Chez Stravinsky

[Mirror Image]

What's your favorite "era" of Stravinsky Snyprrr? 

You didn't ask me and this may be a complete cop-out, but I love all of Stravinsky's stylistic periods.

[Mirror Image]

Reuss has been my long time favorite for vibrancy, crispness, precision, clarity, recording quality ...
Eotvos is still I believe the only recording of the 1917 version for full orchestra.
You could also get Rex Lawson on pianola, Stravinsky's transcription.

Of other recordings of standard version that I've heard Stravinsky's own is not that well played nor recorded, Craft's second (Naxos) is ok but not particularly memorable, Ancerl is very good but the recording shows a bit of age, Gergiev is manic, Currentzis I have but haven't listened to yet.

I'd LOVE to own that Eotvos recording of both versions of Les noces. It's curious that Hungaroton has never bothered reissuing it.

[Drasko]

Concerto in D

Let's see, who else of note?...

It's a well known fact the best Concertos in D come from Switzerland.

Hogwood in Basel re-creates 1947 concert where all three pieces were premiered. An absolute must:

[asin]B0007PLKSY[/asin]
... also composer himself, live in Lugano. My judgement on this one may be slightly clouded since it was the first Stravinsky CD I ever bought.

 

[Karl Henning]

Violin Concerto

I don't think I've ever ventured beyond that classic Mutter disc. I'd be really interested in some perhaps oddball or just outstanding recommends- Mutter&Co. are pretty glossy (are they?), not saying it's bad- doesn't leave me wanting, but it does make me wonder of others' approaches.

Scheiderhan/Ančerl

[snyprrr]

What's your favorite "era" of Stravinsky Snyprrr? 

icy coolness?

[Cato]

Yes!  A day or two ago I found myself following a car here (i.e. in the center of Ohio) with the license plate:

THRENI 

[Mirror Image]

Violin Concerto

I don't think I've ever ventured beyond that classic Mutter disc. I'd be really interested in some perhaps oddball or just outstanding recommends- Mutter&Co. are pretty glossy (are they?), not saying it's bad- doesn't leave me wanting, but it does make me wonder of others' approaches.

Hahn/Marriner get the nod from me, but I've never heard a bad performance of the VC except for Isaac Stern/Stravinsky, but that's because I never have cared for Stern's screechy playing. Completely devoid of warmth and his violin tone is like nails on a chalkboard.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Hahn/Marriner get the nod from me,

Its ok. IF not for the Brahms coupling I would not have bought that disc. I for one do not get Igor's VC, maybe in due time.

[Mahlerian]

Hahn/Marriner get the nod from me, but I've never heard a bad performance of the VC except for Isaac Stern/Stravinsky, but that's because I never have cared for Stern's screechy playing. Completely devoid of warmth and his violin tone is like nails on a chalkboard.

Stravinsky should have recorded it with someone who cared about the piece more.  Stern never played it in concert before or after those recording sessions.

[Scion7]

Isaac Stern is one of the great violin masters.
Another trip to the woodshed for M.I. !

[Mirror Image]

Its ok. IF not for the Brahms coupling I would not have bought that disc. I for one do not get Igor's VC, maybe in due time.

Well, I do get Stravinsky's VC and love every minute of it. Hahn's performance is exemplary.

[Mirror Image]

Stravinsky should have recorded it with someone who cared about the piece more.  Stern never played it in concert before or after those recording sessions.

Indeed. If only.

[Mirror Image]

Isaac Stern is one of the great violin masters.
Another trip to the woodshed for M.I. !

This doesn't mean I have to like or enjoy his playing, which I never have, so there.

[amw]

Mullova/Salonen remains the only performance I've heard that makes sense of the piece to me. Kopatchinskaja/Jurowski is also not bad but can't really escape fluffiness.

[Mirror Image]

Mullova/Salonen remains the only performance I've heard that makes sense of the piece to me. Kopatchinskaja/Jurowski is also not bad but can't really escape fluffiness.

Stravinsky's VC does contain profundity. Whether or not you can't pick up on it, isn't the composer's fault.

[amw]

Nope. But performers often don't really try to bring it out, or don't succeed in doing so (imo).

[Mirror Image]

Nope. But performers often don't really try to bring it out, or don't succeed in doing so (imo).

Yep, certainly your opinion.

[snyprrr]

Hahn/Marriner get the nod from me, but I've never heard a bad performance of the VC except for Isaac Stern/Stravinsky, but that's because I never have cared for Stern's screechy playing. Completely devoid of warmth and his violin tone is like nails on a chalkboard.

Karl recommended Schneiderham- nice enough- and then I went a seasrching:

1) Perlman- oy vey, you think Stern is screechy??? I was laughing out loud 20 secs. into it with IP. Oy, what horrible playing- I wonder if he thought he was adding some jew flavor or something- it sounds like Topol on acid!!!!!

2) Couldn't find Mullova, but how can she not be good?

3) Vengerov- couldn't hear, but I imagine he really bites into it??!!!>??

4) HAHN- well, wow- hey, I was all set to roll my eyes, but Marriner and Hahn are fast as shit and really dig into it. I'm no Sonicman when it comes to Hahn, but I had to give it to her here.

5) Mordkovitch??- samples sounded nice...

6)


There was more recordings than I thought......

Mutter is kinda "perfect"... I do want so "scratch", but not like I heard in Perlman!!

[Karl Henning]

It is decades since I listened to this, and I should revisit it . . . the Sarge (among others) bespeaks the Prokofiev:

[asin]B0000041V4[/asin]

[snyprrr]

How do like Jarvi in Igor? Specifically- I heard the samples of the two Symphonies, and a few others from the set that sounded really really good (only samples though)- '...Psalms'?... I dunno, he's got an interesting selection of stuff...


And then there's Alexander Gibson... very clean sounding readings of the Symphonies...