The best of Ravel, Ravel's greatest hits - they're all here on 2 CDs packed to the brim, containing all of Ravel's most memorable tunes.

Inevitably, the focus is on the immortal Bolero, beloved of the film industry. Ravel famously considered it to be his masterpiece, but claimed it had no music in it - an opinion with which many would take leave to disagree.

La Valse extends the theme of dance, the Rhapsodie espagnole the theme of Spain and exoticism, while the compilation ends with a flavour of jazz as exemplified in the Blues movement from the Violin Sonata and the Concerto for piano, left hand (which in the 1930s the famous pianist Alfred Cortot dared to play using both hands, incurring the composer's wrath).

Contents:
CD 1 [76’54]
1. Boléro
Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan (1985)

2. Jeux d’eau
Martha Argerich

3. Alborada del gracioso
London Symphony Orchestra / Claudio Abbado

4-6. Ma mère l’oye:
- 1. Pavane
- 3. Laideronette
- 5. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête
Martha Argerich / Mikhail Pletnev

7. Daphnis & Chloe: Suite No.2
Boston Symphony Orchestra / Claudio Abbado

8. Tzigane
Augustin Dumay / Maria Joao Pires

9. Piano Concerto in G: II Adagio assai
Martha Argerich (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra / Claudio Abbado

10. Le tombeau de Couperin: Toccata
Jean-Yves Thibaudet

CD 2 [c.78’01]
1. La Valse
Boston Symphony Orchestra / Seiji Ozawa

2. Gaspard de la nuit: Ondine
Ivo Pogorelich

3. Pavane pour une Infante défunte
Philharmonia Orchestra / Carlo Maria Giulini

4-7. Rhapsodie espagnole
Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan (1985)

8. Berceuse sur le nom de Fauré
Augustin Dumay / Maria Joao Pires

9. Introduction et allegro
Osian Ellis (harp) / Melos Ensemble

10. Violin Sonata: II Blues. Moderato
Shlomo Mintz / Yefim Bronfman

11. Concerto for piano, left hand
Michel Béroff (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra / Claudio Abbado