Best Rite of Spring?

quote:

Originally posted by Basil:
Obviously Boulez must be a serious frontrunner

Why? I generally like Boulez, but I find his DG Rite uninspiring. Dorati on Mercury is superb, though, as is Stravinsky himself in his 1940 recording. Salonen is superb, but his concert performances trump his studio effort (I've heard three different concert broadcasts, all amazing), and Daniel Barenboim's recording is fun for sheer sonic impact. Paavo Jarvi's take has grown on me a bit, too.

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I think it would be with Stravinsky conducting. I have a two LP set including Petrushka and Firebird with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Sort of limits debate over the composer's intent. Not sure when they were recorded, but Stravinsky's comments in the liner notes are quoted from an interview in 1962 and the set was released by Columbia in 1972. A close runner up, for me, is Michael Tilson Thomas with the Boston Symphony on DG. Listening right now to Boulez with the Cleveland Orchestra on Columbia. Very measured tempi in the slower sections, but I rather like it.

Norman

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmoliu:
Sort of limits debate over the composer's intent.

I disagree. Stravinsky's CBS stereo recording made in the late 50s and early 60s were made when Stravinsky's conducting prowess - never really among the best to begin with - had devolved somewhat to a pretty matter of fact sound. The recordings are good - I really like his Petrushka suite from the same era - but can't be said to be definitive, really, especially with other, more vibrant recordings from the composer himself. It's also doubtful whether his intent when he was in his 70s was the same as when he wrote the work in his early 30s.

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Fair enough, Todd.

I tend to enjoy whatever it is I am listening to at the time, and make mental notes like "hmm, more rubato through there than Milstein played" rather than better/worse comparisons of performances on an absolute basis. I do tend to drift toward certain performances, like I have with Michael Tilson Thomas' version of the Rite, but I generally cannot say why. I enjoy revisiting performances I have not heard in a while, like the Brahms Violin Concerto marathon I went through the other night after that work came up in this forum; or last night, for that matter, when I listened to four different versions of the Rite. I had not dusted off the Boulez version in several years. And, I may very well drag out whatever other copies I have of the Rite and finish that off tonight. That's what is great about this particular forum: it pries me away from the dozen or so CDs/LPs that collect on the top of the cabinet which are getting the most rotation.

Norman

Last year Testament released two recordings of The Rite with Igor Markevich conducting The Philharmonia. I haven't heard them, but the CD got great reviews.

Graham

quote:

Originally posted by graham55:
Last year Testament released two recordings of The Rite with Igor Markevich conducting The Philharmonia.

The mono performance is superb, the stereo less so.

Haven't heard Dutoit's Le Sacre, but I'd probably dig it as I love his Ravel.

I'm very fond of the version by Solti and the CSO. But it may be hard to find.

Todd, don't worry, I was at a recent live recording of Salonen conducting Rite of Spring in the new Disney Hall, it was fantastic. It was a celebration of LA Phil finalizing a contract with DG to partner up with Salonen's contract with them, I'm sure lots of technical/legal issues. I'll have to buy it as I was really preoccupied sitting in back of the orchestra watching the brass, woodwinds and percussion do their thing. He also conducted Night on Bare Mtn, the original version, not r. Korsakov's, It is just dark and ends with Satan's feast. No morning dawn and church bells for this version. What else would an old Russian with tobacco and vodka stupor write? I don't remember what else was going to be on the CD, but it'll be good.

I have Boulez with Cleveland on DG, all digital. I thought it sounded quite good and VERY clear. It drives my neighbor quite mad when I play it so that's pretty good. I'll have to compare it to Salonen's when it comes out.

Amazing it was composed in 1913 or so and is still the hallmark of modern music. For an equally thrilling piece try out John Adams' Naive and Sentimental Music. It's a thrill and a half. It's Salonen with the LA Phil for Nonsuch, Esa-Pekka and John have great rapport.