This Companion provides a comprehensive introduction to the life, music and compositional aesthetic of the French composer Maurice Ravel (1875-1937). Leading international scholars offer a powerful reassessment of this most private and elusive musician, examining his work in detail within its cultural context. Coinciding with the 125th anniversary of Ravel’s birth, the volume explores the full range of his work – piano repertory, chamber works, orchestral music, ballets, songs and operas and concludes by analysing the performance and reception of his music, including previously untranslated reviews.