Chez Stravinsky

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Any recommendations for a good recording of his violin concerto?  A recording that pairs it with another of the works from his neo-classical period would be particularly nice.

Definitely can't go wrong with Chung/Previn, Hahn/Marriner, or Lin/Salonen. These are my top recommendations.

[snyprrr]

Definitely can't go wrong with Chung/Previn, Hahn/Marriner, or Lin/Salonen. These are my top recommendations.

What about Mutter (with Lutoslawski)?

[Karl Henning]

Two of my favorites from that middle period are Pulcinella (complete, with the singers, i.e.) and Le baiser de la fée (again, I prefer it complete):

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What about Mutter (with Lutoslawski)?

Very good performance indeed. I can't list every performance I've heard of Stravinsky's VC but rather I narrowed down my choices to two favorites, which I did above.

[Geo Dude]

Some of you have probably already seen this, but here is an excellent interview with Stravinsky.

[DaveF]

This is rather good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtrCvdH_Alk

Only a shame there wasn't a bit of variation in camera angles.

[xochitl]

my, thats is pretty amazing

[amw]

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Old post, but I love this recording, incidentally. I think the Bartók concerto was what I listened to first; it starts with one of the great solo entrances in the literature, two bars of quiet B major chords from the harp, lower strings entering with the bass line sotto voce, then the violin coming in fortissimo with a wide-ranging and passionate melody, bringing with it an opening-out of orchestral scope with individual notes being picked up and sustained by horns and clarinets. Within about two seconds of Mullova's entrance I was like "damn, this girl is good"; my admiration continued to increase over the course of the piece, including some of the most beautiful sounds I'd ever heard from the A string and some quite tasteful quarter tones where appropriate. Part of that was Bartók—it was my first exposure to the piece, and Bartók is pretty much the greatest composer ever—but the Stravinsky, which I'd previously thought of as pleasant, superficial and mannered, made me much more receptive to the piece. Mullova delivers a coolly mysterious Aria I, a poignant Aria II and a Capriccio whose frivolous neoclassicisms start to seem almost desperate, as though it's teetering on the edge of something much more menacing that's just pulled back at the last minute (foretastes of the Symphony in C and Jeu de cartes). I'd recommend it over the only other recording of the Stravinsky I have which is Mutter's (although that may be worth it for hardcore Dutilleux fans).

Anyway... Stravinsky. Most of the "neoclassical period" stuff I like is somewhat atypical—the Symphony already mentioned, Orpheus (which I've been fortunate enough to see live at the NYCB), some of The Rake's Progress. I suppose in general the Craft recordings are the ones to have but I've not heard enough of the alternatives.

[Karl Henning]

Orpheus is a beauty, no question.

[snyprrr]

Are Stravinsky and Prokofiev jewish?

[Pessoa]

I haven't read the thread and probably has already been discussed but: what good recordings of The Soldier's Tale without a narrator are out there?

[Karl Henning]

I like Craft & al.

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[North Star]

I have no quarrel with the Boulez & Cleveland (DGG).

[Karl Henning]

I have no quarrel with the Boulez & Cleveland (DGG).

Nor I . . . I need to spin that one again.

Boston Chamber Players

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That two-fer does look nice . . . though seeing Jn Gielgud there, I suspect he's narrating, and the query was sans récitateur

[Karl Henning]

Oh, I am sure I should like it . . . in fact, I have an idea that that may have been the first L'histoire ever I heard, myself . . . .

[Karl Henning]

The trio version is good fun, although perhaps half the score is not arranged.

[Pessoa]

Thanks, I see there is plenty to choose from and  available.

[Brahmsian]

For DBM:

Stravinsky

Danses Concertantes

Robert Craft
Columbia Chamber Orchestra

Sony Classical

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One of my favorite Stravinsky ballets, besides Petrouchka and Le sacre du printemps, is Apollo. For me, the last movement (Apotheosis) is one of Stravinsky's most compelling utterances. I don't enjoy much of Stravinsky's music these days, but I can at least acknowledge the man's brilliance and Apollo is, indeed, a brilliant ballet.

[Brahmsian]

One of my favorite Stravinsky ballets, besides Petrouchka and Le sacre du printemps, is Apollo. For me, the last movement (Apotheosis) is one of Stravinsky's most compelling utterances. I don't enjoy much of Stravinsky's music these days, but I can at least acknowledge the man's brilliance and Apollo is, indeed, a brilliant ballet.

A great one indeed, John.  One of favourites as well.