Ravel Edition

A new, unique concept: created by a group of renowned musicologists and musicians from all over the world, united by their passion for the French composer, the RAVEL EDITION is driven by an innovative scientific approach that combines musicological and artistic expertise, published in Belgium by XXI Music Publishing.

As well as the musicologists who work tirelessly on the manuscripts and other valuable sources, the RAVEL EDITION is indebted to a number of musicians who are well-versed in this repertoire and perform Ravel’s works on a daily basis, pooling their knowledge and experience to shed light on the matters raised during the analysis in the form of a peer review committee. Some of France’s most prestigious musicians have appeared on this panel, which changes from score to score: Bertrand Chamayou, Renaud Capuçon, Cédric Tiberghien, Anaëlle Touret, Louis Langrée, Pascal Rophé, François-Xavier Roth, Ludovic Morlot, Benjamin Attahir, Julien Szulman, Fabien Gabel and Adrien Perruchon, alongside international artists, such as conductor and composer George Benjamin, and conductors John Wilson, Kirill Karabits, Cristian Măcelaru, Barbara Dragan and Elena Schwarz.     

Through scrupulous analysis of the manuscripts, hand-written documents and initial engravings that previously belonged to the composer’s close friends and peers (in collaboration with institutions such as the Morgan Library in New York, the Harry Ransom Centre at the University of Texas at Austin, the Archives of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, etc.) we are able to piece together numerous sources to provide a full restoration of Ravel’s works, integrating various editorial observations and details that sometimes end up shifting an entire mindset that until now has been firmly engrained in our musical heritage.

Global appreciation: the orchestral parts produced by the RAVEL EDITION have been played across the world by almost 80 orchestras in 24 different countries (France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Japan, Australia, Monaco, the UK, Luxembourg, South Korea, Austria, New Zealand, Australia, Croatia, Slovenia, USA, China). Every season, dozens of concerts are programmed with the scores published by the RAVEL EDITION.

Recordings : the revised editions produced by the RAVEL EDITION are regularly recorded, both by up-and-coming performers and globally renowned musicians. These recordings have received critical acclaim in the international press, from the Gramophone Classical Music Awards, to ECHO Klassik and the Recording Academy Awards in Japan. Other recordings will be released over the course of 2024 and 2025, all actively contributing to the global circulation of our publications.

A series of videos on Ravel and his manuscripts: In January 2022, in collaboration with the Fondation Maurice Ravel and the Festival/Académie Maurice Ravel, the RAVEL EDITION launched a YouTube channel dedicated to raising the profile of Ravel’s repertoire. This exclusive series produced by Emilie Aujé et Camille Guillemain, entitled “Papier à musique”, explores Ravel’s relationship with his manuscripts through the lens of both revised editions and archival resources. The series also presents a selection of interviews with individuals associated with the works of Ravel.

A socially responsible approach: Conscious of the environmental challenges we face, the RAVEL EDITION places sustainability at the heart of its approach. All our scores and parts are printed on high-quality paper that complies with the applicable regulations, promising excellent durability over the years whilst ensuring optimal comfort for the musicians working from it. We also have all of our scores printed in France by highly renowned professionals and optimise our stock management to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum.

Collaborations with prestigious institutions:  The RAVEL EDITION places huge importance on passing down musical expertise to future generations of performers. Our revised editions are therefore now an integral part of the programmes followed by the musicians of the future at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Haute Ecole de Musique de Lausanne and the Haute école de Musique de Genève.

The above orchestras have performed and will continue to perform from the parts published by the Ravel Edition: Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam  (Netherlands); Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse (France); Orchestre National de Lille (France); Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Lyon (France); Birmingham Royal Conservatory (United Kingdom); Euskadiko Orkestra (Spain); Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya (Spain); Orquesta Nacional de España (Spain); Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo (Monaco); Orchestre national d’Auvergne (France); Orchestre philharmonique de Radio-France (France); Orchestre de Paris (France); Oslo Filharmonien (Norway); Kitchener – Waterloo Symphony Orchestra (Canada); Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse (France); Les Siècles (France); Orchestre des Champs Elysées (France); Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Australia); Gürzenich Orchester Köln (Germany);  Orchestre national des Pays de la Loire (France); Orquestra Gulbenkian (Portugal); Orchestre national de Metz (France); Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse (France); Kristiansand Symfoniorkester (Norway); Orchestra della Svizzera italiana (Swiss); Kyoto Symphony Orchestra (Japan); Orchestre de Bretagne (France); Belgian National Orchestra (Belgium); Orchestre national de Lyon (France); Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg (France); DR Symfoniorkestret (Denmark); Orchestre de chambre Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France); Orchestre national de Montpellier Occitanie (France); Orquesta Sinfónica de Extremadura (Spain); Orchestre philharmonique du Luxembourg (Luxemburg); Kungliga Filharmoniska Orkestern (Sweden); WDR Sinfonieorchester (Germany); Orquestra Simfònica del Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona (Spain); BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (United Kingdom); Royal Academy of Arts London (United Kingdom); Mahler Chamber Orchestra (Germany); SWR Symphonieorchester (Germany); NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester (Germany); Sinfonia of London (United Kingdom); Orchestre de chambre de Lausanne (Swiss); Düsseldorfer Symphoniker (Germany); Orchestre symphonique de La Monnaie (Belgium); Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (United Kingdom); BBC Symphony Orchestra (United Kingdom); Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra (Spain); Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra (Danemark); Gewandhausorchester Leipzig (Germany); Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich (Austria);  Berner Symphonieorchester (Swiss); Sinfonietta de Lausanne (Swiss); Orchestra de l'Opéra de Rouen (France); Orchestre national de Cannes (France);   Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (New Zeland); Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (Swiss); Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Australia); Simfonijski Orkestar HRT (Croatia);  Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Germany); Orchestre national de France (France); San Diego Symphony Orchestra (USA);  Hr-Sinfonieorchester (Germany); Staatskapelle Berlin (Germany); Bruckner Orchester Linz (Austria); West Australian Symphony Orchestra (Australia); Orchestre Victor-Hugo Franche-Comté (France); Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra (Slovenia); Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest (Netherlands); Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra (Japan); Orchestre de Picardie (France); Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris (France); Detroit Symphony Orchestra (USA); Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia (Espana); Cleveland Orchestra (USA);  Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester (Sweden); Shanghai Symphony Orchestra  (China); Boston Symphony Orchestra (USA); Ensemble symphonique Neuchâtel (Swiss).