ravel's song cycle "shéhérazade", is for mezzo-soprano (or tenor) solo and orchestra, setting the words of klingsor's "", "", and "". it was first performed on 17 may 1904 at a société nationale concert at the salle nouveau théâtre, paris, with jeanne hatto and an orchestra conducted by alfred cortot. the three songs of the cycle are individually dedicated by the composer to hatto ("asie"), madame rené de saint-marceaux ("la flûte enchantée") and emma bardac ("l'indifférent").