Although Ravel (1875-1937) was a pianist, and composed his keyboard pieces with a sure knowledge of the instrument and what it was capable of, he lacked the technique of the likes of, for instance, Chopin, Liszt or Rakhmaninov as an outright composer-pianist. Because of this, Ravel's piano works were not written as vehicles to demonstrate pianistic virtuosity as a goal in itself, even if some of them - such as the suite Gaspard de la Nuit - present enormous challenges for the prospective performer. Brenda Lucas Ogdon graduated with honours from the Royal Northern College of Music, where she met her future husband, John Ogdon. She embarked on a world-wide solo career and a piano duo partnership with John. This took them to almost anywhere in the world where grand pianos existed. Brenda has appeared at the Cheltenham, Aldeburgh and Edinburgh Festivals, and also Sintra in Portugal and Maine in the U.S.A. She has recorded for several major labels including EMI & Decca and her work has frequently been broadcast. She has appeared with major orchestras throughout the UK, Australia and the U.S.A.