Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky: Petrushka / Le Sacre du Printemps

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I grew up with these recordings on LP, and the transfer to CD is wondrous, even to correcting a glaring recording/splice error on what is now track 18. But note: This CD is mislabelled! Petrushka is NOT the 1911 original version, it is the 1947 revision! In many ways, I have always preferred this cleaner version, but if you are used to hearing the original, you'll note a number of subtle differences and a few glaring ones, like the total absence of the glockenspeil! (Most notable in the recapitulation section of the Shrovetide Fair and again in the opening of the final tableau.) This disc is still a must have, but know what you are getting. Like wise, the Rite is mostly the 1947 revision with a few additional changes Stravinsky made in 1961, which he spoke of in the original LP liner notes. Again, while it is fascinating to hear Stravinky's take on his own work (surprisingly fast in some sections, and slow in others) this should not be the only recordings of both of these works you ever buy. This recording sits beside the 1959 Dorati/Mercury Living Presence recording with it's recorded clarity and breath-taking tempi, Boulez/CBS 1966 recording for it's combination or clarity and raw power, and Tillson-Thomas/SFO recording for its overall combination of ALL of the above.

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then I heard Leonard Bernstein's 1958 recording of Le Sacre. If you don't feel like spending hours searching, breaking the law, spending a hefty price, or some combination of those three options, this is probably your best bet for a recording of Le Sacre. The engineering and playing are top-notch, and the conducting by the genius behind this masterpiece of 20th century music is fantastic, but this recording pales in comparison to the 1958 Bernstein recording. I'm not trying to say the playing here is unemotional or lacking energy - far from it, but the Bernstein recording is one of the most darkly beautiful performances I've ever heard. Upon hearing it, the story goes Stravinsky only had one thing to say: "wow". Unfortunately, as it is out of print, it is very difficult to find that particular recording without a bit of searching or shelling out a relatively substantial amount of money. Still, if you want to hear one of the most thrilling recordings ever made, I urge you to look for it.

At the time of the 1958 recording, Bernstein was upset that Le Sacre du Printemps was being unfairly ignored as one of the cornerstones of modern music. At the time, people thought of it as that piece that accompanied the Dinosaurs in Fantasia. A lot more dissonant and experimental music had been made, and people were beginning to think of Le Sacre as tame as compared to works by other artists. It distressed Bernstein that this was happening, so he decided he wanted to make the most shocking recording of the work possible by furiously conducting the virtuosos of the New York Philharmonic into a frenzy. Additionally, several new recording techniques were used, including the combination of close micing so you can hear each instrument as if you are standing next to it with mics placed further out so you can hear the resonance of the building it was recorded in (probably Columbia's 30th Street Studios, a converted Greek Orthodox church that had beautiful acoustics where some of the most classic albums of jazz and classical were recorded, including Miles Davis' Kind of Blue - but I digress). The work was a giant success, and I absolutely cannot understand why Sony has released a much-inferior version of Bernstein conducting it over re-releasing that seminal work.

If you don't feel like looking for the Bernstein recording, this one is more than acceptable, and I have returned to it even after I have heard Bernstein's. I would actually suggest that you should get both if you have that kind of money, as it is interesting to hear the work as conducted by its composer. Still, Stravinsky was aging and although he still did a very good job of conducting the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, it pales compared to the energy of Bernstein and the Philharmonic.

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It's insane that I am only hearing this recording now. I have several recordings of Petrouchka and the Rite of Spring, favorites of mine since I first heard them when I was young. Somewhere along the line I had been told that Stravinsky was not the best interpreter of his own works. Even here the Amazon blurb mentions his 'limitations with a baton' or something to that effect in its opening sentence. So, wanting to avoid that letdown and also knowing that I have grown accustomed to a recording I especially love (Bernard Haitink 1973), I never looked into these "old" recordings.

Ignore all that!! These are great recordings! Look at the 5 stars of these reviews. Get it! It will blow you out of your chair. And that's not to say either piece lacks the subtlety it requires in the less bombastic sections. Just fantastic. Thanks to the reviewers here who steered me to this CD.

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Fire and energy and control. Refreshing. Energizing. In this case, it is true that the master knows best. Won't need that coffee in the morning - this will do just fine!

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It's very special experience to hear a composer conduct his own compositions. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. Igor Stravinsky proved to be one of the best "composer conductors" yet. The main reason I can think this works so well is because his music was so unique. It's certainly hard to describe his music to people and put it on paper, but his style was centered around a very "up front" instrumentation and almost jagged or cut up rhythmic movements that took his pieces to very unusual places sonically.

Simply put, Stravinsky isn't for everyone. I liked him the first time I heard this performance of "Petrushka." This is such an excellent piece of music. I'm sure when he composed it, it was very innovative for its time. "The Rite Of Spring" is also performed here and gets a great reading from the man himself.

The Columbia Symphony Orchestra do a fantastic job handling Stravinsky's music. If you love this man's music, then you should definitely acquire these.