Debussy with Andris Nelsons, Ravel, and more

Riga-born conductor; Music Director of Boston Symphony & Gewandhauskapellmeister Leipzig. Deutsche Grammophon artist; acclaimed Shostakovich/Bruckner/Beethoven cycles; 4 Grammys.

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), a French composer of Swiss-Basque descent, is celebrated for his meticulous craftsmanship and masterful orchestration. Often associated with Impressionism, he blended classical forms with modernism, jazz, and Spanish influences. His iconic works include Boléro, Pavane pour une infante défunte, and the ballet Daphnis et Chloé. He remains one of France's most popular composers.

Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky was a Russian-born composer and conductor who became a naturalized French and American citizen. Widely considered one of the most influential and revolutionary composers of the 20th century, his career is traditionally divided into three stylistic periods: Russian, Neoclassical, and Serial. He achieved international fame through a series of groundbreaking ballets commissioned by impresario Sergei Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes, most notably The Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911), and The Rite of Spring (1913), the latter of which caused a famous near-riot at its Paris premiere due to its avant-garde rhythms and dissonant harmonies. He later lived in Switzerland and France before moving to the United States in 1939, where he settled in Los Angeles and eventually New York City.

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was a French composer, a pivotal figure in musical Impressionism. Born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, he revolutionized classical music with evocative harmonies and unique structures. His renowned works include "Clair de lune," "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune," and "La mer." He won the Prix de Rome, leaving an enduring legacy on 20th-century music.