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There have been many opinions and legends about it over the years, with some insisting that it is actually Albert Wolff conducting instead of the composer himself; recent research suggests otherwise, and the labels on the records are not misleading. This is Maurice Ravel at the helm, but those who insist it was Wolff are not altogether wrong, either.

Maurice Ravel
Bolero

Maurice Ravel, conducting
(with assistance by Albert Wolff)
Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux, Paris

Recorded in Paris
on January 9, 1930

The history of this piece is quite colorful, commissioned by Ida Rubinstein as a ballet, Ravel abandoned his original idea of writing five pieces because of copyright considerations. He chose instead to compose the present work, which repeats the melody without development.

It was an enormous success at both its European and American premieres, with the latter generating controversy, which only increased the reputations of both piece and composer. The famous falling out in Paris with Toscanini over the work lead to plenty of publicity, but damaged the relationship between the two men to such a degree that they never reconciled.

The recording is equally legendary, and generated controversy in its own right. The suggestion was that Ravel turned over the baton to Albert Wolff, because the side changes required to record the piece unnerved him. While Ravel did think the piece should have an almost metronomic tempo, it seems unlikely that a musician of his stature could not achieve it, even with side breaks.

The most likely account is that Ravel called in Wolff to prepare the orchestra for the recording. Ravel was competent and conducted the work in public numerous times, but for the recording he brought in the skills of a journeyman conductor like Wolff to polish the orchestra to his specifications.

Ravel sat in the booth and gave instructions to Wolff, who would then get the orchestra to do as he wished.

When he was satisfied, he and Wolff would change places, and the recording could be made. According to sources, Ravel was so pleased with the final side that he slammed the baton on the podium before the record light was off; causing both Wolff and the engineers to nearly jump out of their chairs. Ravel made another take, just as perfect, and waited patiently for the light to go off.

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