Piano Concerto in G major, M. 83

The concerto unfolds in three movements, each with its own personality.

I. Allegramente. A whip-crack from the percussion opens the movement, and the piano soon enters with a jaunty, almost bluesy tune. Listen for the sound of jazz throughout, in the harmonies, the syncopated rhythms, and the way instruments like trumpet and woodwinds trade quick, sassy phrases with the piano. The movement moves through many moods quickly, from playful to lyrical to virtuosic, before closing with the same energy it began with.

II. Adagio assai. The piano opens alone with a long, gently swaying melody that seems to unfold in one continuous breath, built over a steady, rocking accompaniment. This is the emotional heart of the piece, an extended song without words. Partway through, the English horn takes up the same melody while the piano decorates it with rippling figuration, a moment many listeners find the most beautiful in the whole work.

III. Presto. After a brief pause, the finale bursts in with a sudden, breathless energy, closer to a circus gallop than a song. The piano dashes through rapid, glittering passages while the orchestra punctuates with sharp accents. It is short, brilliant, and over almost before you know it, ending the concerto with a flourish rather than a grand conclusion.

Ravel composed his Piano Concerto in G major between 1929 and 1931, partly during a tour of the United States that exposed him to American jazz, blues, and popular song, all of which left their mark on the score. He originally intended to perform the solo part himself but, finding the piano writing too demanding to prepare alongside conducting duties, gave the premiere to the pianist Marguerite Long instead, with the composer conducting, in Paris in 1932. The concerto quickly became one of Ravel's most popular orchestral works, prized for its blend of classical form, jazz color, and lyrical warmth. It remains a staple of the concerto repertoire, programmed for its wit, its melodic slow movement, and its glittering finale.