The thing to watch for here beyond technical competence is to be sure the conducto holds tempo throughout the piece. Many speed up near the end which, as I recall, Ravel specifically prohibits. This is the first I hear Ravel did not conduct the Polydor/Brunswick 78 version. He was in the studio as piano accomanist about the time these records were made. If not Ravel, I'd guess it to be Albert Wolff, a fine but neglected conductor who was also active for the same company at the same time and with the same orchestra. Steve Smolian ----- Original Message ----- From: "David S Sager" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2003 9:00 AM Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Bolero by Ravel the definitive version? > If I am remembering correctly, Detroit/Paul Paray did a good, solid > version on Mercury. I wonder if it has been reissued? > > DS > > >>> [log in to unmask] 08/06/03 07:10PM >>> > I was wondering whether anyone on this list might be able to steer > in the direction of any performance of this work that is considered > the benchmark upon which other are judged? I am a neophyte > in the "classical" world and any help would be appreciated. > > Sincerely, > > Aaron Levinson