Sorabji-Ravel

[Nightscape]

Is it true that Sorabji openly despised the Ravel G major concerto?  If so, why did he dislike it so much?

[ahinton]

Is it true that Sorabji openly despised the Ravel G major concerto?  If so, why did he dislike it so much?

He certainly wasn't at all fond of it. He felt that it represented a big backward step from some of those Ravel works that he so admired, including (among others) the Piano Trio, Gaspard de la Nuit, Rapsodie Espagnole (a work which he transcribed for piano - TWICE!), Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé, l'Heure Espagnole and Daphnis et Chloé. He was also curious that Ravel, who had never previously composed a piano concerto, wrote this work alongside his piano concerto for the left hand - a work which elicited his considerable praise.

Whilst I can see why the outer movements of the G major concerto didn't especially appeal to him, I do rather think that his view of its central movement is a bit unfair - i.e that it reminded him of nothing more than a cat walking on lukewarm bricks...

Best,

Alistair