Chez Stravinsky

[Artem]

I will definitely continue investigation of his works.

[Mirror Image]

I will definitely continue investigation of his works.

Please do. He's not one of the greatest 20th Century composers for no reason.

[Mirror Image]

I also want to add that one of the attractions I have to Stravinsky's music besides the afore mentioned harmony, rhythm, color, etc. is the way his music can turnaround and surprise you as the piece progresses. It's those ingenious turn-of-phrases that give his music a distinctiveness unlike any other composer I've heard.

[Karl Henning]

It is the intense rythm that puts me off.

My guess is that you may well take to Orpheus.

[Mirror Image]

My guess is that you may well take to Orpheus.

Apollon musagète and Le Baiser de la fée would also fit the bill here.

[ritter]

Today, we commemorate the death of Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky 50 years ago, on April 6th, 1971 in New York City, aged 89. One of the truly great composers of all time.

Cross-posted from the WAYLTN thread:

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Igor Stravinsky's death:


This is the composer's first (mono) recording of The Fairy's Kiss (complete ballet), with the Cleveland Orchestra.

From this set (one of the great achievements of the gramophone):

[Brahmsian]

In memory of Igor Stravinsky, I am listening to the newly arrived (in my home) Monteux and Boston Symphony Orchestra 1959 performance of Petruska.

A marvelous work that has long been my favourite of Stravinsky, and what a marvelous performance this is! 

[bhodges]

In memory of Igor Stravinsky, I am listening to the newly arrived (in my home) Monteux and Boston Symphony Orchestra 1959 performance of Petruska.

A marvelous work that has long been my favourite of Stravinsky, and what a marvelous performance this is! 

That's a great one. (Said as a fan of Monteux in general.)

--Bruce

[Brahmsian]

That's a great one. (Said as a fan of Monteux in general.)

--Bruce

I got that disc because of the Franck symphony but the Petruska performance is astounding.

[bhodges]

I got that disc because of the Franck symphony but the Petruska performance is astounding.

Hehehe, can't but agree. My experience was the reverse: got it for the Stravinsky, and pleasantly surprised by the Franck.

--Bruce

[Brahmsian]

Hehehe, can't but agree. My experience was the reverse: got it for the Stravinsky, and pleasantly surprised by the Franck.

--Bruce

Well, there you go Bruce! Seems like a win-win for fans of either works or both.

[Karl Henning]

My ears thank you for the head's-up on this set, Rafael! And, what is this stimulus money for, anyway?

[ritter]

My ears thank you for the head's-up on this set, Rafael! And, what is this stimulus money for, anyway?

You are welcome, Karl. I insist, one of the glories of the gramophone! Worth every penny. 

[Karl Henning]

You are welcome, Karl. I insist, one of the glories of the gramophone! Worth every penny. 

I have full confidence.

[Roasted Swan]

Yesterday as part of my lockdown mission to explore recordings I own but do not know well if at all I listened to this one;



I've never heard the Canticum Sacrum/Requiem Canticles/Chorale Variations before  but I have to say I enjoyed this a lot - both the works and these performances.  Obviously I no frame of reference for either.  My memory is that these Jarvi/Stravinsky recordings with the Suisse Romande were received with luke-warm reviews back when-ever.  How do people who know think these measure up?  I have to say I thought the "Rite" here pretty good.  Well played and well recorded - perhaps lacking the ritualised barbarity I think the work does need but Jarvi makes a couple of interesting/unusual choices and I was certainly happy to hear them - the acceleration through the 11 hammer strokes into the "Naming and honouring of the Chosen One" I thought rather effective.......

Anyway - I need to revisit other recordings from this set



which was a bargain purchase I recall and good value with Chandos having recoupled 6 original releases onto 5 discs

[Mirror Image]

Yesterday as part of my lockdown mission to explore recordings I own but do not know well if at all I listened to this one;



I've never heard the Canticum Sacrum/Requiem Canticles/Chorale Variations before  but I have to say I enjoyed this a lot - both the works and these performances.  Obviously I no frame of reference for either.  My memory is that these Jarvi/Stravinsky recordings with the Suisse Romande were received with luke-warm reviews back when-ever.  How do people who know think these measure up?  I have to say I thought the "Rite" here pretty good.  Well played and well recorded - perhaps lacking the ritualised barbarity I think the work does need but Jarvi makes a couple of interesting/unusual choices and I was certainly happy to hear them - the acceleration through the 11 hammer strokes into the "Naming and honouring of the Chosen One" I thought rather effective.......

Anyway - I need to revisit other recordings from this set



which was a bargain purchase I recall and good value with Chandos having recoupled 6 original releases onto 5 discs

I own a few Stravinsky Järvi recordings and, to be honest, it's like oil and water. The two just don't go together. It's been so long since I've listened to any of his Stravinsky, but I get the impression that his performances of the earlier works are better than the middle and late period works. He doesn't do 'cool detachment' really well and especially in the Neoclassical works, you have to be careful and not let things get heated up to the point where emotion is more important than allowing the clean lines to come through unfettered. So, no, I never thought of him as a good Stravinskian.

[Roasted Swan]

I own a few Stravinsky Järvi recordings and, to be honest, it's like oil and water. The two just don't go together. It's been so long since I've listened to any of his Stravinsky, but I get the impression that his performances of the earlier works are better than the middle and late period works. He doesn't do 'cool detachment' really well and especially in the Neoclassical works, you have to be careful and not let things get heated up to the point where emotion is more important than allowing the clean lines to come through unfettered. So, no, I never thought of him as a good Stravinskian.

I can absolutely see where you are coming from - so which would be your prefered versions of the choral works on the disc I listened to?

[Mirror Image]

I can absolutely see where you are coming from - so which would be your prefered versions of the choral works on the disc I listened to?

Stravinsky's own performances are always great listens. For the Canticum Sacrum, this O'Donnell performance on Hyperion is still a favorite:



For the Requiem Canticles, this newer recording with Herreweghe is superb:

[bhodges]

It feels like a luxury to have so many good versions of Apollon Musagète available. This one, from February 9, 2018, is with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, and beautifully filmed in black and white.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etHH74FA7Ns

--Bruce

[Karl Henning]

As my appetite was whetted by the images Rafael was posting on the Stravinsky anniversary, this looked too good not to fetch in.  It has landed, in all its magnificence