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Ravel, (Joseph) Maurice (b. Cibourne, 1875; d. Paris, 1937). French composer and pianist. Born in Basque region but spent childhood in Paris. Entered Paris Conservatory 1889, studying piano forte with Berot and composition with FaurŽ, and remaining for 16 years. He competed for the Prix de Rome in 1901, 1902, 1903, and 1905. At the last attempt he was eliminated in the preliminary test. He had already written several works now acknowledged as masterpieces, including the string quartet, Scheherazade, and the Mirroirs for piano forte. Though a brilliant orchestrator, several of his works were first written for piano forte. His outstanding achievement in orchestra writing is the ballet Daphnis et Chloe, composed for Daighilev and first performed in 1912. To the later years belong his impressive opera, to a libretto by Colette, L'Enfant et les sortil�ges (The Child and the Spell, 1920-25), 2 piano forte concertos, his popular BolŽro (1928), chamber works, and the Don Quixote songs. He occasionally conducted his own works, but held no official posts and had very few pupils.

Respighi, Ottorino (b. Bologna, 1879; d. Rome, 1936). Italian composer, conductor, string-player, pianist, and teacher. Studied violin and composition in Bologna, 1891-1901. Went to St. Petersburg 1900 as first viola in opera orchestra and from 1901 studied with Rimsky-Korsakov, then in Berlin with Bruch, 1902. Professor of composition at Liceo di S. Cecilia, Rome; director 194-26. His music, though based on classical forms, was influenced by Rimsky-Korsakov and Strauss. Wrote operas, ballet, concertos, piano and chamber music.

Rieti, Vittorio (b. Alexandria, Egypt, 1898; d. New York, 1994). Italian-born composer (American citizen 1944). Studied piano forte in Milan and composition with Casella, Respighi, and Malipiero in Rome. Lived in Paris from 1925. Wrote ballets for Diaghilev and music for plays and films of Louis Jouvet. Settled in USA 1940. Taught at various American colleges. Works, often influenced by Stravinsky and Les Six, include 17 ballets; 7 operas; 8 symphonies; piano concerts and many others.

Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolay (Andreyvich) (b. Tikhvin, 1844; d. Lyubensk, 1908). Russian composer and conductor. Nationalist works of Glinka deeply impressed him and he met and was influenced by Balakirev. In 1865-8 wrote Sadko and Antar. In 1872 completed his opera The Maid of Pskov. His editing of 100 Russian Folk-Songs, in 1876-1877, led him to the composition of the operas May Night and Snegurochka (The Snow Maiden). In 1887 began to write his colorful the Spanish Caprice and Sheherazade. Thereafter, influenced by the first Russian performances in 1888-1889 of Wagner's Ring, devoted himself to opera. His influence on Stravinsky, who was his pupil when he taught at St Petersburg Conservatory, can be discerned especially in The Firebird.

Rossini, Gioachino Antonio (b. Pesaro, 1792; d. Paris, 1868). Italian composer, son of town trumpeter and a singer. As child, apprenticed to blacksmith, sang in churches, and played harpsichord in theaters. Entered Bologna Academy 1806 and while a student wrote opera Demetrio e Polibio. In 1812 his opera La pietra del paragone was produced at La Scala. In 1814 was engaged as music director of both Neapolitan opera houses and for San Carlo wrote Elizabetta, Regina d'Inghilterra, in which he replaced recitativo secco with recitations accompanied by string. Other operas for Naples were Otello and Il barbeire di Siviglia, a failure at first but soon to be hailed as an outstanding opera buffa. In 1822 Rossini visited Vienna, where he met Beethoven; this was followed by a trip to London. In 1824 settled in Paris as director of the ThŽ‰tre Italian, and wrote 3 operas for Paris, including Guillaume Tell (1829). Rossini left Paris for Italy in 1836 and for the next 19 years composed only three religious works and some occasional pieces. In 1855 he and his 2nd wife settled in Paris where, for the remaining 13 years of his life, Rossini was the center of artistic and intellectual life. He also began to compose again. He was buried in Paris. In 1887 he was reinterred in Florence.