Chez Stravinsky

[Mirror Image]

The booklet notes to my recording (Dutoit) describe it as a "burlesque for singing and acting". So stage work, yes. Probably small-scale opera would work, too.

Actually, with nothing but animal characters - and its fox central character - it almost reads like a small-scaled Cunning Little Vixen!

Very cool, DD. Thanks for the info.

[not edward]

Karl's list has most of my favorites, as well.  And it caused me to pull out this nice recording with three of them on it ~



Canticum Sacrum
Agon
Requiem Canticles

Gielen

A fabulous disc: I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Mirror Image]

As for Renard, Mirror Image, it's more a ballet with singing, or a pantomime, than an opera..all very tongue-in-cheek, with that circus-like atmosphere, and it's over in a flash. Delightful. Boulez made a classic recording in his Domaine Musical days, availbale in this (very interesting) box set:

[asin]B000CRQZNM[/asin]

Ah okay. Thanks SA. How many discs are in that Boulez set? Looks very interesting.

[ritter]

Ah okay. Thanks SA. How many discs are in that Boulez set? Looks very interesting.

It's actually two volumes, of 4 CDs each (volume one has a bonus CD as well).

The first volume has Stockhausen, Pousseur, Nono, Henze (before his "exile" from the Darmstadt avantgarde), Messiaen and Boulez himself (Le Marteau twice--the first and second recordings of the work).

The second volume has Stravinsky (Renard, Agon--under Rosbaud), Schoenberg (Pierrot, Serenade, etc.), Webern and Berg.

Both volumes constitute an important document for anyone interested in 20th century music, or in Boulez...

Highly recommended!

[Mirror Image]

It's actually two volumes, of 4 CDs each (volume one has a bonus CD as well).

The first volume has Stockhausen, Pousseur, Nono, Henze (before his "exile" from the Darmstadt avantgarde), Messiaen and Boulez himself (Le Marteau twice--the first and second recordings of the work).

The second volume has Stravinsky (Renard, Agon--under Rosbaud), Schoenberg (Pierrot, Serenade, etc.), Webern and Berg.

Both volumes constitute an important document for anyone interested in 20th century music, or in Boulez...

Highly recommended!

Very cool, thanks for the info, SA.

[Mirror Image]

Does anyone have a favorite performance of the Violin Concerto? I would say mine is a toss-up between Hahn/Marriner, Chung/Previn, and Lin/Salonen. I can't decide which one I prefer. Gil Shaham has a new one coming out. I'm sure it will be good. I remember Mutter's performance being good.

[springrite]

Does anyone have a favorite performance of the Violin Concerto? I would say mine is a toss-up between Hahn/Marriner, Chung/Previn, and Lin/Salonen. I can't decide which one I prefer. Gil Shaham has a new one coming out. I'm sure it will be good. I remember Mutter's performance being good.

I like Gitlis. He can be naughty which is often very good.

[Mirror Image]

I like Gitlis. He can be naughty which is often very good.

Slightly naughty, slightly serious is a good mixture for Stravinsky.

[springrite]

Slightly naughty, slightly serious is a good mixture for Stravinsky.

Interesting how that describes us both, with your being slightly more naughty though often not intentionally so...

[Mirror Image]

Interesting how that describes us both, with your being slightly more naughty though often not intentionally so...

No wonder I love Stravinsky then! It's fun being transfixed between those two emotional worlds.

[Karl Henning]

Perhaps my favorite recording of the Violin Concerto is Wolfgang Schneiderhan/Ančerl/Berliners.

[springrite]

Perhaps my favorite recording of the Violin Concerto is Wolfgang Schneiderhan/Ančerl/Berliners.

I have not heard that one.

BTW Karl, have you gained weight? Only 40% of your face could fit into the frame now, it seems...

[Karl Henning]

Strictly, no . . . but I may be acquiring gravitas!      0:)   

[springrite]

Strictly, no . . . but I may be acquiring gravitas!      0:)   

Always preferred to airiness, I'd say!

[Karl Henning]

One of my favorite phrases from Brave New World: "Charmingly pneumatic" . . . .

[Mirror Image]

Perhaps my favorite recording of the Violin Concerto is Wolfgang Schneiderhan/Ančerl/Berliners.

Cool, Karl. I don't believe I own this one. I'll check it out.

[Mirror Image]

Can anyone recommend some good books on Stravinsky?

[ritter]

Can anyone recommend some good books on Stravinsky?

If you haven't read his books of conversations with Robert Craft, they're a must, and highly entertaining (even if recent scholars have apparently proved that there's more Craft than Stravinsky in many of the composer's assertions).

And this book was a fascinating read:

[asin]0520256158[/asin]

Very enjoyable and informative! I must get round to reading volume 1...

[Mirror Image]

Thanks for the recommendation, Ritter. I'm thinking of getting the Stravinsky book written by Michael Oliver on Phaidon. I own several of these books and they're quite good and contain many rare photographs of the composers.

[Karl Henning]

If you haven't read his books of conversations with Robert Craft, they're a must, and highly entertaining (even if recent scholars have apparently proved that there's more Craft than Stravinsky in many of the composer's assertions).

And this book was a fascinating read:

[asin]0520256158[/asin]

Very enjoyable and informative! I must get round to reading volume 1...

Both volumes are essential reading, IMO.

Also essential reading:

Eric Walter White, Stravinsky: The Composer and His Works

[asin]0520039858[/asin]