Ravel Boléro: the musical exhibition unveiled at the Philharmonie de Paris

The Philharmonie celebrates the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth with an exhibition based on his iconic Boléro. Let yourself be lulled by the music from December 3, 2024 to June 15, 2025.

Maurice Ravel'sBoléro is played on average every 15 minutes around the world. This extraordinary work resonates uninterruptedly in the four corners of the planet, touching audiences of all ages and cultures. The Bolero lives on in concert halls, in films, and even during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games! A heady melody, instantly recognizable, a masterpiece that has made and always will make its composer famous.

From December 3, 2024 to June 15, 2025, the Philharmonie de Paris celebrates the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth with a major multisensory exhibition based around the famous Bolero.

Ravel's music can be enjoyed not only with the ears, but also with the eyes! Boléro was commissioned by dancer-choreographer Ida Rubinstein, who was looking for new music for her performances. Dance thus helped shape this unique score, its rhythms inspired by Spain.

The Philharmonie illustrates the Boléro's "spectacle" aspect by exhibitingmodel sets and costume designs, reminiscent of the ballet music's various productions. Several paintings and works of art bring to life the Spanish influence felt in this Bolero.

To make this exhibition truly unique, the Philharmonie de Paris has set up a cinematic device that immerses us entirely in Ravel's music. From 1928 to the present day, Boléro has been performed and reinterpreted by thousands of musicians, orchestras and choreographers. The exhibition opens with theOrchestre de Paris, conducted by Klaus Mäkelä, and continues with numerous interpretations. Songs, dances, shows, children's choirs: all these versions overlap and follow one another, creating a magical spectacle that spans the decades and the exhibition's journey.

The latter also explores Maurice Ravel's creative process and personality, his obsession with puzzles and mechanical toys. This taste for detail and precision mechanisms is transposed into his compositions, where each note is placed like a cog in a clock.

As the tour progresses, visitors will discover more and more of the secrets of this iconic and unforgettable music, which has elevated Maurice Ravel to the pantheon of the world's greatest composers. Visitors can admire a number of personal objects and furnishings, as well as photographs taken with friends and family... Behind the world-famous composer is the man who reveals himself.

To accompany the exhibition, the Philharmonie is offering a specialmusical program , with several concerts from March 7 to 10, 2025.