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If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)
Artist: Grand Orchestre Symphonique
Author: Maurice Ravel
Label: Gramophone/Victor
Year: 1930
Ballet piece for Russian actress and dancer Ida Rubinstein, introduced in 1928 at the Opéra de Paris choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska. This oldest recording followed two years later at the Salle Pleyel, also in Paris, conducted by Piero Coppola closely observed by the composer who feared the Mediterranean character of the conductor would speed up the tempo and it did! So Ravel ordered for a second take which he approved by signing the Gramophone sheet while confirming this being the first recording made of his Boléro. Came out on four 78RPM-sides.
Covers:
Orchestre de l'Association des Concerts Lamoureux [one day later and conducted by Maurice Ravel, for Polydor (Fr & GER), Decca (UK) and Brunswick (US)]
Boston Symphony Orch. [conducted by Serge Koussevitzky for Victor]
Willem Mengelberg & Concertgebouworkest [for Columbia]
George Raft & Carole Lombard [dancing a less than three minute version at the end of film Boléro]
Colosseum [on lp The Grass Is Greener; Ravel would have surely disapproved the tempo]
Bo Derek & Dudley Moore [in film 10; Did you ever do it on Ravel's Boléro?]
Tomita [hit version in the slipstream of success film 10]
Gerard Joling [at the end of No More Boleros; n°1 NL]
André Rieu [shortened version]
Ryuichi Sakamoto [as Bolerish in Brian De Palma film Femme Fatale]
If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:
Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)