Composed for Diaghilev and the Ballet Russes, Daphnis and Chloé was drawn from an ancient Greek fable about a pair of abandoned infants who grow up together, fall in love, and are delivered from the treachery of pirates by the god Pan. Upon receipt of the commission for this work, Ravel announced his intention to "compose a vast musical fresco, less scrupulous as to archaism than faithful to the Greece of my dreams, which inclined readily enough to what French artists of the late 18th century have imagined and depicted." The resulting "choreographic symphony" features a captivating combination of orchestral traditions and modern ideals.
Reproduced from authoritative editions, these two suites are extracted from the complete ballet. This affordable version is their first appearance in a single volume, promising convenience and value as well as the pleasure and enlightenment of Ravel's inspired vision.