This first comprehensive study unites musical, literary, documentary and cultural perspectives to shed new light on Ravel's compositional practice.

Emily Kilpatrick holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Adelaide, and has published widely on the music of Ravel and Fauré. She is co-editor, with Roy Howat, of the new Peters critical edition of Fauré's complete songs, a project based at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Emily also maintains an active performing career as a pianist and vocal accompanist, and regularly gives recitals, radio broadcasts, master classes and lectures on French opera and song.

Preface; Part I. Making Operas: 1. Introduction: 'a single act at the Opéra-Comique'; 2. Ravel's hour; 3. The Child and the impresarios; Part II. Words and Music: 4. The collaborative process; 5. Songs into operas; 6. 'This archaic attempt at a modern fantasy'; 7. A portrait of an opera-ballet; Part III. The Compositional Web: 8. The 'calling cards' of L'Heure espagnole; 9. From Carmen to Concepcion; 10. The 'big, small world' of L'Enfant et les sortilèges; 11. A child of his time; Afterword.