The piano was Maurice Ravel's primary instrument, and he left behind a body of work that earned him the reputation of being one of the most important piano composers and composers of the 20th century in France. Born in 1875 in Ciboure, a small coastal town just near the Spanish border, he spent most of his life in or near Paris. Among friends, Ravel was known for his love of cats, his devotion to his friends (and especially to his mother), his involvement in his artistic circle, and his sense of humor. Ravel died in 1937 following a failed brain surgery, but his status was already established when he completed his last solo piano work in 1917. This recording celebrates the 150th anniversary of his birth with music from the most productive period of his life.