Masterpieces of the bolero. Recommended popular pieces in bolero form and outstanding performances.

「Bolero」Maurice RavelMaurice Ravel/yamashita yousuke

Yosuke Yamashita performs Boléro at his alma mater

Yosuke Yamashita, one of Japan’s most renowned jazz pianists.

When this maverick performs Maurice Ravel’s Boléro on piano, it transforms into something this captivating.

This rendition was played on the spot during a talk he gave at his alma mater, Setagaya Municipal Higashi-Ohara Elementary School, on April 15, 2012.

Boléro is sometimes said to be based on a form that evolves through improvisation, and there may be something in that which resonates with Yamashita’s playing style.

Though performed not in a concert hall but on a school piano in a gymnasium, it is a masterful performance.

「Bolero」Maurice RavelMaurice Ravel/Pari Kangengakudan Kurisutofo Esshenbaha shiki

Maurice Ravel – Bolero

There are many different kinds of conductors, each offering performances that make full use of their individuality.

Christoph Eschenbach is a German pianist and conductor.

He has served simultaneously as music director for two top-tier orchestras—The Philadelphia Orchestra in the United States and the Orchestre de Paris in France—and at one point even led three ensembles concurrently during his final season with the NDR Symphony Orchestra, making him a highly popular figure in the heartlands of classical music.

When he visited Japan for the 2007 NHK Music Festival, he delivered many outstanding performances, and the final piece he chose was Boléro.

It’s a must-hear rendition.

Personally, I would also highly recommend the orchestral version of La Valse, which was performed alongside it—an exceptional performance.

「Bolero」Maurice RavelMaurice Ravel/Tomita Isao

ISAO TOMITA BOLERO

Isao Tomita is both a great Japanese arranger and a synthesizer performer.

Born in 1932, he gained international recognition from a very young age as a synthesizer player and a pioneering composer of electronic music, earning high praise and popularity overseas from early on.

This work dates from 1979.

As is true of Tomita’s output in general, his use of timbre and the expressive nuance of each individual note embody both an artistic sensibility and a highly sophisticated understanding and realization of techniques that evoke vast worlds in sound.

In this Boléro as well, it is far more than a simple transposition of Ravel’s piece onto synthesizers; an entirely different artistic dimension is added.

It presents the world of Ravel’s Boléro in a way that is completely unlike the classical Boléro.

「Bolero」Maurice RavelMaurice Ravel/Docomo ofisharu (Dokomo torihikisaki & Dokomo) NTT Dokomo daihyō torishimariyaku shachō Yoshizawa Kazuhiro shiki

You might recognize it from TV.

NTT Docomo created a Maurice Ravel opera on the spot using a variety of sounds—vegetables, cooking noises, mobile phone sounds, shutter clicks, drones, bicycles, Wonder Core (ab workouts), applause, conversation, footsteps, and more.

I used to think they only offered mobile and communication services, but to ensure this level of communication quality and to provide various services, they collaborate and work with many partners.

At the end of the video, you’ll see credits for all the performers.

「Bolero」Maurice RavelMaurice Ravel/Uiin Firuhāmonī Kangen Gakudan Gusutābo Dudameru shiki

Bolero (Gergiev)

This piece is based on a Spanish-style dance rhythm, with the same rhythm and melody repeated throughout.

It begins with the flute, then the clarinet and bassoon successively take over the melody, building in volume and orchestration to a stunning effect.

Its mechanically precise yet exhilarating tension is captivating, offering the full thrill of the orchestra.

The performance by the Vienna Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel is known for its interpretation that blends tradition with innovation, beautifully balancing the orchestra’s rich sonorities with the conductor’s passionate style.

Highly recommended for those who want to fully savor the allure of orchestral music.

「Bolero」Maurice RavelMaurice Ravel/pari kokuritsu koto ongaku buyō gakkō gakusei

A high school student plays the Boléro solo! This person is now principal in a professional orchestra. #HighSchoolStudent #WindEnsemble #Trombone #Bolero #Solo

You might be a bit tired from all the serious, top-tier professional performances—so here’s something you can enjoy with a lighter mood: a flash mob performance in Brazil by students from the Paris Conservatoire (CNSMDP).

It’s the style where people gradually gather with their instruments and start playing.

That said, many of them have already achieved major results in international competitions.

Their skill is on a different level, no question.

「Bolero」Maurice RavelRondon Kōkyō Gakudan Varerī Gerugiefu Shiki

Bolero (Gergiev)

A graduate of the prestigious Leningrad Conservatory, Valery Gergiev began conducting opera at a young age and has been active around the world.

He also conducts various ensembles in Japan, earning him a large following.

Here he conducts the top London-based London Symphony Orchestra.

Perhaps because of the tension, the sharp, edgy atmosphere among the players before the performance was strikingly memorable.

And yet, the sound on stage possessed remarkable depth and breadth while remaining clean and refined.

Among the selections we present this time, this might be a performance I would particularly recommend not only to classical music enthusiasts but also to those less familiar with the genre—highly concise and lucid.