Biography

He is by far the most financially successful composer that France has ever produced. His music still brings in several million dollars a year in royalties.

Ravel's last five years were tragic. He could conceive music and told friends he had worked out a symphony, a string quartet, and parts of an opera in his head, but because of his aphasia he was unable to put them on paper. Shortly before his death he lamented, "I still have so much music to write!".

Composed his Piano Concerto in D Major for the Left Hand under commission of Paul Wittgenstein, a concert pianist who lost his right arm during World War I. Unfortunately, Wittgenstein didn't like the final composition, and didn't change his mind about it until after Ravel's death. The work, however, has since become a staple of the concert repertoire.

Growing up he had to be bribed six sous an hour by his parents to practice the piano.

Composed his two piano concertos simultaneously, beginning both concertos in 1929 and ending both concertos within two years. What is even more remarkable is that these two concertos are widely felt to be of greatly contrasting styles and moods.