Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major is a dazzling blend of French elegance, jazz influences, and rhythmic vitality. Composed between 1929 and 1931 after a trip to America—where Ravel was captivated by jazz and blues—it reflects a modern, cosmopolitan spirit while retaining Ravel’s hallmark clarity and precision.

The concerto opens with a whip crack and bursts into a lively first movement (Allegramente) full of syncopations, bright colors, and jazz-inspired harmonies. The slow second movement (Adagio assai) is a lyrical masterpiece: a long, flowing solo piano line unfolds over a gentle accompaniment, often compared to Mozart in its grace and simplicity. The final movement (Presto) is a virtuosic, whirlwind coda—brilliant, witty, and full of dazzling energy.

Unlike his more dramatic Concerto for the Left Hand, written around the same time, the G Major Concerto is lighthearted and celebratory. It remains one of the most beloved concertos of the 20th century—playful, technically demanding, and unmistakably Ravel.