Today (1st May 2016) also marks the ending of copyright on the works of Maurice Ravel, perhaps France's most celebrated 20th century composer, who died in 1937. Ravel's last surviving heir died in 1960, after which a succession of unlikely claimants tried to claim the fortune generated by the copyright to his works,
Until 1993 he remained the top earner in music rights and even in 2014 was in the top 100.
The famous Bolero alone is estimated to have earned 100 million euros over the last 50 years. Originally written in 1928 for a ballet, the work which lasts 17 minutes, is reckoned to be playing somewhere in the world at any time. For most of our generation it is linked memorably with Torvill and Dean at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. Try YouTube to watch it again.
France Music will have a special "Bolero Day" on Tuesday 3 May.
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