Maurice Ravel's La Valse is a virtuosic orchestral work (later arranged for piano) that juxtaposes lush Viennese waltz motifs with frenetic, destabilized rhythms. Though Ravel denied explicit political symbolism, its dramatic arc—from elegance to chaos—resonates with interpretations of Europe's cultural collapse after World War I.
Ravel's "La Valse" is a turbulent orchestral tone poem that deconstructs the Viennese waltz, blending elegance with dissonance. Though Ravel denied explicit political symbolism, its chaotic climax is often interpreted as a commentary on the disintegration of pre-war Europe.
