00:01:22.290 --> 00:01:28.029
The surgeon told us,
"I will try to succeed,

00:01:28.030 --> 00:01:34.610
"but you know it's
one chance in one million."

00:01:36.990 --> 00:01:44.679
I ask him, "It's Ravel. Supposing we had
the chance of a million.

00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:52.584
"That would mean 10, 15, maybe 20
more years of composing works of genius,

00:01:52.585 --> 00:01:56.544
"wonderful music,
and for him, happiness."

00:02:02.199 --> 00:02:05.199
Music is the only mistress
I have ever had.

00:02:06.199 --> 00:02:08.999
I cannot imagine my life
without music.

00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:11.999
Without it, there would be
no reason for living.

00:03:34.440 --> 00:03:39.684
We all knew that Ravel crafted
each work as if it were a jewel.

00:03:39.685 --> 00:03:42.834
He wanted absolute technical perfection.

00:03:42.835 --> 00:03:44.424
Yet to the public, he pretended

00:03:44.425 --> 00:03:47.399
that his music appeared effortlessly,
as if by magic.

00:03:47.999 --> 00:03:51.599
He was maintaining a mask
of total control.

00:03:51.599 --> 00:03:53.999
And that must have
made it all the worse

00:03:53.999 --> 00:03:56.799
when that mask began to slip.

00:04:12.930 --> 00:04:17.999
He knew that suddenly
some things where--

00:04:17.999 --> 00:04:23.860
not forbidden, but he was
unable to reach them.

00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:29.109
It was very sad, because for instance
he couldn't control exactly

00:04:29.110 --> 00:04:34.374
way to light a cigarette.
He would put in the wrong way.

00:04:34.375 --> 00:04:40.959
He could see immediately
the good normal way,

00:04:40.960 --> 00:04:44.999
and put it in his mouth
with a lighted piece.

00:04:44.999 --> 00:04:52.059
So it was very sad, something was still clear
in his mind and he couldn't control it.

00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:32.999
Even when he got sick, he would
still take long walks into the woods.

00:11:32.999 --> 00:11:36.999
He loved that in autumn.

00:11:39.599 --> 00:11:44.574
Whenever I asked him why he
couldn't bring me to the woods

00:11:44.575 --> 00:11:49.314
because it was so beautiful in autumn,
He said "No, go there if you wish.

00:11:49.315 --> 00:11:54.219
"Not with me, I don't like it."
But why, it's so beautiful.

00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:58.640
And he said,
"Because it's a picture of death."

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:08.349
He has always been obsessed with this

00:12:08.350 --> 00:12:12.834
and many compositions of Revel's--
Bolero-- they finish suddenly

00:12:12.835 --> 00:12:17.169
with a cry of death.

00:12:17.170 --> 00:12:21.249
No reason to finish like that, except
probably that was the end for human life

00:12:21.250 --> 00:12:23.990
so it's there in the music.

00:17:06.060 --> 00:17:11.139
When I wrote my Bolero I tried something
which had never been done before.

00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:17.480
To repeat a single theme
again and again to crescendo.

00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:24.669
It was a very limited experiment and I was
sure that no one would dare perform it.

00:17:24.670 --> 00:17:27.069
I suppose I was wrong.

00:17:27.070 --> 00:17:33.549
It is the most popular piece that I have
ever written and it is my only masterpiece.

00:17:33.550 --> 00:17:36.299
Unfortunately, it contains no music.

00:17:52.650 --> 00:17:55.179
When I first met Ravel
in the late '20s,

00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:59.529
it was still a few
years before his illness.

00:17:59.530 --> 00:18:03.174
I was immediately struck
by his elegance,

00:18:03.175 --> 00:18:06.639
his deep lively eyes,
his ironic smile,

00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:09.984
and I knew at once
that I must sculpt him.

00:18:09.985 --> 00:18:16.989
When I asked his permission he agreed on
the condition that he not be required to pose.

00:18:16.990 --> 00:18:20.679
So, I took some sketches of
him while he was at work.

00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:23.199
And then I set about my task.

00:18:40.080 --> 00:18:43.089
June 10th, 1928.

00:18:43.090 --> 00:18:47.064
Some of Revel's friends are throwing
a surprise party for him at his home.

00:18:47.065 --> 00:18:52.790
Of course Ravel knows all about it and
has arranged most of the details himself.

00:18:54.990 --> 00:19:01.610
The wonderful Russian dancer Ida
Rubinstein was among the first to arrive.

00:19:02.370 --> 00:19:09.219
Then came Joaquin Nin the composer as
well as famous writer Leon-Paul Fargue.

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:12.534
And then there were Ravel's oldest and
dearest friends the Godebski family.

00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:17.079
We celebrated the success
of our dear Ravel,

00:19:17.080 --> 00:19:19.999
who had just returned from
a three month tour of America,

00:19:19.999 --> 00:19:23.199
where he received a hero's welcome.

00:19:26.520 --> 00:19:32.949
He was being called the greatest
composer in France perhaps in the world.

00:19:32.950 --> 00:19:36.819
How heartwarming it was to see Ravel,
normally so modest and reserved,

00:19:36.820 --> 00:19:40.434
being so exuberant.

00:19:40.435 --> 00:19:44.199
Even the most distinguished guests
engaged in the joviality.

00:19:56.220 --> 00:20:00.039
As for me, with such formidable guests,
I became quite nervous

00:20:00.040 --> 00:20:04.014
about unveiling my sculpture.

00:20:04.015 --> 00:20:08.349
So of course I was absolutely
thrilled when Ravel declared

00:20:08.350 --> 00:20:12.549
that my work was his favorite portrait.

00:20:12.550 --> 00:20:18.204
What a perfect day, I had never
seen Ravel so happy.

00:20:18.205 --> 00:20:21.159
He was so fond of his friends.

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:24.500
He was so fond of life.

00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:45.834
Of course I am not an athlete but I
have always been an excellent swimmer.

00:20:45.835 --> 00:20:49.269
But on this day I noticed
something very wrong.

00:20:49.270 --> 00:20:52.584
I can no longer coordinate my movements.

00:20:52.585 --> 00:20:55.104
When I should be lifting
my right arm, I cannot.

00:20:55.105 --> 00:20:58.944
When I should be kicking
my left leg, I cannot.

00:21:00.999 --> 00:21:03.980
What is happening to me?

00:21:39.999 --> 00:21:43.965
All of his closest friends
could see Ravel's despair,

00:21:43.965 --> 00:21:48.249
and so they tried to help
him in any way they could.

00:21:48.250 --> 00:21:52.989
And every time a friend proposed the
latest cure Ravel would almost blindly

00:21:52.990 --> 00:21:57.609
throw himself into
the most unlikely regimes,

00:21:57.610 --> 00:21:59.514
no matter whether they
involved medication,

00:21:59.515 --> 00:22:02.999
electroshock treatment or hypnosis.

00:22:02.999 --> 00:22:05.299
He was hoping for a miracle.

00:24:26.910 --> 00:24:32.829
My doctors assure me that I can
be cured, but I am not so certain.

00:24:32.830 --> 00:24:35.364
I feel more and more down.

00:24:35.365 --> 00:24:38.124
My blood pressure is weak.

00:24:38.125 --> 00:24:41.709
I am exhausted but cannot sleep.

00:24:41.710 --> 00:24:43.914
I have even painted my walls black

00:24:43.915 --> 00:24:49.899
in order to soothe my eyes, but
nothing seems to ease my insomnia.

00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:54.770
I feel as though I am falling
apart piece by piece.

00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:07.674
My blood tests alarm my doctor.

00:25:07.675 --> 00:25:11.199
His prescription, a mountain
of pills and total relaxation.

00:25:11.199 --> 00:25:15.279
Perhaps a trip to a warmer climate.

00:25:15.280 --> 00:25:19.280
I would do anything
to write music again.

00:25:48.260 --> 00:25:52.379
March 3rd, 1935, Marrakech.

00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:58.409
Dear friends, we have just arrived at what
must be the most exotic place in the world.

00:25:58.410 --> 00:25:59.999
Ida Rubinstein has arranged
the entire trip,

00:25:59.999 --> 00:26:02.999
and even sent me along to accompany Ravel.

00:26:03.090 --> 00:26:07.679
I tell you, Ida is not
just a great dancer.

00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:09.529
She is a saint.

00:26:09.530 --> 00:26:12.969
So as not to hurt Ravel's pride,
she told him that she hopes

00:26:12.970 --> 00:26:16.999
he'll be inspired to compose for her
another Bolero.

00:26:16.999 --> 00:26:23.060
She knows perfectly well that he
will likely never write another note.

00:26:30.699 --> 00:26:32.999
March 5th.
Dear Ida,

00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:38.999
You can't imagine the fascinating sights
and sounds that we are experiencing here.

00:26:38.999 --> 00:26:46.790
The dancers wreathed in gold, the Arabian music,
and Ravel seems deeply affected by it all.

00:26:50.310 --> 00:26:56.949
He has such curiosity about everything that he
wants to explore every backstreet and alley.

00:26:56.950 --> 00:26:58.764
Naturally I'm delighted.

00:26:58.765 --> 00:27:03.879
But I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that
it has become an effort to keep up with him.

00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:09.384
And we've encountered so many exotic
sites-- the everyday street life,

00:27:09.385 --> 00:27:12.969
the souk marketplaces, the beggars,
and even the snake charmers

00:27:12.970 --> 00:27:18.140
with their poisonous cobras.
It is utterly fantastic.

00:27:36.540 --> 00:27:40.809
And, dear Ida, it is not my imagination.

00:27:40.810 --> 00:27:45.414
You can actually see the transformation
in Ravel from day to day.

00:27:45.415 --> 00:27:47.679
It is apparent in his eyes.

00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:52.340
He's coming alive full of inspiration.

00:28:04.350 --> 00:28:10.614
March 7th, Ravel's birthday, and you'll
never guess what we heard today.

00:28:10.615 --> 00:28:15.189
A little boy working in a
garden, whistling Bolero.

00:28:15.190 --> 00:28:18.699
We couldn't have planned a nicer gift.

00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:21.410
Ravel was in heaven.

00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:44.999
March 11th, Ravel has been
humming tunes

00:28:44.184 --> 00:28:49.419
from what he calls his
new Arabian ballet, Morgiane.

00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:54.474
And at this very moment,
Ravel is writing music.

00:28:54.475 --> 00:28:57.950
Can we hope for the ultimate miracle?

00:29:20.850 --> 00:29:27.594
It has worked! Ravel has managed
to notate a musical theme.

00:29:27.595 --> 00:29:34.610
For the first time in over two years
he has actually produced music.

00:30:02.070 --> 00:30:06.199
After a few moments, Ravel stopped.
His faced clouded over,

00:30:06.199 --> 00:30:09.999
and he said that he was
unable to go on.

00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:17.750
I fear that after this all-too-brief spark,
he will become more depressed than ever.

00:30:28.599 --> 00:30:32.999
The things that were so magical to me
have lost their fascination.

00:30:32.999 --> 00:30:37.299
The things that were so enchanting
now serve only to torment me.

00:32:16.560 --> 00:32:22.509
I said to Ravel, supposing
that it has been asked to you,

00:32:22.510 --> 00:32:27.549
"What kind of music you would
like to be played for your funeral?"

00:32:29.999 --> 00:32:34.999
He looked at me in a very
keen way and he said,

00:32:34.999 --> 00:32:40.980
"Very easy-- 'Prelude a l'apres-midi
d'un faune' by Debussy.

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:46.999
"That's the only piece of
music which is perfect."

00:33:10.050 --> 00:33:13.404
I have failed in my life.

00:33:13.405 --> 00:33:16.809
I am not one of the great composers.

00:33:16.810 --> 00:33:19.999
All the great composers
produced enormously.

00:33:19.999 --> 00:33:23.999
There is everything in their work,
the best and the worst.

00:33:23.999 --> 00:33:27.939
But there is always quantity.

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:30.759
I have written little.

00:33:30.760 --> 00:33:33.639
And even that I did with difficulty.

00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:39.864
I did my work slowly, drop by drop,
and tore it out piece by piece.

00:33:39.865 --> 00:33:43.629
And now I am incapable
of writing anything.

00:33:43.630 --> 00:33:46.199
And it saddens me, greatly.

00:37:26.280 --> 00:37:28.639
We stood by helplessly.

00:37:28.639 --> 00:37:32.499
We watched Ravel as he suffered
the torture of being walled alive

00:37:32.499 --> 00:37:36.584
in a body that no longer
obeyed his intelligence.

00:37:36.584 --> 00:37:40.299
And witnessing that
was too much for us to bear.

00:37:41.585 --> 00:37:44.999
When the decision to go ahead with
the operation was finally made,

00:37:44.999 --> 00:37:47.999
we thought that it might
free Ravel from his anguish.

00:37:48.999 --> 00:37:52.999
But the terrible task of signing
the permission forms

00:37:52.999 --> 00:37:54.999
was left to his brother, Edouard,

00:37:54.999 --> 00:37:59.999
his friend Maurice Duval,
and his pupil Manuel Rosenthal.

00:37:59.999 --> 00:38:07.740
The surgeon told us,
"I will try to put it right.

00:38:07.999 --> 00:38:15.249
"But you know, it's one chance
of one million to succeed.

00:38:15.250 --> 00:38:22.359
"I ask you, supposing it's not Ravel--
it's a poor worker.

00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:29.199
"Would you like to have the operation
to disturb him and maybe to miss it?"

00:38:29.199 --> 00:38:35.999
"For the rest of his life he would
stay maybe aa an idiotic."

00:38:35.999 --> 00:38:41.099
It's Ravel. Supposing we had
the chance of a million--

00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:49.544
that would mean 10, 15, maybe 20
more years of composing works of genius,

00:38:49.544 --> 00:38:53.999
wonderful music,
and for him, happiness.

00:38:53.999 --> 00:38:57.670
Now you have the decision.

00:44:37.530 --> 00:44:42.789
Some hours after the operation,
a miracle occured.

00:44:42.790 --> 00:44:45.549
Ravel opened his eyes.

00:44:45.550 --> 00:44:48.669
We asked him if he would
like to see his brother, Edouard.

00:44:48.670 --> 00:44:50.899
And he whispered, "Yes."

00:44:50.899 --> 00:44:54.199
Then he slipped into a deep sleep.

00:45:26.300 --> 00:45:30.419
I still have so much music in my head.

00:45:30.420 --> 00:45:34.450
I have said nothing and still
have so much more to say.

00:47:16.560 --> 00:47:24.294
In the end Ravel's emaciated face had the
appearance of finely chiseled marble.

00:47:24.295 --> 00:47:30.860
Death had captured his timeless
noble expression forever.

00:47:34.140 --> 00:47:40.074
I left the clinic where he
just died to go and rehearse.

00:47:40.075 --> 00:47:41.754
I was in tears.

00:47:41.755 --> 00:47:48.249
But one of the players,
a double-bass player, stopped me,

00:47:48.250 --> 00:47:55.464
and he said, "Of course
I understand you are so sad,

00:47:55.465 --> 00:48:01.119
"because your teacher, your
friend Ravel died this morning.

00:48:01.120 --> 00:48:08.904
"But be happy because
all his works will be played.

00:48:08.905 --> 00:48:13.089
"All of them, not one
will stay in the shadow."

00:48:13.090 --> 00:48:18.399
And this poor musician, this
double-bass player, understood it

00:48:18.399 --> 00:48:21.804
and said exactly what
we can witness today.

00:48:21.805 --> 00:48:29.805
He's the only musician, the only one,
whose all works are played.

00:48:29.805 --> 00:48:32.299
And that's Ravel's glory.