Which are your favorite pieces by Maurice Ravel?

Here are some of my favorites:

- "Sonatine" (a three movement piece: I. Modéré, II. Mouvement de menuet, III. Animé)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1WEiiqVIXk

- "Jeux d'eau"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_36x1_LKgg

- "Gaspard de la Nuit" (a three movement piece: I. Ondine, II. Le gibet, III. Scarbo)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ivVK90_U0

- "Bolero"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWcpw3GAAms

- "Daphnis et Chloé" (a ballet)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhKyMmgSUMw&list=PL...

- "Le tombeau de Couperin" (a six movement piece: I. Prélude, II. Fugue, III. Forlane, IV. Rigaudon, V. Menuet, VI. Toccata)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Mgw8pV4iPM

Hope this helps. :)

There are other great suggestions here, Ravel having been always a perfectionist, most of it is very well-written, and very engaging listening.

I will list what most think of as his four [undisputed] masterpieces:

Daphnis et Chloe, ballet score, the complete version only (not the suites), which uses a very large orchestra including a full chorus, wordless, which is part of the musical fabric throughout the score.

[A great (again, "archival / definative" performance is on Sony Classical, Charles Munch conducting the Boston Symphony. A more current, non-budget recording I'd recommend is Pierre Boulez conducting the Berlin Philharmonic.]

The TWO piano concerti: Concerto in G, Concerto in D, for the left hand. Both are remarkable and beautiful works. For these, go to the recordings on EMI; André Cluytens conducting the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Samson François, piano.

(Another fine recording on EMI, the complete piano works, Samson François, piano.)

L'enfant et les Sortileges, a one act opera, the libretto an original children's story by Colette. This is in the realm of high fantasy. I recommend most the DGG recording with Loren Maazel conducting the French National Radio orchestra.... it is an older recording with fine sound, and still a high water mark performance.

Best regards.

Try these also -

Pavane pour une infante défunte (there's a version for solo piano too)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHp37fc3CJc

Introduction and allegro for flute, harp, clarinet and string quartet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5kf0cFp4Jg

String quartet in F major

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDOpPQ2rkfw

Ravel's "Tombeau de Couperin" in its orchestral garb and "Daphnis et Chloé" ballet in its entirety.

I think that one is the Toreador or something to that affect and the other would be the Bolero.