Petrouchka / Petrushka

[snyprrr]

I love Petrouchka.  It's on par with Agon in terms of quality, and just about matches Rite.  I heard Petrouchka in concert years ago, and I was surprised at how large the orchestra was; it barely fit on stage, though it usually doesn't sound so big in scale on disc.  Don't know the Davis, but Boulez's DG recording has long been my favorite.  So clean, so precise.  That's essential in this work for me.  As it happens, I relistened to Paavo Jarvi's recording last week, and it is one of the best things he's done, and one of the few recordings I've heard that effectively hints at the work's scale.

Which version did you see, 1911, or 1947? Is the latter more chamber-like? The Davis (1947) did have a curiously mid-sized sound. I guess, with the music, I was expecting more crazy stuff, but it's really a very strange piano concerto,... huh, in a way like Messiaen's 'Canyons to the Stars'. The Philips sound from 1979 is really quite vintage sounding, very luscious and fruity.

[snyprrr]

I do find the structure of the ballet music disconcerting,... which of course befits the subject. I'd like to try Nagano with 'Petrouchka''s natural partner, Bartok's 'Miraculous Mandarin'.

[Todd]

Which version did you see, 1911, or 1947? Is the latter more chamber-like?

The concert was the 1911 version, if memory serves.  (It's been 7-8 years, so I can't recall.)  The work is supremely light even for the size of the orchestra.  Even with the huge orchestra, it rarely sounded big 'n' beefy in person.  Stravinsky knew his business.

[Herman]

There is a 1953 (mono) recording by Ferenc Fricsay and the RIAS (coupled with the Sacre) that's a must have IMO, like most of what Fricsay recorded in his short career.

I like Chailly and the Concertgebouw, coupled with Pulcinella. Chailly is a great Stravinsky conductor. I wonder if he still does Stravinksy in Leipzig...

[Brian]

I like Chailly and the Concertgebouw,

The idea of hearing the Concertgebouw in this music is very appealing to me. Petrushka is my favorite work by Stravinsky, by a long shot, but I haven't yet gotten any recordings other than Stravinsky himself and Karel Ancerl's with the Czech Philharmonic.

I auditioned Bergen/Litton on Naxos Music Library and found that, despite some really ear-catching phrasing and accents, the voltage wasn't quite high enough.

[Herman]

The idea of hearing the Concertgebouw in this music is very appealing to me. Petrushka is my favorite work by Stravinsky, by a long shot, but I haven't yet gotten any recordings other than Stravinsky himself and Karel Ancerl's with the Czech Philharmonic.

There's also a 2005 SACD recording by Mariss Jansons coupling Petruchka with Rachmaninoffs Symphonic Dances.

The Chailly recording is available on a Double Decca with the Firebird Suite, Jeux de Cartes (which Naeme Jarvi also recorded with the RCO), Apollo and a Cleveland Rite. No Pulcinella.

[pbarach]

Abbado/LSO
Boulez/Cleveland
Ozawa/Chicago

[snyprrr]

Abbado/LSO
Boulez/Cleveland
Ozawa/Chicago

It seems 'Petrouchka' gets the same recommends as 'The Rite',... is it really that way? The best 'Rite' is also the best 'Petrouchka'? Everyone is picking the usual suspects,... not that I'm complaining, just curious.

I borrowed Muti and Rattle. Haven't gotten to Rattle, but I'm not sure I liked Muti's as much as I liked his 'Rite'.

[Mandryka]

IS there a recommendable DVD of people dancing this?

[Todd]

The best 'Rite' is also the best 'Petrouchka'?

Not really.  My favorite Rite is Salonen's DG recording.  Barenboims Teldec Rite is also superb.  (The best version I've heard is actually a 1998 performance with Salonen conducting the Concertgebouw, but it's not on disc as far as I can tell.)  Others may differ, of course.

[Drasko]

IS there a recommendable DVD of people dancing this?

There are one or two on DVD, which I haven't seen, like this one:
[asin]B00006L74J[/asin]

and then there is this one, unfortunately not on DVD
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,15143.msg533581.html#msg533581

[snyprrr]

Not really.  My favorite Rite is Salonen's DG recording.  Barenboims Teldec Rite is also superb.  (The best version I've heard is actually a 1998 performance with Salonen conducting the Concertgebouw, but it's not on disc as far as I can tell.)  Others may differ, of course.

There were some great reviews of Barenboim mixed in accidentally with the Boulez '92 reviews on Amazon. Yes, Barenboim sounds real good. Teldec has 3 'Rites'! (Barenboim, Inbal, Mehta)

Mehta has, what?, 5 'Rites'?

1)NYP/CBS '78
2)NYP/Teldec '89-91
3)VPO/Orfeo '85-6
4)LPO/
5)LA/Decca

Incredible! Anyone on these? aye... wrong Thread,... we should just combine.

[Mandryka]

There are one or two on DVD, which I haven't seen, like this one:
[asin]B00006L74J[/asin]

and then there is this one, unfortunately not on DVD
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,15143.msg533581.html#msg533581

I've found this but unfortunately they won't ship to the UK.

http://mountararat.ecrater.com/p/4310967/nureyev-and-the-joffrey-ballet-tribute-to

[Herman]

There are one or two on DVD, which I haven't seen, like this one:
[asin]B00006L74J[/asin]

and then there is this one, unfortunately not on DVD
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,15143.msg533581.html#msg533581

The other one is part of Kirov Classics with a very good Chopiniana / Les Sylphides. The Petrouchka, however, is a modern reinterpretation that sheds no light on what Stravinsky, Fokine or Diaghilev had in mind at the time.

The one pictured above comes closer. Petrouchka is beautiful, strange ballet that is virtually impossible to capture on camera, since it a lot of it consists of milling crowd and carnival scenes. The part with the Moor, the Ballerina and poor Petrouchka, however are made for the camera.

[Herman]

I checked my copy, and this Liepa Petrouchka is filmed in a movielike way, rather than like you're sitting in a theatre, and there are three or four cameras. So in a way it is partly more realistic than most actual performances, and at the same time less so, since you can assume there were a lot of cuts and extra takes, which takes away some of the excitement of a real performance. But perhaps you get a more immediate thrill in return for this.

[mjwal]

My favourites are the Ancerl and the  Kondrashin/Concertgebouw (1947). - I haven't heard the Chailly or any later recordings. The Fricsay recording I know is rather frustrating as it is the concert suite - great performance, to be sure.

[Drasko]

I've found this but unfortunately they won't ship to the UK.

http://mountararat.ecrater.com/p/4310967/nureyev-and-the-joffrey-ballet-tribute-to

I'm not sure if that is a big loss, it's a vhs rip. I doubt it is any better quality than what is on youtube or what you can download for free from balletoman:
http://balletoman.com/video/650-nureyev-and-the-joffrey-ballet-in-tribute-to-nijinsky.html

I checked my copy, and this Liepa Petrouchka is filmed in a movielike way, rather than like you're sitting in a theatre, and there are three or four cameras. So in a way it is partly more realistic than most actual performances, and at the same time less so, since you can assume there were a lot of cuts and extra takes, which takes away some of the excitement of a real performance. But perhaps you get a more immediate thrill in return for this.

That seems to be quite similar to above discussed Nureyev/Joffrey Ballet. Have you seen that one? Nureyev is superb in the title role. If you haven't already seen it you can either on balletoman site or on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nLCSurR6sQ

[Herman]

I'm not sure if that is a big loss, it's a vhs rip. I doubt it is any better quality than what is on youtube or what you can download for free from balletoman:
http://balletoman.com/video/650-nureyev-and-the-joffrey-ballet-in-tribute-to-nijinsky.html

That seems to be quite similar to above discussed Nureyev/Joffrey Ballet. Have you seen that one? Nureyev is superb in the title role. If you haven't already seen it you can either on balletoman site or on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nLCSurR6sQ

I was familiar with Nurejev's Spectre and the Faun, but not the Petrushka. The soloists are excellent, and it's funny how they opted for a similar setting. I would say for bits like the Coachmen's Dance you really want the Russian version. In Russian ballet companies there's a special cadre of men and women who constantly work on these folk dances; the Joffrey men are clearly challenged.

BTW the Liepa version is available on Youtube, too.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

The idea of hearing the Concertgebouw in this music is very appealing to me. Petrushka is my favorite work by Stravinsky.....

I also like the Chailly. If you're into the Concertgebouw in this work there's another fine recording from three decades earlier (1962) under the baton of the exceedingly underrated Hans Rosbaud:


[asin]B0002ANQX6[/asin]


It's only the suite however, but most of the music is represented. Sonically it isn't up to the digital Chailly (certainly a success, however) but interpretively the work is elevated to wonderful heights. Colorful, moody, and zesty is all the right places. Right up there with the best on records.

[Drasko]

I was familiar with Nurejev's Spectre and the Faun, but not the Petrushka. The soloists are excellent, and it's funny how they opted for a similar setting. I would say for bits like the Coachmen's Dance you really want the Russian version. In Russian ballet companies there's a special cadre of men and women who constantly work on these folk dances; the Joffrey men are clearly challenged.

BTW the Liepa version is available on Youtube, too.

Didn't know that, thanks. Just watched the Liepa and completely agree, his ensemble (is it Bolshoi, on youtube there's no mention) is much better in fairground scenes. On the other hand Liepa Jr. himself is really no match for Nureyev. Ideally both are worth having even though both are essentially the same choreography (reconstructions of original Fokine).