionate and exhausting whirlwind of dancers, who are overcome and exhilarated by nothing but ‘the waltz.’”, i.e. tearing the epitomic viennese waltz apart at its seams. Musically, he is quite literally subverting every single feature of the waltz and ripping it into shreds.
To this day, there are great jazz musicians still trying to figure out some of Ravel's harmonies and chord changes! (And it helps that he was also one of the greatest orchestrators in music history!)
@@13kmawayfromyou39I don't know where this statistic comes from and what orchestra it refers to, but putting that aside, I'm talking about the broader listening public, not among the more sophisticated concert goers who are in the know.
This is a truly magnificent work. I heard it last week in Manchester at the Bridgewater Hall. The BBC Phil conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Sensational playing and wonderful to hear live. Try Daphnis and Chloe next. Another masterpiece.
ive never seen anyone react to classical music before. fascinating. Love that you appreciate real music. Thanks for standing out there. I also love classical pieces. Its the only radio station i listen to while driving.
definitely on my top 5 favorite orchestral works if not higher!! the piano transcription of this is a must-listen as well ((: (seong-jin cho has a wonderful rendition)
This is Ravel's tribute to the Viennese waltz, which he tries to alienate from itself in this piece (which in English means "Waltz") by impressionistic means (dissonances, distorted rhythms, etc.). I think you might also like "Ma mère l’oye" by Ravel.
Love this piece so much! A bit unfortunate you didnt choose Bernsteins recording after you praised him so much in your last video! :P Edit: gotta admit, this recording is fire!
wow! You really have to watch it with Bernstein - so mesmerizing!!!! It is an hommage and burial of the vienna waltz period the same time. Watch this 2 min 36s Bernstein dance - it will change your life!
Ravel also arranged his "La valse" for solo piano, from which he made a version for two pianos: th-cam.com/video/rwq6eL7cUsw/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=wittekmusic
You know, your reaction and this video inspired me to rewatch a masterclass given by Arie Vardi, where he talks about this piece for 12 minutes (Ravels own piano version of it but it doesn't make any difference). Maybe you find it interesting too. If you want, you can learn a lot about it, starts 12: 35: th-cam.com/video/o_diKDB5rVU/w-d-xo.html
The death of old Europe with the death of waltzing Vienna as the capital of one of the more benign Empires ever to have brought Art, music, science and learning to the world - all ended in a horrible pointless war -- The first world war
Listen to yuja wang's performance - methinks better on solo piano rather than the orchestral version - and yuja's imho the best performance (listen to gould's for a vastly diff interpretation)
One of the scariest pieces I know of!
Ravel "destroys" the waltz, almost as a metaphor for the end of the Belle Epoque once WW1 came along and shattered everyone's thoughts about exactly how "civilised" Western society was.
But thoughts aside, it's a really exciting piece and I'm really glad you enjoyed it! I'm appreciating this dramatic phase hahahaha
Totally agree. I always think of it as 'Europe 1900-1918: the soundtrack'...
The walz slowly rises from the mist, takes off, and explodes.
I’m so glad you listened to this! It’s definitely bewildering - it has Ravel’s signature written all over it, and yet it’s unexpected. Ravel himself said that “It is a dancing, whirling, almost hallucinatory ecstasy, an increasingly passionate and exhausting whirlwind of dancers, who are overcome and exhilarated by nothing but ‘the waltz.’”, i.e. tearing the epitomic viennese waltz apart at its seams. Musically, he is quite literally subverting every single feature of the waltz and ripping it into shreds.
To this day, there are great jazz musicians still trying to figure out some of Ravel's harmonies and chord changes! (And it helps that he was also one of the greatest orchestrators in music history!)
I love this piece so much, it's like a slowly but relentlessly decaying valse, with all of its joy and splendour.
Ravel is criminally underappreciated. Ravel is pure genius! There is so much great Ravel music to appreciate.
I dont think he is. La Valse was the most perfomed orchestral work in 2022, and I think he is top 10 most performed composers in concerts
@@13kmawayfromyou39I don't know where this statistic comes from and what orchestra it refers to, but putting that aside, I'm talking about the broader listening public, not among the more sophisticated concert goers who are in the know.
Please check out Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand...very unique!
Check out Ravels "Piano Concerto for the Left Hand". Only about 20 minutes, but what a 20 minutes ! :-)
That smile at 3:20 :))
This is a truly magnificent work. I heard it last week in Manchester at the Bridgewater Hall. The BBC Phil conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Sensational playing and wonderful to hear live. Try Daphnis and Chloe next. Another masterpiece.
Make sure Daphnis and Chloë is a version with choir!
@@znotch87 its the only piece with choir i actually like, it has a really cool effect there
@@znotch87 Good point.
@@nandovancreij yeah, Lever Du Jour is one of the best pieces ever made imo
Love that you're down the classical music rabbit hole! Centuries of music to explore
ive never seen anyone react to classical music before. fascinating. Love that you appreciate real music. Thanks for standing out there. I also love classical pieces. Its the only radio station i listen to while driving.
definitely on my top 5 favorite orchestral works if not higher!! the piano transcription of this is a must-listen as well ((: (seong-jin cho has a wonderful rendition)
So does Boris Giltburg
7:46 OHHHHHH
One of the best orchestrators ever! You should listen to his famous Bolero (maybe conducted by Celibidache) and Daphnis and Chloe suite
It's a shame to miss out on the beginning of Daphnis and Chloe in its ballet form, which isn't included in the suites.
@@sashakindel3600 Ahhh! I totally agree!
5:28 I feel hypnotized
You should react to one of Ravel's Piano Concerti!
Yooo! I love your enthusiasm for this pice, it’s one of my all time favourites 🙂
What a piece. Trying to waltz to this would not end well lol
Ravel at play. Ravel was a strong influence on Stravinsky, as you could probably hear in this piece.
This is Ravel's tribute to the Viennese waltz, which he tries to alienate from itself in this piece (which in English means "Waltz") by impressionistic means (dissonances, distorted rhythms, etc.). I think you might also like "Ma mère l’oye" by Ravel.
La Mer is from Debussy? (And very tedious imho.)
@@znotch87 Sry, my bad. I meant "Ma mère l’oye". I'm deeply embarressed, because, of course, "mer" and "mère" have total different meanings.
AN ABSOLUTE BANGER!! Only 1910s kids remember(iirc this came out a little after ww1)
Edit:Scriabin coming someday?😉
Scriabin's Le Poème de l'extase is probably a match for La Valse as far as thrills go! I like the performance conducted by Salonen.
@@sashakindel3600 Defenitely! I think it's probably the perfect introduction piece to Scriabin! Not too late and not too early either
Imagine trying to dance to this
Love this piece so much! A bit unfortunate you didnt choose Bernsteins recording after you praised him so much in your last video! :P
Edit: gotta admit, this recording is fire!
La Valse is extremely underrated and unrecognized.
Shostakovich 7th with Bernstein please🙏🙏🙏
Such a good valentines day piece, so peaceful and happy🙏
Check out Bernstein's recording of this piece with the Orchestre National de France. It's just breathtaking how good it is.
I love this piece
Epic
I bet liszt could sight read this with every instrument with only 2 hands 😂
wow! You really have to watch it with Bernstein - so mesmerizing!!!! It is an hommage and burial of the vienna waltz period the same time. Watch this 2 min 36s Bernstein dance - it will change your life!
Ravel also arranged his "La valse" for solo piano, from which he made a version for two pianos: th-cam.com/video/rwq6eL7cUsw/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=wittekmusic
Please listen to La Mer by Debussy conducted by Boulez. La Mer means The Sea.
Gidi, you should react to Mahler 9. You loved Mahler 2, and Mahler 9 is arguably his best
There is a piano version on this, you should check it out!
Yes, it's wonderful. It was the only one I knew before now.
Gidi could you please react to How to Sound Like Beethoven by Nahre Sol?
I will 😌
@@GIDIREACTS You should react to “Happy birthday in style of 10 classical composer” by Nahre Sol before “How to sound like” series.
You should react to the piano version, its just as scary.
You know, your reaction and this video inspired me to rewatch a masterclass given by Arie Vardi, where he talks about this piece for 12 minutes (Ravels own piano version of it but it doesn't make any difference). Maybe you find it interesting too. If you want, you can learn a lot about it, starts 12: 35: th-cam.com/video/o_diKDB5rVU/w-d-xo.html
The death of old Europe with the death of waltzing Vienna as the capital of one of the more benign Empires ever to have brought Art, music, science and learning to the world - all ended in a horrible pointless war -- The first world war
Listen to yuja wang's performance - methinks better on solo piano rather than the orchestral version - and yuja's imho the best performance (listen to gould's for a vastly diff interpretation)